Chemical Engineers Occupation Details

Chemical Engineers Job Description
Education	Most of these occupations require a four-year bachelor's degree, but some do not.
Related Experience	A considerable amount of work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is needed for these occupations. For example, an accountant must complete four years of college and work for several years in accounting to be considered qualified.
Job Training	Employees in these occupations usually need several years of work-related experience, on-the-job training, and/or vocational training.
Example	Many of these occupations involve coordinating, supervising, managing, or training others. Examples include real estate brokers, sales managers, database administrators, graphic designers, chemists, art directors, and cost estimators.

Tasks and Work Activities of Chemical Engineers

Develop safety procedures to be employed by workers operating equipment or working in close proximity to ongoing chemical reactions.
Determine most effective arrangement of operations such as mixing, crushing, heat transfer, distillation, and drying.
Prepare estimate of production costs and production progress reports for management.
Direct activities of workers who operate or are engaged in constructing and improving absorption, evaporation, or electromagnetic equipment.
Perform laboratory studies of steps in manufacture of new products and test proposed processes in small-scale operation, such as a pilot plant.
Develop processes to separate components of liquids or gases or generate electrical currents, using controlled chemical processes.
Conduct research to develop new and improved chemical manufacturing processes.
Design measurement and control systems for chemical plants based on data collected in laboratory experiments and in pilot plant operations.
Design and plan layout of equipment.
Troubleshoot problems with chemical manufacturing processes.
Evaluate chemical equipment and processes to identify ways to optimize performance or to ensure compliance with safety and environmental regulations.
Perform tests and monitor performance of processes throughout stages of production to determine degree of control over variables such as temperature, density, specific gravity, and pressure.
Monitor and analyze data from processes and experiments.

Processing InformationCompiling, coding, categorizing, calculating, tabulating, auditing, or verifying information or data.
Analyzing Data or InformationIdentifying the underlying principles, reasons, or facts of information by breaking down information or data into separate parts.
Getting InformationObserving, receiving, and otherwise obtaining information from all relevant sources.
Interacting With ComputersUsing computers and computer systems (including hardware and software) to program, write software, set up functions, enter data, or process information.
Making Decisions and Solving ProblemsAnalyzing information and evaluating results to choose the best solution and solve problems.
Updating and Using Relevant KnowledgeKeeping up-to-date technically and applying new knowledge to your job.
Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or SubordinatesProviding information to supervisors, co-workers, and subordinates by telephone, in written form, e-mail, or in person.
Monitor Processes, Materials, or SurroundingsMonitoring and reviewing information from materials, events, or the environment, to detect or assess problems.
Documenting/Recording InformationEntering, transcribing, recording, storing, or maintaining information in written or electronic/magnetic form.
Thinking CreativelyDeveloping, designing, or creating new applications, ideas, relationships, systems, or products, including artistic contributions.

Determine operational methods.
Prepare operational reports.
Estimate operational costs.
Direct industrial production activities.
Conduct validation tests of equipment or processes.
Research industrial processes or operations.
Develop technical methods or processes.
Research engineering aspects of biological or chemical processes.
Design control systems for mechanical or other equipment.
Design industrial processing systems.
Determine causes of operational problems or failures.
Evaluate characteristics of equipment or systems.
Monitor the productivity or efficiency of industrial operations.

Skills and Abilities for Chemical Engineers

ScienceUsing scientific rules and methods to solve problems.
Complex Problem SolvingIdentifying complex problems and reviewing related information to develop and evaluate options and implement solutions.
Critical ThinkingUsing logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
Reading ComprehensionUnderstanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.
Systems AnalysisDetermining how a system should work and how changes in conditions, operations, and the environment will affect outcomes.
Judgment and Decision MakingConsidering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.
MathematicsUsing mathematics to solve problems.
Systems EvaluationIdentifying measures or indicators of system performance and the actions needed to improve or correct performance, relative to the goals of the system.
Active LearningUnderstanding the implications of new information for both current and future problem-solving and decision-making.
Operations AnalysisAnalyzing needs and product requirements to create a design.
SpeakingTalking to others to convey information effectively.
Active ListeningGiving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
MonitoringMonitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.
WritingCommunicating effectively in writing as appropriate for the needs of the audience.
Operation MonitoringWatching gauges, dials, or other indicators to make sure a machine is working properly.
PersuasionPersuading others to change their minds or behavior.
Time ManagementManaging one's own time and the time of others.
CoordinationAdjusting actions in relation to others' actions.
Social PerceptivenessBeing aware of others' reactions and understanding why they react as they do.
TroubleshootingDetermining causes of operating errors and deciding what to do about it.

Written ComprehensionThe ability to read and understand information and ideas presented in writing.
Mathematical ReasoningThe ability to choose the right mathematical methods or formulas to solve a problem.
Oral ComprehensionThe ability to listen to and understand information and ideas presented through spoken words and sentences.
Category FlexibilityThe ability to generate or use different sets of rules for combining or grouping things in different ways.
Information OrderingThe ability to arrange things or actions in a certain order or pattern according to a specific rule or set of rules (e.g., patterns of numbers, letters, words, pictures, mathematical operations).
Deductive ReasoningThe ability to apply general rules to specific problems to produce answers that make sense.
Problem SensitivityThe ability to tell when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong. It does not involve solving the problem, only recognizing there is a problem.
Inductive ReasoningThe ability to combine pieces of information to form general rules or conclusions (includes finding a relationship among seemingly unrelated events).
OriginalityThe ability to come up with unusual or clever ideas about a given topic or situation, or to develop creative ways to solve a problem.
Fluency of IdeasThe ability to come up with a number of ideas about a topic (the number of ideas is important, not their quality, correctness, or creativity).
Oral ExpressionThe ability to communicate information and ideas in speaking so others will understand.
Number FacilityThe ability to add, subtract, multiply, or divide quickly and correctly.
Near VisionThe ability to see details at close range (within a few feet of the observer).
Flexibility of ClosureThe ability to identify or detect a known pattern (a figure, object, word, or sound) that is hidden in other distracting material.
Perceptual SpeedThe ability to quickly and accurately compare similarities and differences among sets of letters, numbers, objects, pictures, or patterns. The things to be compared may be presented at the same time or one after the other. This ability also includes comparing a presented object with a remembered object.
Speech ClarityThe ability to speak clearly so others can understand you.
Far VisionThe ability to see details at a distance.
Selective AttentionThe ability to concentrate on a task over a period of time without being distracted.
VisualizationThe ability to imagine how something will look after it is moved around or when its parts are moved or rearranged.
Written ExpressionThe ability to communicate information and ideas in writing so others will understand.

Laboratory mixerse.g. Agitators
Scanning probe microscopese.g. Atomic force microscopes
Benchtop centrifugese.g. Benchtop centrifuges
Laboratory mixerse.g. Benchtop mixers
Catalytic combustion analyzerse.g. Catalytic reactors
Chromatographic scannerse.g. Chromatographic scanning equipment
Distillation pipings or columns or fittingse.g. Distillation columns
Bi distillation unitse.g. Distillation systems
Laboratory filtration hardware or accessoriese.g. Filtration systems
Chemical absorption gas analyzerse.g. Gas absorbers
Heat exchangerse.g. Heat exchangers
Laboratory evaporatorse.g. Laboratory evaporaters
Freezedryers or lyophilzerse.g. Lyophilizers
Mass spectrometerse.g. Mass spectrometers
Processing tankse.g. Mixing tanks
Personal computerse.g. Personal computers
Personal digital assistant PDAs or organizerse.g. Personal digital assistants PDA
Ultrafiltration equipmente.g. Plate filter presses
Laboratory mixerse.g. Powder mixing equipment
Microcontrollerse.g. Programmable logic controllers PLC

Engineering and TechnologyKnowledge of the practical application of engineering science and technology. This includes applying principles, techniques, procedures, and equipment to the design and production of various goods and services.
ChemistryKnowledge of the chemical composition, structure, and properties of substances and of the chemical processes and transformations that they undergo. This includes uses of chemicals and their interactions, danger signs, production techniques, and disposal methods.
MathematicsKnowledge of arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, statistics, and their applications.
PhysicsKnowledge and prediction of physical principles, laws, their interrelationships, and applications to understanding fluid, material, and atmospheric dynamics, and mechanical, electrical, atomic and sub- atomic structures and processes.
Production and ProcessingKnowledge of raw materials, production processes, quality control, costs, and other techniques for maximizing the effective manufacture and distribution of goods.
DesignKnowledge of design techniques, tools, and principles involved in production of precision technical plans, blueprints, drawings, and models.
English LanguageKnowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.
Computers and ElectronicsKnowledge of circuit boards, processors, chips, electronic equipment, and computer hardware and software, including applications and programming.
Public Safety and SecurityKnowledge of relevant equipment, policies, procedures, and strategies to promote effective local, state, or national security operations for the protection of people, data, property, and institutions.
MechanicalKnowledge of machines and tools, including their designs, uses, repair, and maintenance.

Chemical Engineers Occupation Detailed Description

General Job Description and Education/Training Levels for Chemical Engineers

Tasks and Work Activities of Chemical Engineers

Skills and Abilities for Chemical Engineers