Chemistry as a Career: Chemical Industry

Chemical engineers play a huge part in chemical industry, its job requires them to apply
principles ranging from physics, biology, problem-solving, and especially chemistry. The
chemical industry is responsible for creating intermediate products that are used in commercial
products as well as different processes in other industries (products such as plastics, paper,
additives, etc.). Chemical engineers are responsible in designing the processes and equipment
that are needed to produce these chemicals in a large-scale, sustainably and safely. For this
reason, chemical engineers must have a strong knowledge in the fields of chemistry, physics, and
good problem-solving skills, these include strong knowledge on the concepts of reaction rates,
equilibrium, catalysts, and energy. Chemical engineers, while needing a strong knowledge in
science and math, must also be well-versed in the field of mechanical engineering. In addition to
those, a good chemical engineer would also have a strong level of skill in critical thinking,
decision making, coordination, and analyzing and evaluating situations. Education wise, the
entry-level for chemical engineers is a bachelors degree in the appropriate fields of science,
such as a degree in chemical engineering, though some practical experience would be good when
applying to be a chemical engineer at a manufacturing company.

Within the industry, there are a number of different positions available. A quality control analyst
works to ensure that the product produced are safe, of targeted quality, and meets any standards
set by international or national regulations. Validation chemists work to ensure that the
manufacturing process is functioning properly, with no flaws, as well as making sure it meets
government and international standards. And finally, chemical engineers are responsible for
designing the production process of the chemicals. The job of chemical engineers would differ
with each project, for example, a project might require the chemical engineers to design a new
and improved process that reduces environmental impact, or increases efficiency as well as the
safety of the process, or simply design a cost-effective process. Within the field of chemical
engineering, chemical engineers can specialize in the development and production of different
materials, such as specializing on the production of plastics, or metals such as aluminum, or
specializing in producing other chemicals such as ammonia that are important in the production
of fertilizers.

Many projects chemical engineers work on require collaboration with people from various
disciplines. Chemical engineers designing a piece of equipment used in a process would need to
collaborate with mechanical and electrical engineers, who would offer a different perspective
and set of skills, ensuring the piece of equipment is without any flaws.

Source: United States Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics
http://www.bls.gov/ooh/architecture-and-engineering/chemical-
engineers.htm