Interested in the processes and equipment required for manufacturing chemicals? A career as a chemical engineer might be for you.
Chemical engineers are involved in the design of chemical plant equipment and develop or improve chemical manufacturing processes. They oversee the operations and maintenance of industrial plants that convert raw materials into products such as fuels, synthetic fibres, plastics, detergents, cement, fertilizers and pharmaceuticals. They develop processes to separate components of oil and gas and troubleshoot problems at the plant.
Chemical engineers also develop safety procedures to protect workers from operating equipment and chemical reactions, as well as evaluate equipment and processes to optimize performance and ensure compliance with regulations.
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- Sub-sector Exploration and production, Oil and gas services, Oil sands
- Environment Primarily indoor/office work
- Average Salary $70,000 to $100,000
- Education Post-secondary degree
In this occupation, activities may include:
- Compiling, coding, categorizing, calculating, tabulating, auditing, or verifying information or data
- Identifying the underlying principles, reasons, or facts of information by breaking down information or data into separate parts
- Observing, receiving, and otherwise obtaining information from all relevant sources.
- Using computers and computer systems (including hardware and software) to program, write software, set up functions, enter data, or process information
- Analyzing information and evaluating results to choose the best solution and solve problems
- Keeping up-to-date technically and applying new knowledge to your job
- Providing information to supervisors, co-workers, and subordinates by telephone, in written form, e-mail, or in person
- Monitoring and reviewing information from materials, events, or the environment, to detect or assess problems
- Entering, transcribing, recording, storing, or maintaining information in written or electronic/magnetic form
- Using relevant information and individual judgment to determine whether events or processes comply with laws, regulations, or standards
Education
- A post-secondary degree in chemical engineering or a related discipline from an institution accredited by Engineers Canada is typically required, although some positions may require a graduate degree
Certifications
- Specific health and safety certifications will be determined by job requirements
- Incident and accident investigation
Licensing
- To obtain a licence as a professional engineer (P. Eng), you must obtain a degree from an accredited engineering program, pass a professional practice exam and have three or four years of engineering experience, of which one year must be gained in Canada. You must also have Canadian citizenship or proof of permanent residency in Canada.
- Unlicensed engineers must work under the supervision of a P. Eng.
- Once licensed, engineers receive a seal to stamp their designs and drawings.
Nature of work and environment conditions specific to oil and natural gas include:
- Minimal or no travel
- Primarily indoor/office work
- Work not physically demanding
- Safety-sensitive environment
- Engineering and technology
- Mathematics
- Chemistry
- Physics
- Production and processing
- Design
- English language
- Computers and electronics
- Public safety and security
- Mechanical
- Sub-sector Carbon capture, utilization and storage, Emissions reduction
- Environment Primarily indoor/office work
- Average Salary Equal to oil and gas
- Education Post-secondary degree
- Skills Upgrading None
-
Direct
The skills gained as a chemical engineer in oil and natural gas are directly transferable to the emissions reduction sub-sector of cleantech, however, transferring into the CCUS sub-sector of cleantech may require minor upskilling. The worker may need to develop familiarity with the processes involved in CCUS that differ slightly from upstream development. In emissions reduction, the worker may be required to update their knowledge of technology, equipment, regulations and reporting requirements in the sector.
In addition to the activities below, other work activities in cleantech may include:
- Driving characterization, performance optimization, and yield improvement activities. (CCUS | emissions reduction)
- Conducting sensitivity analyses to assess relative cost-benefit/priority for process key performance indicator optimization, chemical process characterization and optimization experience. (CCUS | emissions reduction)
- Estimating CapEx and OpEx costs for new processes and equipment. (CCUS | emissions reduction)
In this occupation, activities may include:
- Compiling, coding, categorizing, calculating, tabulating, auditing, or verifying information or data
- Identifying the underlying principles, reasons, or facts of information by breaking down information or data into separate parts
- Observing, receiving, and otherwise obtaining information from all relevant sources.
- Using computers and computer systems (including hardware and software) to program, write software, set up functions, enter data, or process information
- Analyzing information and evaluating results to choose the best solution and solve problems
- Keeping up-to-date technically and applying new knowledge to your job
- Providing information to supervisors, co-workers, and subordinates by telephone, in written form, e-mail, or in person
- Monitoring and reviewing information from materials, events, or the environment, to detect or assess problems
- Entering, transcribing, recording, storing, or maintaining information in written or electronic/magnetic form
- Using relevant information and individual judgment to determine whether events or processes comply with laws, regulations, or standards
In addition to the requirements below, specific requirements in cleantech may include:
- Experience preparing specifications for new equipment and processes. (CCUS | emissions reduction)
- Strong understanding of chemistry and chemical engineering concepts including mass transfer, heat transfer, thermodynamics, and kinetics. (CCUS | emissions reduction)
- Knowledge of statistically based experiment design, data analysis, and process capability analysis. (CCUS | emissions reduction)
Education
- A post-secondary degree in chemical engineering or a related discipline from an institution accredited by Engineers Canada is typically required, although some positions may require a graduate degree
Certifications
- Specific health and safety certifications will be determined by job requirements
- Incident and accident investigation
Licensing
- To obtain a licence as a professional engineer (P. Eng), you must obtain a degree from an accredited engineering program, pass a professional practice exam and have three or four years of engineering experience, of which one year must be gained in Canada. You must also have Canadian citizenship or proof of permanent residency in Canada.
- Unlicensed engineers must work under the supervision of a P. Eng.
- Once licensed, engineers receive a seal to stamp their designs and drawings.
Nature of work and environment conditions specific to cleantech include:
- Primarily indoor/office work (CCUS | emissions reduction)
- Lower-risk tolerant culture (CCUS | emissions reduction)
- Safety-sensitive environment (CCUS | emissions reduction)
- Transition to a similar level (CCUS | emissions reduction)
- Rural location (emissions reduction)
Nature of work and environment conditions specific to oil and natural gas include:
- Minimal or no travel
- Primarily indoor/office work
- Work not physically demanding
- Safety-sensitive environment
- Engineering and technology
- Mathematics
- Chemistry
- Physics
- Production and processing
- Design
- English language
- Computers and electronics
- Public safety and security
- Mechanical
The cleantech sector is further divided into sub-sectors:
CCUS
- Transferability: Refocus
- Skills upgrade: Minor
Emissions reduction
- Transferability: Direct
- Skills upgrade: None
What does this mean for workers?
Workers will find that the ease of a career change from oil and gas into cleantech may vary by sub-sector. There could be differences in the need to upskill, gain knowledge and experience and varying work environments. Further research on the sector or consultation with a career advisor may be required.
- Environment Primarily indoor/office work
- Average Salary Equal to oil and gas
- Education Post-secondary degree
- Skills Upgrading Minor
-
Refocus
A chemical engineer considering a career change from oil and gas to petrochemicals and refining may need to complete some minor upskilling to make a successful transition. Process manufacturing experience may be required and workers may need to gain familiarity with slight differences in processes between petrochemicals and the upstream sector.
In addition to the activities below, other activities in petrochemicals and refining may include:
- Identifying opportunities to improve process effectiveness and efficiency.
- Assisting in the simulation, modelling and optimization studies of process operation.
- Supporting turnaround maintenance, tuning and troubleshooting.
- Identifying areas for improvement and developing cost/benefit analyses.
In this occupation, activities may include:
- Compiling, coding, categorizing, calculating, tabulating, auditing, or verifying information or data
- Identifying the underlying principles, reasons, or facts of information by breaking down information or data into separate parts
- Observing, receiving, and otherwise obtaining information from all relevant sources.
- Using computers and computer systems (including hardware and software) to program, write software, set up functions, enter data, or process information
- Analyzing information and evaluating results to choose the best solution and solve problems
- Keeping up-to-date technically and applying new knowledge to your job
- Providing information to supervisors, co-workers, and subordinates by telephone, in written form, e-mail, or in person
- Monitoring and reviewing information from materials, events, or the environment, to detect or assess problems
- Entering, transcribing, recording, storing, or maintaining information in written or electronic/magnetic form
- Using relevant information and individual judgment to determine whether events or processes comply with laws, regulations, or standards
In addition to the requirements below, specific requirements in petrochemicals and refining may include:
- Experience and training with process control systems, distributed control systems (DCS), programmable logic controller (PLC), systems and plant information systems.
Education
- A post-secondary degree in chemical engineering or a related discipline from an institution accredited by Engineers Canada is typically required, although some positions may require a graduate degree
Certifications
- Specific health and safety certifications will be determined by job requirements
- Incident and accident investigation
Licensing
- To obtain a licence as a professional engineer (P. Eng), you must obtain a degree from an accredited engineering program, pass a professional practice exam and have three or four years of engineering experience, of which one year must be gained in Canada. You must also have Canadian citizenship or proof of permanent residency in Canada.
- Unlicensed engineers must work under the supervision of a P. Eng.
- Once licensed, engineers receive a seal to stamp their designs and drawings.
Nature of work and environment conditions specific to petrochemicals and refining include:
- Potential for relocation
- Primarily indoor/office work
- Safety-sensitive environment
- Transition to a similar level
- Potentially unionized
Nature of work and environment conditions specific to oil and natural gas include:
- Minimal or no travel
- Primarily indoor/office work
- Work not physically demanding
- Safety-sensitive environment
- Engineering and technology
- Mathematics
- Chemistry
- Physics
- Production and processing
- Design
- English language
- Computers and electronics
- Public safety and security
- Mechanical
- Sub-sector Geothermal
- Environment Primarily indoor/office work
- Average Salary Equal to oil and gas
- Education Post-secondary degree
- Skills Upgrading Minor
-
Refocus
A chemical engineer considering a career change from oil and gas to the geothermal sub-sector of renewables may need to complete some minor upskilling to make a successful transition. Workers may need to gain familiarity with the processes involved in geothermal resource development, which differ from oil and gas.
In this occupation, activities may include:
- Compiling, coding, categorizing, calculating, tabulating, auditing, or verifying information or data
- Identifying the underlying principles, reasons, or facts of information by breaking down information or data into separate parts
- Observing, receiving, and otherwise obtaining information from all relevant sources.
- Using computers and computer systems (including hardware and software) to program, write software, set up functions, enter data, or process information
- Analyzing information and evaluating results to choose the best solution and solve problems
- Keeping up-to-date technically and applying new knowledge to your job
- Providing information to supervisors, co-workers, and subordinates by telephone, in written form, e-mail, or in person
- Monitoring and reviewing information from materials, events, or the environment, to detect or assess problems
- Entering, transcribing, recording, storing, or maintaining information in written or electronic/magnetic form
- Using relevant information and individual judgment to determine whether events or processes comply with laws, regulations, or standards
Education
- A post-secondary degree in chemical engineering or a related discipline from an institution accredited by Engineers Canada is typically required, although some positions may require a graduate degree
Certifications
- Specific health and safety certifications will be determined by job requirements
- Incident and accident investigation
Licensing
- To obtain a licence as a professional engineer (P. Eng), you must obtain a degree from an accredited engineering program, pass a professional practice exam and have three or four years of engineering experience, of which one year must be gained in Canada. You must also have Canadian citizenship or proof of permanent residency in Canada.
- Unlicensed engineers must work under the supervision of a P. Eng.
- Once licensed, engineers receive a seal to stamp their designs and drawings.
Nature of work and environment conditions specific to renewables include:
- Potential for relocation (geothermal)
- Primarily indoor/office work (geothermal)
- Safety-sensitive environment (geothermal)
- Transition to a lower level (geothermal)
Nature of work and environment conditions specific to oil and natural gas include:
- Minimal or no travel
- Primarily indoor/office work
- Work not physically demanding
- Safety-sensitive environment
- Engineering and technology
- Mathematics
- Chemistry
- Physics
- Production and processing
- Design
- English language
- Computers and electronics
- Public safety and security
- Mechanical
