Chemical Engineers

• Troubleshoot problems with chemical manufacturing processes.
• Evaluate chemical equipment and processes to identify ways to optimize performance or to ensure compliance with safety and environmental regulations.
• Conduct research to develop new and improved chemical manufacturing processes.
• Determine most effective arrangement of operations such as mixing, crushing, heat transfer, distillation, and drying.
• Perform tests and monitor performance of processes throughout stages of production to determine degree of control over variables such as temperature, density, specific gravity, and pressure.
• Design and plan layout of equipment.
• Prepare estimate of production costs and production progress reports for management.
• Design measurement and control systems for chemical plants based on data collected in laboratory experiments and in pilot plant operations.
• Develop processes to separate components of liquids or gases or generate electrical currents using controlled chemical processes.
• Perform laboratory studies of steps in manufacture of new product and test proposed process in small scale operation such as a pilot plant.
• Direct activities of workers who operate or who are engaged in constructing and improving absorption, evaporation, or electromagnetic equipment.

Source: O*NET OnLine information for Chemical Engineers.

• Complex Problem Solving - Identifying complex problems and reviewing related information to develop and evaluate options and implement solutions.
• Critical Thinking - Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
• Judgment and Decision Making - Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.
• Systems Analysis - Determining how a system should work and how changes in conditions, operations, and the environment will affect outcomes.
• Mathematics - Using mathematics to solve problems.
• Reading Comprehension - Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.
• Active Learning - Understanding the implications of new information for both current and future problem-solving and decision-making.
• Systems Evaluation - Identifying measures or indicators of system performance and the actions needed to improve or correct performance, relative to the goals of the system.
• Speaking - Talking to others to convey information effectively.

Source: O*NET OnLine information for Chemical Engineers.