- Environment Primarily indoor/office work
- Education Post-secondary degree
- Average salary $78,000 to $179,000
Career profile
Chemical process engineers research, design and develop chemical processes and equipment to expand operations, improve efficiencies, reduce emissions and resolve issues in the energy industry.
These engineers also oversee the operation, performance, optimization and maintenance of petroleum production, processing, upgrading, liquefaction and refining and ensure that chemical processes maximize operational efficiency and mitigate any environmental impacts.
Oil sands, Exploration and production, Carbon capture, utilization and storage, Engineering, design and procurement, Geothermal
When you start in this occupation activities may include:
- Monitoring the performance of processes throughout the stages of production
- Performing tests on processes throughout all stages of production
- Troubleshooting problems with chemical manufacturing processes
As you advance in this career, you may take on additional tasks including:
- Establishing quality control programs, operating procedures and control strategies to ensure consistency and adherence to standards for raw materials, products and waste products or emissions
- Providing guidance and expert advice to management or other groups on technical, systems or process related topics
Education
- A post-secondary degree in chemical engineering, computer process control, process engineering or a related discipline from an institution accredited by Engineers Canada is typically required, although some positions may require a graduate degree
Certifications
- Specific health and safety certifications will be determined by job requirements
- Incident and accident investigation
Licensing
- To obtain a licence as a professional engineer (P. Eng), you must obtain a degree from an accredited engineering program, pass a professional practice exam and have three or four years of engineering experience, of which one year must be gained in Canada. You must also have Canadian citizenship or proof of permanent residency in Canada.
- Unlicensed engineers must work under the supervision of a P. Eng.
- Once licensed, engineers receive a seal to stamp their designs and drawings.
- Primarily indoor/office work
- Work not physically demanding
- Safety-sensitive environment
Your chemistry skills help find solutions. Your communication and analytical skills make you an important part of the team.
- Critical thinking
- Engineering and technology
- Production and processing
- Analyzing operations
- Analyzing systems
- Quality control analysis
- Evaluating systems
- Designing technology
- Judgment and decision making
- Chemistry
