Chemical engineer

Career path and progression

Chemical engineers can be found working in many different sectors, including:

• pharmaceuticals
• energy production
• food and drink manufacturing
• environmental engineering

With experience, you could become a senior process or design engineer, or research and development manager.

You might go on to be a plant manager or overall operations manager.

You could also work towards chartered engineer status, which gives professional recognition of your skills and expertise in the industry.

What it takes

Skills and knowledge

You'll need:

• knowledge of engineering science and technology
• knowledge of chemistry including the safe use and disposal of chemicals
• maths knowledge
• complex problem-solving skills
• to be thorough and pay attention to detail
• the ability to come up with new ways of doing things
• excellent verbal communication skills
• knowledge of manufacturing production and processes
• to be able to use a computer and the main software packages confidently

Related subjects

Most relevant

• Chemistry - Chemical engineers use chemistry every day – understanding how substances react, combine, and break down is fundamental to turning raw materials into useful products. They work with chemical processes at every stage, from lab testing to large-scale manufacturing, and need to handle by-products and waste safely.
• Mathematics - Chemical engineers rely on maths to calculate flow rates, reaction yields, energy balances, and production costs. They also use mathematical modelling to scale up processes from the lab to full-sized manufacturing plants, making sure everything works efficiently and safely.
• Physics - Chemical engineers apply physics principles like thermodynamics, fluid mechanics, and heat transfer when designing and operating processing equipment. Understanding how energy, pressure, and temperature affect materials is essential for making production processes work reliably.
• Engineering - Chemical engineers design, build, and improve the systems and equipment used in manufacturing plants. They work closely with plant designers to create production setups and solve practical engineering problems to keep operations running smoothly.

Also relevant

• Biology - Chemical engineers working in pharmaceuticals, food manufacturing, or biochemical engineering need to understand biological processes like fermentation and enzyme reactions. Developing products such as biofuels or medicines often involves applying biological knowledge alongside chemistry.
• Computer Science - Chemical engineers use computer modelling and simulation software to test production methods and optimise processes before building them in real life. Understanding how these computational tools work helps them investigate cost-effective and environmentally friendly ways to manufacture products.
• Environmental Science - Chemical engineers develop methods to deal safely with waste and by-products, and increasingly focus on making production processes more environmentally friendly. Understanding environmental impacts, pollution control, and sustainability helps them design greener manufacturing systems.
• Design and Technology - Chemical engineers work with plant designers to create production equipment and instruments, which involves understanding how things are built and how materials behave. Practical problem-solving and the ability to turn a design concept into a working system are central to the role.
• Business - Chemical engineers need to consider production costs, efficiency, and commercial viability when developing new processes. As they progress into senior roles like plant manager or operations manager, understanding budgets, project management, and business strategy becomes increasingly important.