Since Chemical engineering is a vast field, the job prospectus and career
options of a chemical engineer is varied and different. Chemical engineers
play a key role in industries, mostly in the manufacturing field. Their
work area varies from petroleum and petrochemicals to food, materials,
specialty chemicals, plastics, power production, environmental control,
waste management and biotechnology.
As it is a varied field Chemical engineers could specialise in a particular
chemical processess such as oxidation or polymerisation or in a specific
product such as plastic or rubber. Besides designing equipments and plants,
testing manufacturing processes and supervising production; they also
study the properties and effects of dangerous chemicals, device process
of neutralising them and also on the development acceptable substitutes.
As such their work can be dangerous.
Wide employment opportunities await chemical engineers both in the public
sector as well as the private sector. They can seek jobs in areas such
as processing, operations or manufacturing, research and development,
design and construction, finance and teaching. They may also pursue a
management degree after B.Tech and take on marketing jobs. Candidates
with an additional management degree are sought by private industries. In
process industries they could work in positions such as a supervisor or
manager, technical specialist, project manager or project engineers.
Among the manufacturing industries, pharmaceuticals provide the best
opportunities for chemical engineers. In the government sector, chemical
engineers are employed to solve environmental problems such as waste and
water treatment, environmental regulations and recycling; on energy sector
such as energy conservation and research on alternate energy sources and
health-related research projects, defense establishments and atomic power
plants. They are also employed in service industries such as scientific
research and development services, particularly in energy and the developing
fields of biotechnology and nanotechnology.
Other work areas of chemical engineers include food processing, coal
preparation and mineral processing, explosives manufacturing, chemical
process industries such as fertiliser industry, including pesticides and
herbicides, caustic soda, glass and specialty chemicals, dyes and dyestuff,
paint, lubricants, steel and aluminum production. They are also employed
in a variety of manufacturing industries other than chemical manufacturing,
such as those producing electronics, photographic equipment, clothing, etc.
