Chemical engineering technician

Career path and progression

With experience, you could become a shift or lab supervisor in a production plant, eventually moving into management.

You could also work in:

• materials development and design
• quality control
• product sales and marketing

With further training, you could become a chemical engineer.

What it takes

Skills and knowledge

You'll need:

• knowledge of engineering science and technology
• maths knowledge
• to be thorough and pay attention to detail
• complex problem-solving skills
• excellent verbal communication skills
• analytical thinking skills
• knowledge of manufacturing production and processes
• knowledge of chemistry including the safe use and disposal of chemicals
• to be able to use a computer and the main software packages competently

Related subjects

Most relevant

• Chemistry - Chemical engineering technicians work with chemical reactions, processes, and substances every day – from developing new products in the laboratory to monitoring production processes in manufacturing plants. Understanding how chemicals behave, react, and can be safely handled is absolutely central to this role.
• Mathematics - Chemical engineering technicians use maths to calculate quantities, concentrations, flow rates, and temperatures during production processes. They also record and analyse data from experiments and quality control checks, which requires confidence with numbers and formulas.
• Physics - Chemical engineering technicians need to understand principles like heat transfer, pressure, fluid dynamics, and energy – all of which are key to how production plant equipment works. This knowledge helps them monitor machinery and troubleshoot problems in manufacturing processes.
• Engineering - Chemical engineering technicians help design, build, and install production plant equipment, and they maintain and monitor complex machinery. Understanding engineering principles is essential for working with the systems that turn raw materials into finished products like medicines, fuels, and food.

Also relevant

• Biology - Chemical engineering technicians working in pharmaceuticals or food manufacturing need to understand biological processes like fermentation, enzyme activity, and microbiology. This is especially relevant when developing medicines or ensuring food products are safe.
• Design and Technology - Chemical engineering technicians help design and build production equipment and work with technical drawings and prototypes. Understanding materials, manufacturing methods, and the design process helps them contribute to developing efficient production systems.
• Computer Science - Chemical engineering technicians increasingly work with automated production systems, data logging software, and process control technology. Understanding how these digital systems work helps when recording data, making adjustments to instruments, and monitoring computerised manufacturing processes.
• Environmental Science - Chemical engineering technicians may work on reducing waste, developing alternative fuels like hydrogen, or finding more sustainable manufacturing methods. Understanding environmental impacts and sustainability principles is increasingly important as the industry moves towards greener processes.