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Chemical engineers

OaSIS code 21320.00

Chemical engineers research, design, and develop chemical processes and equipment, oversee the operation and maintenance of industrial chemical, plastics, pharmaceutical, resource, pulp and paper, and food processing plants and perform duties related to chemical quality control, environmental protection and biochemical or biotechnical engineering.

Overview

Also known as

  • Adhesives engineer
  • Biochemical engineer
  • Biotechnical engineer
  • Chemical process control engineer
  • Chemical process engineer
  • Chemical project engineer
  • Environmental chemical engineer
  • Industrial hygiene engineer
  • Industrial waste treatment engineer
  • Liquid fuels engineer
  • Petrochemical engineer
  • Polymer engineer
  • Pulp and paper engineer
  • Refinery engineer
  • Waste treatment engineer

Main duties

This group performs some or all of the following duties:

  • Conduct economic and technical feasibility studies in areas related to chemical, petroleum, pulp and paper, food or other processing industries
  • Conduct research into the development or improvement of chemical engineering processes, reactions and materials
  • Evaluate chemical process technology and equipment and determine production specifications
  • Design and test chemical processing and associated plants and equipment
  • Oversee the construction, modification, operation and maintenance of pilot plants, processing units or processing plants
  • Establish and conduct quality control programs, operating procedures and control strategies to ensure consistency and adherence to standards for raw materials, products and waste products or emissions
  • Prepare contract documents and evaluate tenders for the process aspects of industrial construction
  • Supervise technicians, technologists and other engineers
  • May work in an administrative capacity, for example, in the development of guidelines and specifications for the handling of dangerous chemicals, environmental protection, or standards for foods, materials and consumer goods.

Additional information

  • There is considerable mobility between chemical engineering specializations at the less senior levels.
  • Supervisory and senior positions in this unit group require experience.
  • Engineers often work in a multidisciplinary environment and acquire knowledge and skills through work experience that may allow them to practise in associated areas of science, engineering, sales, marketing or management.
  • Chemical engineers work closely with chemists and other scientists and engineers and mobility is possible between some fields of specialization.
  • Chemical engineers may specialize in the products and processes of a particular industry such as pulp and paper manufacturing, pharmaceuticals, petroleum refining, energy processing, plastics, metal extraction and refining, or adhesives and coatings production. They may also specialize in functional areas of various industries such as process control, pollution control or fermentation processes.

Similar occupations classified elsewhere

Exclusions:

  • Engineering managers (20010)
  • Chemists (21101)
  • Civil engineers (21300)
  • Electrical and electronics engineers (21310)
  • Metallurgical and materials engineers (21322)
  • Petroleum engineers (21332)
  • Other professional engineers (21399)
  • Agricultural engineer (in 21399.01 Agricultural and bio-resource engineers)
  • Biomedical engineer (in 21399.02 Biomedical engineers)

NOC hierarchy breakdown

NOC version

NOC 2021 Version 1.0

Broad occupational category

2 – Natural and applied sciences and related occupations

TEER

1 – Occupations usually require a university degree

Major group

21 – Professional occupations in natural and applied sciences

Sub-major group

213 – Professional occupations in engineering

Minor group

2132 – Manufacturing and processing engineers

Unit group

21320 – Chemical engineers

Occupational profile

21320.00 – Chemical engineers

Work characteristics

Work characteristics gathers the various components describing the work environment of each occupation, such as employers, work activities, and the work context. Each category displays up to 10 descriptors in descending order based, firstly, on their attributed ratings by the level of complexity (for Work Activities) or other measurement dimensions (for Work Context), and secondly, in alphabetical order. The whole list of descriptors and their ratings can be expanded at the bottom of each page.

Work Activities

Proficiency or complexity level
Analyzing Data or Information
5 - Highest Level
Developing Technical Instructions
5 - Highest Level
Estimating the Quantifiable Characteristics
5 - Highest Level
Getting Information
5 - Highest Level
Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events
5 - Highest Level

Work Context

Structural Job Characteristics

Structured versus Unstructured Work
Degree of freedom to determine tasks and priorities
3 - Moderate amount of freedom
Work Week Duration
Worked hours in a typical week
3 - More than 40 hours

Physical Work Environment

Physical Proximity
Physical distance from others
3 - Somewhat close (e.g. share office)

Physical Demands

Sitting
Duration
4 - More than half the time
Standing
Duration
2 - Less than half the time
Bending or Twisting the Body
Duration
1 - Very little time

Interpersonal Relations

Contact with Others
Frequency
4 - Every day, a few times per day
Duration
3 - About half the time
Work with Work Group or Team
Importance
4 - Highly important
Frequency
4 - Every day, a few times per day

Workplaces/employers

  • Consulting businesses
  • Education institutions
  • Governments
  • Manufacturing industries
  • Processing industries
  • Research institutions

Skills and abilities

This section displays the various competencies required for an occupation. Each category displays up to 10 descriptors in descending order based, firstly, on their attributed ratings by the level of proficiency (for Skills and Abilities) or importance (for Personal Attributes) and secondly, in alphabetical order. The whole list of descriptors and their ratings can be expanded at the bottom of each page.

Abilities

Proficiency or complexity level
Categorization Flexibility
5 - Highest Level
Deductive Reasoning
5 - Highest Level
Fluency of Ideas
5 - Highest Level
Inductive Reasoning
5 - Highest Level
Information Ordering
5 - Highest Level

Skills

Proficiency or complexity level
Critical Thinking
5 - Highest Level
Decision Making
5 - Highest Level
Evaluation
5 - Highest Level
Numeracy
5 - Highest Level
Oral Communication: Oral Comprehension
5 - Highest Level

Personal Attributes

Importance
Analytical Thinking
5 - Extremely important
Attention to Detail
5 - Extremely important
Innovativeness
5 - Extremely important
Active Learning
4 - Highly important
Adaptability
4 - Highly important