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Chemical Engineers - 17-2041.00

O*NET-SOC Description

Design chemical plant equipment and devise processes for manufacturing chemicals and products, such as gasoline, synthetic rubber, plastics, detergents, cement, paper, and pulp, by applying principles and technology of chemistry, physics, and engineering.

Sample of Reported Job Titles

  • Chemical Engineer
  • Development Engineer
  • Engineer
  • Engineering Scientist
  • Process Control Engineer
  • Process Engineer
  • Project Engineer
  • Refinery Process Engineer
  • Research Chemical Engineer
  • Scientist

SOC Occupation Groups

17-0000 Architecture and Engineering Occupations
17-2000 Engineers
17-2040 Chemical Engineers
17-2041.00 Chemical Engineers

Related Occupations

Tasks

  • Conduct research to develop new and improved chemical manufacturing processes.
  • Design and plan layout of equipment.
  • Design measurement and control systems for chemical plants based on data collected in laboratory experiments and in pilot plant operations.
  • Determine most effective arrangement of operations such as mixing, crushing, heat transfer, distillation, and drying.
  • Develop processes to separate components of liquids or gases or generate electrical currents, using controlled chemical processes.
  • Develop safety procedures to be employed by workers operating equipment or working in close proximity to ongoing chemical reactions.
  • Direct activities of workers who operate or are engaged in constructing and improving absorption, evaporation, or electromagnetic equipment.
  • Evaluate chemical equipment and processes to identify ways to optimize performance or to ensure compliance with safety and environmental regulations.
  • Monitor and analyze data from processes and experiments.
  • Perform laboratory studies of steps in manufacture of new products and test proposed processes in small-scale operation, such as a pilot plant.
  • 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.
  • Prepare estimate of production costs and production progress reports for management.
  • Troubleshoot problems with chemical manufacturing processes.

Detailed Work Activities

  • Conduct validation tests of equipment or processes.
  • Design control systems for mechanical or other equipment.
  • Design industrial processing systems.
  • Determine causes of operational problems or failures.
  • Determine operational methods.
  • Develop technical methods or processes.
  • Direct industrial production activities.
  • Estimate operational costs.
  • Evaluate characteristics of equipment or systems.
  • Monitor the productivity or efficiency of industrial operations.
  • Prepare operational reports.
  • Research engineering aspects of biological or chemical processes.
  • Research industrial processes or operations.

Military Crosswalk Titles

  • Biochemist (Navy - Commissioned Officer only)
  • Biochemistry (Army - Commissioned Officer only)
  • Chemical Engineer (Marine Corps - Commissioned or Warrant Officer)
  • Fuels and Lubricants Technical Officer (Navy - Commissioned or Warrant Officer)
  • Physicist/Nuclear Engineer (Air Force - Commissioned Officer only)
  • Physicist/Nuclear Engineer, ABM (if Prefix N) (Air Force - Commissioned Officer only)
  • Physicist/Nuclear Engineer, Airlift (Air Force - Commissioned Officer only)
  • Physicist/Nuclear Engineer, Bomber (Air Force - Commissioned Officer only)
  • Physicist/Nuclear Engineer, C2ISREW (Air Force - Commissioned Officer only)
  • Physicist/Nuclear Engineer, Fighter (Air Force - Commissioned Officer only)
  • Physicist/Nuclear Engineer, General (Air Force - Commissioned Officer only)
  • Physicist/Nuclear Engineer, Helicopter or EWO (Air Force - Commissioned Officer only)
  • Physicist/Nuclear Engineer, Nuclear (Air Force - Commissioned Officer only)
  • Physicist/Nuclear Engineer, RPA (Air Force - Commissioned Officer only)
  • Physicist/Nuclear Engineer, Special Operations (Air Force - Commissioned Officer only)
  • Physicist/Nuclear Engineer, Tanker (Air Force - Commissioned Officer only)
  • Physicist/Nuclear Engineer, Trainer (Air Force - Commissioned Officer only)
  • RL - Naval Reactors Engineer (Navy - Commissioned Officer only)

Apprenticeship Crosswalk Titles

No information available.

DOT Crosswalk Titles

  • Absorption-and-Adsorption Engineer
  • Chemical Design Engineer, Processes
  • Chemical Engineer
  • Chemical Research Engineer
  • Chemical-Test Engineer