r/ChemicalEngineering

Hi!! I am a incoming sophmore in college and I want to start gaining experience and learning more about the opportunities this field has. I wanna know:

-Your current position

-What steps did you take to get to that position

-Advice you have for undergrads to prepare themselves at getting the best shot into these high paying fields.

Thank you and I appreciate the responses!!

Hey I been in the job market for abt 9 months now and I am not the best at networking. I graduated back in 2025 and have experience. I was wondering what are some ways I can write emails/messages that get attention. For example I applied to a job and connected with senior employee and want to reach out but don’t really know what to say or how to grab their attention. And tbh just generally tips for introverted/quiet people who are in the job market.
I know it’s vague but any help would be beneficial.

Also any tips resources for entry level jobs I use LinkedIn and indeed and then the company websites but other then that any others on how to find entry level roles? I tried reaching out to recruiters but I don’t they are interested in entry level candidates, which I understand.

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A person is a scientist retired from Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission from a nuclear power plant sector as a Deputy Chief Scientist Designation. He is by profession a Analyst chemist. He holds a Masters of Science in Analytical Chemistry. Now he is searching a post Retirement career opportunities regarding in his field worldwide. What career opportunities are available regarding his field and how he can avail it.

Have a BSc in Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering. But its 9 years old. I have worked in bioengineering research labs and NHS cancer research engagement roles. A couple of years wasted due to changing country of residence twice + covid.

Now, I am thinking about getting back to the Chemical/process Engineering. Is it possible? Any suggestions how to? Where to start?

What’s the most unhinged thing you’ve done to land a client?
I’m relatively new to sales/business development, so this is my first real rodeo.
For those of you who’ve been doing this for a while: what’s the most unhinged, unconventional, or surprisingly effective thing you’ve done to land a client or close a deal?
I’m talking about the stuff they don’t teach you in sales training
Could be a weird follow up strategy, cold outreach trick, networking move, negotiating tactic, getting past a gatekeeper, turning a “no” into a “yes,” or something completely unexpected that actually worked.
Also, any advice on maximizing commissions/incentives would be appreciated. What did you wish someone had told you when you were starting out?
Basically: give me your best sales secrets, war stories, and questionable but effective tactics.
I’m taking notes.

Hello everyone
I am a second year undergrad studying chemical engineering. I wanted to ask what technical / soft skills can help me excel in the core domain. Currently i have courses on fluid mechanics ,process calculations and thermodynamics. I wanted to know what skills would actually make a difference in my day to day work . Currently i don’t have any technical knowledge like python or excel so i am basically starting from scratch . Lastly what do you wish you had learned earlier?

I know it’s not the optimal situation, but for my family it was best for me to take time off for child-raising. I suspect within a year or two I will be ready to re-enter the workforce. I’m prepared to only be offered entry-level, junior positions.

I admit I am painfully unaware of any useful training outside of formal schooling. Cursory google searches say that there aren’t really many relevant certifications, and a masters degree in ChemE is largely useless. For now all I can think of is finding free or low price courses or YouTube series to help hone my skills in process design, programming, and controls theory. Really anything to “fill the gap” so to speak. Although I’d much prefer something I can show that I “completed” or accomplished.

I’m also open to completing an online Masters degree in something more specialized, like alternative energy/controls engineering/project management, or even an MBA, but only if I really felt like it would help.

I’m currently working with Técnicas Reunidas, a Spanish EPC company, in the Process Engineering team. I’ve completed around one year with the company, but since there are currently limited projects/work available, I’m considering making a switch to gain more hands-on project exposure and grow professionally.
I’m a recent Chemical Engineering graduate and have experience in process design and engineering. I’m open to relocating anywhere in India or abroad for the right opportunity.
If you know of any relevant openings or can connect me with someone hiring Process Engineers, I’d really appreciate it.

Hi,

I'm ChemE student here. I want to install Aspen Plus on my personal laptop but I haven't found where to even start; not sure if I should go through AspenTech's site directly or through my university. Anyone know the actual steps to get it installed as a student, or a free trial route? Or is there no such thing.

Thx in advance.

basically what the title says. I'm starting uni in September for an integrated masters in ChemEng (yes in the UK, but with plans to move abroad), but I've seen so many posts and comments here saying things like 'don't do it you'll regret it' 'the industry is terrible' 'i work in business not engineering' etc etc

I just don't want to be stuck in a course for five years that the majority of people seem to really regret choosing, with really bad career prospects

Is it a good idea if I pursue an advance masters degree in Chem.E in UK after my bachelor's in Chem.E?

Hey fellow chemical engineers! 👋
I’m currently in my 2nd year of B.Tech Chemical Engineering and I’m looking to build a strong foundation in the core subjects.
Could you guys suggest some must-read / most useful books for 2nd year Chemical Engineering?
Especially looking for recommendations for subjects like:
Fluid Mechanics
Heat Transfer
Mass Transfer
Thermodynamics
Chemical Reaction Engineering
Process Calculations
Numerical Methods / Engineering Mathematics
I’m mainly looking for books that are easy to understand, conceptually strong, and useful for both university exams and future GATE/industry preparation.
If you’re a senior or a practicing chemical engineer, I’d really appreciate your recommendations! 🙌
Also, if there are any books you wish you had started reading in 2nd year, please mention those too. 😄

Hey all. I hold undergrad & postgrad degrees in Chemical Engineering from Tier 1/2 colleges in India. Currently I have 4+ years of work ex across R&D,shop-floor manufacturing & production primarily in battery & adhesive domains. However I’ve been wanting to break into process engineering oriented roles but met with almost no luck. I had recently completed an online process design course to learn the basics - as part of up-skilling.
Is there any hope for beginners like me? Would appreciate your advice.

Hi everyone,

I'm looking for some career guidance from people who have experience in the chemical/process industry.

Here's my background:

- B.Tech in Chemical Engineering (Graduated in 2021)

- Due to COVID and the job market at the time, I couldn't start my career in core chemical engineering.

- I decided to pursue an MCA and transitioned into software development.

- I now have almost 3 years of experience as a Software Engineer (MERN/Full Stack).

Lately, I've been thinking about combining both of my backgrounds instead of treating them as separate careers.

I'm interested in roles where software and chemical engineering intersect, such as:

- Process digitalization

- Industrial software

- Manufacturing IT

- Process data analytics

- Process modeling/simulation

- MES/SCADA/Automation software

- Digital transformation in chemical/pharma/oil & gas companies

My concern is that I don't have professional experience in the chemical industry, even though I have the degree.

My questions are:

1. What kinds of roles should I target?

2. Which skills should I learn to become a strong candidate (Aspen HYSYS, Aspen Plus, Python, SCADA/PLC, PI System, etc.)?

3. Are there companies that specifically value someone with both software development and chemical engineering knowledge?

4. Has anyone here made a similar transition?

I'd really appreciate any advice or roadmap from people working in this space.

Thanks!

Using an alt account because my main is tied to my job.

I'm a chemistry professor and stockroom head at a university. While we can get into the fact that I should have listened to my father when he told me to go into chemical engineering in the first place, I did not listen and took the chemistry route. Having finally come around to the fact that dad was right the whole time, I'm now working on an engineering degree. I have summers off from work and would be able to do an internship over the next 2-3 summers, depending on how long it takes to finish the degree. I could probably do it faster if I wasn't working 50 hours a week.

My current dilemma is that I don't know how to really present myself as a serious candidate. I want people to understand that I'm trying to make a career change in the near-future, but I am worried that my application could come across as someone who is addicted to education and just looking to fill summers. There also aren't places for cover letters on most applications where I can explain. I did my first application yesterday evening and before 24 hours were even up I was rejected. I know I'm not going to get them all, but that stings a bit since it's the first one.

Any advice for those of us trying to change careers?

Our group is currently having a hard time finding a suitable topic for our plant design project. We are required to design a chemical processing plant that is novel and has good economic potential. Ideally, the process should not involve overly complex operations, such as bioreactors or distillation columns. The byproducts should also be non-hazardous and relatively easy to manage (as much as possible).

The plant must include a reactor, although it cannot be a bioreactor. It would also be preferable if the raw materials were abundant and readily available in the Philippines, such as rice straw, pineapple waste, or other agricultural residues.

Could you please suggest some possible topics or ideas that would meet these requirements? We would greatly appreciate any recommendations or guidance you can provide. Thank you!

Hey guys,

I don’t have a lot of experience in chemistry so i thought this subreddit could help me. I hope i do get some valuable advice and understanding.

Recently my brother has been planning on starting a small business project to process waste eggshells specifically to obtain pure calcium carbonate (CaCO3).

To be honest, I'm kind of worried he might be risking his money on this. I was reading somewhere that limestone is already mined at a massive, cheap scale everywhere for calcium carbonate, so I'm not sure how this makes financial sense. Plus, the whole processing and chemical extraction part of it looks super tedious.

To try and help him out, I actually went ahead and spoke to a few local farms myself. But the catch is, they said they're only willing to supply the shells with all the inner membrane and materials completely intact they aren't going to clean or prep them at all.

Since I don't know much about chemistry or manufacturing, I wanted to ask you guys: Is this actually a practical idea to get pure CaCO3, or is he walking into a total headache? Any advice or warnings would be awesome before he drops cash on equipment.

Thanks!