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Chemical engineer skills for your resume and career

Updated January 8, 2025

7 min read

Quoted experts

Vianney Gimenez-Pinto Ph.D,

David Nielsen Ph.D.

Below we've compiled a list of the most critical chemical engineer skills. We ranked the top skills for chemical engineers based on the percentage of resumes they appeared on. For example, 10.4% of chemical engineer resumes contained chemistry as a skill. Continue reading to find out what skills a chemical engineer needs to be successful in the workplace.

15 chemical engineer skills for your resume and career

1. Chemistry

Chemistry is the branch of science that tells us about the composition, properties, and structure of elements and compounds. The processes these elements undergo and how they undergo change all come under the branch of chemistry.

Here's how chemical engineers use chemistry:

Served as a versatile chemical operations team liaison by reviewing ten different chemistry lab procedures and introducing improvements.
Provided emergency response support for power plant chemistry issues and created standard plant chemistry operating procedures.

2. Technical Support

Technical support or tech support are the services provided by any hardware or software company to users. They help in solving the technical difficulties the customers face with their products or services. Moreover, the tech support employees maintain, manage, and repair the IT faults. They are also responsible for resolving the network problems, installing and configuring hardware and software.

Here's how chemical engineers use technical support:

Worked with cross-functional teams for competitor market analysis, providing technical support and sale strategy for project bidding proposal.
Provided technical support, product recommendations and project cost estimation based on client needs and specifications.

3. Co-Op

A co-op is an organization that is owned and controlled by its members and that operates for the benefit of its members. In other words, co-ops are made up of people who have a specific need and are willing to work together to run and organize a business that meets those needs. The members of the co-op own, control and use the products and services of the cooperative.

Here's how chemical engineers use co-op:

Position: Chemical Engineer Co-op Duties: Assisted with accident investigation, reports and attended hearings.
Worked as a Chemical Engineering co-op for World Wide Engineering & Construction Division for the Advanced Controls Technology Department.

4. Chemical Process

A chemical process is a process in which one or more chemicals or chemical compounds are modified through chemical reactions. Such a chemical process can take place on its own or be caused by an external force and involves a chemical reaction.

Here's how chemical engineers use chemical process:

Researched and developed chemical processes by synthesis of products in laboratory for log sheet improvement and first time scale-up production.
Participated in all phases/stages of chemical process designs from feasibility study, preliminary design, to detailed design.

5. Troubleshoot

Troubleshooting is the process of analyzing and fixing any kind of problem in a system or a machine. Troubleshooting is the detailed yet quick search in the system for the main source of an issue and solving it.

Here's how chemical engineers use troubleshoot:

Developed robust new product formulations by implementing statistical analysis techniques to troubleshoot process instabilities and optimize conditions.
Worked with multiple departments to troubleshoot day-to-day manufacturing problems.

6. Project Management

Here's how chemical engineers use project management:

Developed technical documents on a variety of areas ranging from construction and equipment issues to project management and environmental concerns.
Involved in reviewing budgeting, capital project management, implementing state and Federal regulations.

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7. Safety Procedures

Safety procedures are a set of standardized procedures, that ensures minimal to no risk to people, resources, and the work environment. A company follows the step-by-step safety procedures as it they not only keep the customers and the employees safe, but also help in avoiding legal claims.

Here's how chemical engineers use safety procedures:

Authored procedures and documentation for compliance as hazardous waste generator and trained staff on hazards and safety procedures regarding chemical hazards.
Implemented safety procedures and engineering controls.

8. R

R is a free software environment and a language used by programmers for statistical computing. The R programming language is famously used for data analysis by data scientists.

Here's how chemical engineers use r:

Produced Form R, Form TR II, and Hazardous Waste Reports for City of Detroit and MDEQ.
Developed and used X-bar R charts to determine process variation for dry film thickness of paint process.

9. Process Control

Process control is a method pertaining to continuous production processes that uses the aid of ICS (Industrial Control Systems) for production. This method enables production to be done with a level of consistency and safety in an economically friendly manner that is impossible to achieve solely through manual control.

Here's how chemical engineers use process control:

Ensured process controls were maintained in compliance with strict safety regulations and environmental protection requirements.
Developed and supported new and existing petroleum processes and catalysts using Statistical Process Control techniques.

10. Process Engineering

Process engineering is the agreement and use of the essential standards and laws of nature that permit us to change crude material and energy into items that are valuable to society, at a mechanical level.

Here's how chemical engineers use process engineering:

Conducted technical evaluations of the process engineering reports and successfully pointed out some discrepancies.
Performed process engineering modifications for current capital projects in a pharmaceuticals manufacturing facility.

11. Product Quality

Product quality is the basic element of a business. It means to add features in a product or service in such a way that it meets the needs and wants of the customers. Enhancing the product quality also means improve the goods from any existing defects to ensure customer satisfaction.

Here's how chemical engineers use product quality:

Implemented technical engineering projects to improve manufacturing efficiency and product quality.
Cooperated with senior engineers to ensure optimal product quality.

12. IDS

An IDS (intrusion detection system) stands for a software application or device that monitors a network to identify policy violations or malicious activities.

Here's how chemical engineers use ids:

Developed, modified & reviewed P & IDs for new or revamp plants.
Developed P & IDs for EO unit chilled water system, unit compression systems and Ethanol storage tank and unloading system.

13. PowerPoint

Here's how chemical engineers use powerpoint:

Utilized Microsoft Word, Powerpoint, Excel, Windows, MATLAB, Mac OSX
Prepare PowerPoint presentations for Safety Engineer.

14. Process Improvement

Here's how chemical engineers use process improvement:

Assisted in continuous process improvement and implementation of new designs into Production and provide support on continuous quality improvement.
Collected and analyzed data from simulations and reported results to team of engineers with recommendations for proactive process improvements.

15. Data Analysis

Here's how chemical engineers use data analysis:

Worked on process development projects that included data analysis, cost analysis, and implicated improved pilot plant operating guidelines.
Perform complex data analysis using statistical methods to evaluate the reliability of experimental results and to draw meaningful conclusions.

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What skills help Chemical Engineers find jobs?

Tell us what job you are looking for, we’ll show you what skills employers want.

What skills stand out on chemical engineer resumes?

Vianney Gimenez-Pinto Ph.D

Assistant Professor of Physics and Chemistry, Lincoln University of Missouri

Physicists are valued for their abstraction, mathematical reasoning, critical thinking, and problem-solving skills. However, I would not recommend spelling those out in a resume as they are embedded already in the major. A robust undergraduate resume should have research experiences, either based in their home-university or as an REU (Research Experience for Undergraduates) program in another institution. Also, it should include conference presentations and internships. Those show the candidate's ability to apply the before-mentioned skills successfully.

If we must point out skills: Coding, common languages include (but are not limited to) Java, C/C++ and Python; Mathematical Modeling; and Experimental Design.

What soft skills should all chemical engineers possess?

David Nielsen Ph.D.

Associate Professor, Arizona State University

Communication, teamwork, decision-making.

What hard/technical skills are most important for chemical engineers?

David Nielsen Ph.D.

Associate Professor, Arizona State University

Strong fundamental understandings of mass and energy balances, as well as thermodynamics; data analysis.

What chemical engineer skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?

Peter Rosado

Associate Professor of Chemistry, Georgia College and State University

I tell students to call their “gap” year more of a “Developmental” year. If a graduate desires to have such a year, they should focus on their whole as a goal, which means not only developing their professionalism but have other experiences. For example, travel to another country, learn a new language, intern at a company outside of the US, get involved further in the field of study. What stands out in candidates is how they made use of their time, skills that they acquired, and how they could weave them into the position they are applying for. That the candidate has had experiences outside of their comfort zone tells me, as an employer, that they are flexible and can adapt to situations that are new and unpredictable.

What type of skills will young chemical engineers need?

Kristine Horvat Ph.D.

Assistant Professor, University of New Haven

Students graduating with bachelor's degrees in engineering need strong communication skills. From writing emails, creating technical reports, and presenting results to others, engineers need to express their thoughts in a professional, technical manner. This is why we integrate learning communication skills across all undergraduate years at the University of New Haven. Also, having an entrepreneurial mindset is essential for engineers to see the bigger picture, to find ways to create value and identify opportunities when solving different problems in their field. Engineers and chemical engineers work with people of various backgrounds and expertise; therefore, viewing their work to understand the other stakeholders for a project can help them create connections and best drive a project forward.

Engineers capable of viewing the world through this lens will be very successful and sought out by employers. At the University of New Haven, in connection with the Kern Entrepreneurial Engineering Network (KEEN), we strive to facilitate the development of this mindset throughout our engineering courses. More specific to chemical engineering, potent chemical kinetics, thermodynamics, and unit operations are needed. Gaining hands-on skills through laboratory courses, research opportunities, and internships is very important, and an ability to create programs and simulate chemical processes is a must-have for graduates. In terms of programming, Excel skills are beneficial and adaptable.

Do you want to know more?

List of chemical engineer skills to add to your resume

The most important skills for a chemical engineer resume and required skills for a chemical engineer to have include:

Chemistry
Technical Support
Co-Op
Chemical Process
Troubleshoot
Project Management
Safety Procedures
R
Process Control
Process Engineering
Product Quality
IDS
PowerPoint
Process Improvement
Data Analysis
Process Flow Diagrams
Instrumentation Diagrams

Capital Projects
Process Design
Distillation
Synthesis
Process Equipment
Sigma
Technical Reports
Unit Operations
Process Optimization
Engineering Support
DOE
EPA
PFDs
Experimental Data
Statistical Analysis
Control Systems
P Id

Autocad
Aspen Plus
ISO
Test Methods
Product Development
Water Treatment
QC
CO2
Provide Engineering Support
Production Process
SPC
Pilot Plant Operations
Equipment Specifications
Aspen
ASTM

Updated January 8, 2025

Zippia Team

Editorial Staff

The Zippia Research Team has spent countless hours reviewing resumes, job postings, and government data to determine what goes into getting a job in each phase of life. Professional writers and data scientists comprise the Zippia Research Team.

Updated January 8, 2025

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