Chemical engineers

Overview

Chemical engineers research, design, and develop chemical processes and equipment, oversee the operation and maintenance of industrial chemical, plastics, pharmaceutical, resource, pulp and paper, and food processing plants and perform duties related to chemical quality control, environmental protection and biochemical or biotechnical engineering. They are employed in a wide range of manufacturing and processing industries, consulting firms, government, research and educational institutions.

This group performs some or all of the following duties:

  • Conduct economic and technical feasibility studies in areas related to chemical, petroleum, pulp and paper, food or other processing industries

  • Conduct research into the development or improvement of chemical engineering processes, reactions and materials

  • Evaluate chemical process technology and equipment and determine production specifications

  • Design and test chemical processing and associated plants and equipment

  • Oversee the construction, modification, operation and maintenance of pilot plants, processing units or processing plants

  • Establish and conduct quality control programs, operating procedures and control strategies to ensure consistency and adherence to standards for raw materials, products and waste products or emissions

  • Prepare contract documents and evaluate tenders for the process aspects of industrial construction

  • Supervise technicians, technologists and other engineers

  • May work in an administrative capacity, for example, in the development of guidelines and specifications for the handling of dangerous chemicals, environmental protection, or standards for foods, materials and consumer goods.

  • Chemical engineers may specialize in the products and processes of a particular industry such as pulp and paper manufacturing, pharmaceuticals, petroleum refining, energy processing, plastics, metal extraction and refining, or adhesives and coatings production. They may also specialize in functional areas of various industries such as process control, pollution control or fermentation processes.

Job titles

  • adhesives engineer
  • biochemical and biotechnical engineer
  • biochemical development engineer
  • biochemical engineer
  • biotechnical engineer
  • biotechnology engineer

Employment prospects

Source: BC Labour Market Outlook 2024 edition

Annual salary

Low

$42,108

Median

$114,708

High

$150,413

Job openings

Use this interactive map to explore job openings in different regions across B.C.

British Columbia

196

expected job openings (5-year forecast)

Education and training

Employment requirements

  • A bachelor's degree in chemical engineering or in a related engineering discipline is required.

  • A master's degree or doctorate in a related engineering discipline may be required.

  • Licensing by a provincial or territorial association of professional engineers is required to approve engineering drawings and reports and to practise as a Professional Engineer (P.Eng.).

Additional information

  • There is considerable mobility between chemical engineering specializations at the less senior levels.

  • Supervisory and senior positions in this unit group require experience.

  • Engineers often work in a multidisciplinary environment and acquire knowledge and skills through work experience that may allow them to practise in associated areas of science, engineering, sales, marketing or management.

Certification requirements

Mandatory: You need the following certification to practice as Chemical engineers in B.C.

  • Engineers and Geoscientists BC Registration - Chemical Engineers

Engineers and Geoscientists BC Registration - Chemical Engineers

Confirm with the certifying body that your intended program qualifies you for this certification.

To practice as a chemical engineer in B.C., you must register with Engineers and Geoscientists B.C. Eligibility is achieved through graduation from an accredited program, 4 years of work experience as an Engineer-In-Training, and successful completion of the National Professional Practice Examination.

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Work Experience

Work experience required

Post-secondary programs in B.C.

Explore programs related to this career offered at post-secondary institutions in B.C.

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