Chemical engineer Job Information | National Careers Service

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Chemical engineer

Hours

30-40 per week
Starting salary

£26,000 + per year

If you are interested in chemistry and want a professional job in engineering, this could suit you well.

As a chemical engineer (also known as a process engineer) you would use your expertise to research and develop new products, including foods, textiles and fuel.

In this type of work you would need to be good at maths and science. You would need to be good at solving problems and analysing things. You would also need management skills to manage projects, budgets and people.

To become a chemical engineer, you would normally need an accredited BEng degree or a BTEC HNC/HND in chemical or process engineering.

The work

As a chemical engineer you would also design manufacturing processes that turn raw materials into domestic and industrial products, for example medicines and plastics.

If you work in research and development, you would:

test new ways to develop products in the lab
use computer models to work out the safest and most cost-effective production methods
plan how to move lab tests into a pilot production phase, then on to large-scale industrial processing
develop methods to deal with by-products and waste materials in a safe and environmentally-friendly way.

In manufacturing, you would:

work with plant designers to create equipment and control instruments for the production process
help to oversee the day-to-day operation of the processing plant
monitor production and deal with problems
work closely with quality control and health and safety managers.

Depending on the size of your employer, you may only be responsible for the research or the manufacturing side. However, in both cases, you are likely to manage a team of chemical engineering technicians.

Hours

In research and development you would usually work 9am to 5pm, Monday to Friday, with possible overtime to meet project deadlines.

In processing and manufacturing, you might work on a shift system, including weekends, evenings and nights.

You could be based in a lab, an office or a processing plant. You may need to use protective clothing and equipment in the lab and some production plant areas.

Income

Graduate salaries are around £26,000 a year. Experienced engineers can earn between £30,000 and £55,000. Senior chartered chemical engineers can earn over £60,000 a year.

Figures are intended as a guideline only.

Entry requirements

To become a chemical engineer, you would normally need an accredited BEng degree or a BTEC HNC/HND in chemical or process engineering. You can find details of accredited courses from the careers website of the Institution of Chemical Engineers at Whynotchemeng, and the Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET).

To get onto a chemical engineering degree, you will usually need at least five GCSEs (grades A-C), and two A levels including maths and a science subject. Some universities offer a foundation year for people without qualifications in maths and science. Please check with colleges or universities for their exact entry requirements.

With a degree in a different branch of engineering, or in a related subject like chemistry or polymer science, you may increase your chances of finding work if you take a postgraduate qualification in chemical or process engineering.

See the websites for Cogent, IChemE and IET for information about engineering careers.

Training and development

Once you are working, you would be trained on the job by your employer, possibly through a structured graduate training scheme.

You may help your career prospects by working towards incorporated or chartered status. To do this, you should register with your relevant industry body and apply to the Engineering Council. See the Engineering Council website for more details.

Engineering Council

As an incorporated engineer, you would specialise in the day-to-day management of engineering operations. At chartered level, you would have a more strategic role, planning, researching and developing new ideas, and streamlining management methods.

IChemE and IET also offer a range of short continuing professional development (CPD) courses for you to develop your skills and knowledge throughout your career.

Skills and knowledge

To be a chemical engineer you should have:

a flair for maths and science, particularly chemistry
good problem-solving and analytical skills
planning and organisational ability
excellent IT skills
the ability to manage projects, budgets and people
good spoken and written communication skills
the ability to work as part of a team
a clear understanding of wider commercial pressures.

More information

Institution of Engineering and Technology (Opens new window)
Michael Faraday House
Stevenage
Hertfordshire
SG1 2AY
Tel: 01438 313 311
www.theiet.org

UK Resource Centre for Women in Science, Engineering and Technology (UKRC) (Opens new window)
Listerhills Park of Science and Commerce
40-42 Campus Road
Bradford
BD7 1HR
Tel: 01274 436485
www.theukrc.org/women

Cogent (Opens new window)
Unit 5, Mandarin Court
Centre Park
Warrington
Cheshire
WA1 1GG
Tel: 01925 515200
www.cogent-ssc.com

Institution of Chemical Engineers (Opens new window)
165-189 Railway Terrace
Rugby
CV21 3HQ
Tel: 01788 578214
www.icheme.org

Tomorrow's Engineers (Opens new window)
EngineeringUK
Weston House
246 High Holborn
London
WC1V 7EX
Email: careers@engineeringuk.com
Tel: 020 3206 0400
www.tomorrowsengineers.org.uk

Opportunities

You could work in a range of industries, including food and drink, pharmaceuticals, textiles, oil and gas, energy and water.

With experience, you could progress to senior process or design engineer, research and development manager, or plant manager, and eventually overall operations manager. You could also move into consultancy work.

You may find the following useful for job vacancies and general reading (links open in new window):

Job profiles are based on the latest information supplied to us by industry bodies, such as Sector Skills Councils. Please be aware that with the introduction of the Qualifications and Credit Framework there has been, and will continue to be, changes to vocational qualifications. For more information, please check with industry bodies directly.

We do not accept responsibility for the content of external sites.

Related industry information

Industry summary

The chemicals industry is part of the broader science-based sector represented by Cogent Sector Skills Council, which also includes pharmaceuticals, nuclear, oil and gas, petroleum and polymer industries. Most goods used by people in their homes, at work and in their everyday activities are products derived from the chemical, nuclear, oil and gas, petroleum and polymer industries. The combined industries employ nearly half a million people in the UK and are of huge economic and strategic importance to the UK. It includes:

Basic chemicals (including industrial gases, dyes and pigments, fertilisers and nitrogen compounds and plastics and synthetic rubber in primary forms)
Pesticides and other products
Soaps and detergents etc. (including cleaning and polishing preparations, perfumes and toilet preparations)
Other products (including explosives, glues and gelatines and essential oils)

Key facts:

The chemicals industry is one of the UK’s largest manufacturing industries and manufacturing’s number one exporter.
It has grown five times faster than the average for all industries over last 10 years.
The industry spends over £2 billion a year on new capital investment.
There is a relatively high proportion of the workforce employed in medium-sized enterprises.
Total employment in the chemicals industry has decreased by 53,000 since 1998 and employment across the whole sector is projected to continue to fall to 2017.
Fewer, but more highly skilled and technology literate, employees will be expected to operate more flexibly and have crosscutting and change-management skills.

Jobs in the industry range from: Lab technician, Chemical Engineer, Plant Manager, Process Technician, Lab manager, Process Technician (mechanical, instruments, electrical), Graduate Engineer, and Senior Engineer.

National and regional data

Across Great Britain, there are an estimated 108,300 people working in chemicals manufacturing and processing. The largest number of employees is located in:

North West
South East
Yorkshire and the Humber
East Midlands

The industry is a strategic priority for many regions. There are significant clusters of chemical businesses in the East Midlands, West Midlands, Yorkshire and the Humber, Central Scotland and in Wales around Cardiff, Swansea, Newport and Wrexham. In the North East, there is a concentration of specialty chemicals companies.