Process Engineer (Chemical) - Personal requirements

Mataaro Matū

Skills & knowledge

Process or chemical engineers need to have:
  • knowledge of engineering
  • knowledge of maths and physics
  • knowledge of chemistry, biochemistry and biotechnology
  • knowledge of environmental issues
  • problem-solving skills
  • analytical skills
  • planning and organisational skills
  • people skills
  • managerial skills
  • communication skills
  • writing skills for producing reports.
Maria Wake talks to a colleague in an office.

Chemical engineers need good communication skills

Ben Wright checks charts on computer screen.

"I’ve used powerful software to do detailed designs on evaporators." Ben Wright, Project Engineer

 

Personal Qualities

Process or chemical engineers should be:
  • able to make good judgements
  • creative and innovative
  • interested in how things work, with an eye for detail
  • motivated and self-disciplined
  • diligent
  • able to work well under pressure
  • patient and persistent
  • practical and logical.

 

Ben Wright.

"You do have to have a very logical approach – and the ability to think outside the square as well. Often all the components you put together are in existence, but how to put them together and make them work often requires lateral thinking."

Ben Wright - Project Engineer

 
Updated September 2009