You are keen on making a career as a chemical engineer and are wondering what do they actually do. Well, their task is to design, develop systems & processes and operate the equipment, that is used to transform raw materials into final useful products.
The Prospects
They are engaged in various areas, ranging from waste engineering to biochemical engineering, environmental engineering, and food engineering. There is a shortage of qualified and really skilled persons in the field so the prospects of landing a decent position in this field are quite high.
Skill Level
The take home remuneration for chemical engineering jobs depends on their skill level, the experience they possess, and the relevance of their qualifications as also the industry they happen to be working in currently.
Ladder Rung
The job titles change with the ladder rung and come with a significant enhancement in salary. Starting from graduate chemical engineers, moving on to mid-level chemical engineers, and then to senior chemical engineers who double up as team leaders and managers, then there are the principal chemical engineers who shoulder the responsibility of overseeing crucial engineering projects. For instance, people who happen to be working in the petrochemical sector tend to be paid more than their peers in related industries.
Chemical Processes
Chemical engineers are required to research and improve myriad designs for various factory processes while developing mission critical chemical processes. It would be something as vital as removing impurities from water to make it all the more portable, or to be used in various fields as medicine, healthcare, etc, same is true of removing impurities from fuels.
Cutting Edge Research
They lend their helping hand in rendering production processes all the more efficient, by taking recourse to cutting edge research and developing sturdy and reliable materials, for enhanced efficiency.
Immediate Environment
They are instrumental in selecting the best of materials and equipment to be used in various factory processes. It is not crass commerce, they think of all the time, they do go ahead and examine the fallout of various industrial processes on the immediate environment.
Cost / Benefit Ratio
They are at the forefront devising ways and means to combat pollution. In addition to this, they are required to carry on studies to enhance the efficiencies and arrive at better cost/benefit calculations of various factories and their associated equipment.
Final Thoughts
Their brief includes the preparation and presentation of various reports as well as proposals. They are at the forefront of managing the operating staff and technicians. To put it succinctly, chemical engineering is at the very heart of any given industrial process, instrumental in coming up with innovative solutions with an aim to improve the quality of life and shore up the bottom lines as well.
