Become A Senior Process Engineer

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Working As A Senior Process Engineer

Making Decisions and Solving Problems
Getting Information
Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events
Interacting With Computers
Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates

Deal with People
$97,166
Average Salary

What Does A Senior Process Engineer Do

A Senior Process Engineer assesses a process’s efficiency, effectiveness, safety, and quality. They also conduct process improvement initiatives and custom product developments.

How To Become A Senior Process Engineer

Industrial engineers must have a bachelor’s degree. Employers also value experience, so cooperative education engineering programs at universities are also valuable.

Education

Industrial engineers need a bachelor’s degree, typically in industrial engineering. However, many industrial engineers have degrees in mechanical engineering, electrical engineering, manufacturing engineering, industrial engineering technology, or general engineering. Students interested in studying industrial engineering should take high school courses in mathematics, such as algebra, trigonometry, and calculus; computer science; and sciences such as chemistry and physics.

Bachelor’s degree programs include lectures in classrooms and practice in laboratories. Courses include statistics, production systems planning, and manufacturing systems design, among others. Many colleges and universities offer cooperative education programs in which students gain practical experience while completing their education.

A few colleges and universities offer 5-year degree programs in industrial engineering that lead to a bachelor’s and master’s degree upon completion, and several more offer similar programs in mechanical engineering. A graduate degree allows an engineer to work as a professor at a college or university or to engage in research and development. Some 5-year or even 6-year cooperative education plans combine classroom study with practical work, permitting students to gain experience and to finance part of their education.

Programs in industrial engineering are accredited by ABET.

Important Qualities

Creativity. Industrial engineers use creativity and ingenuity to design new production processes in many kinds of settings in order to reduce the use of material resources, time, or labor while accomplishing the same goal.

Critical-thinking skills. Industrial engineers create new systems to solve problems related to waste and inefficiency. Solving these problems requires logic and reasoning to identify strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions, or approaches to the problems.

Listening skills. These engineers often operate in teams, but they also must solicit feedback from customers, vendors, and production staff. They must listen to customers and clients in order to fully grasp ideas and problems the first time.

Math skills. Industrial engineers use the principles of calculus, trigonometry, and other advanced topics in mathematics for analysis, design, and troubleshooting in their work.

Problem-solving skills. In designing facilities for manufacturing and processes for providing services, these engineers deal with several issues at once, from workers’ safety to quality assurance.

Speaking skills. Industrial engineers sometimes have to explain their instructions to production staff or technicians before they can make written instructions available. Being able to explain concepts clearly and quickly is crucial to preventing costly mistakes and loss of time.

Writing skills. Industrial engineers must prepare documentation for other engineers or scientists, or for future reference. The documentation must be coherent and explain their thinking clearly so that the others can understand the information.

Licenses, Certifications, and Registrations

Licensure is not required for entry-level positions as an industrial engineer. A Professional Engineering (PE) license, which allows for higher levels of leadership and independence, can be acquired later in one’s career. Licensed engineers are called professional engineers (PEs). A PE can oversee the work of other engineers, sign off on projects, and provide services directly to the public. State licensure generally requires

A degree from an ABET-accredited engineering program
A passing score on the Fundamentals of Engineering (FE) exam
Relevant work experience, typically at least 4 years
A passing score on the Professional Engineering (PE) exam

The initial FE exam can be taken after one earns a bachelor’s degree. Engineers who pass this exam are commonly called engineers in training (EITs) or engineer interns (EIs). After meeting work experience requirements, EITs and EIs can take the second exam, called the Principles and Practice of Engineering.

Several states require engineers to take continuing education in order to keep their licenses. Most states recognize licenses from other states, as long as the other state’s licensing requirements meet or exceed their own licensing requirements.

Advancement

Beginning industrial engineers usually work under the supervision of experienced engineers. In large companies, new engineers also may receive formal training in classes or seminars. As beginning engineers gain knowledge and experience, they move on to more difficult projects with greater independence to develop designs, solve problems, and make decisions.

Eventually, industrial engineers may advance to become technical specialists, such as quality engineers or facility planners. In that role, they supervise a team of engineers and technicians. Obtaining a master’s degree facilitates such specialization and thus advancement.

Many industrial engineers move into management positions because the work they do is closely related to the work of managers. For more information, see the profile on architectural and engineering managers.

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Senior Process Engineer jobs

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Senior Process Engineer Career Paths

Senior Process Engineer

Process Engineering Supervisor Manufacturing Engineer Manufacturing Engineering Manager

Director Of Manufacturing Engineering

15 Yearsyrs

Operations Manager Purchasing Manager

Director Of Purchasing

10 Yearsyrs

Plant Manager Sales Manager Purchasing Manager

Director Of Strategic Sourcing

13 Yearsyrs

Senior Manufacturing Engineer Engineering Manager

Engineering Director

13 Yearsyrs

Senior Engineer Senior Software Engineer

Engineering Manager

10 Yearsyrs

Operations Manager Plant Manager

Manufacturing Director

14 Yearsyrs

Plant Manager Project Manager Engineering Manager

Manufacturing Manager

10 Yearsyrs

Engineering Manager Operations Manager

Operations Director

9 Yearsyrs

Senior Manufacturing Engineer Manufacturing Engineering Manager

Operations Manager

7 Yearsyrs

Production Manager Operations Manager

Plant Manager

11 Yearsyrs

Engineering Manager Program Manager General Manager

President Of Operations

11 Yearsyrs

Process Engineering Manager

9 Yearsyrs

Process Engineering Manager Project Manager Product Manager

Product Line Manager

9 Yearsyrs

Project Manager Senior Project Manager Senior Product Manager

Product Management Director

12 Yearsyrs

Senior Engineer Engineering Manager Operations Manager

Purchasing Manager

9 Yearsyrs

Program Manager General Manager Operations Director

Senior Director, Operations

14 Yearsyrs

Program Manager Marketing Manager Operations Manager

Senior Operations Manager

9 Yearsyrs

Project Manager Program Manager Marketing Manager

Senior Product Manager

9 Yearsyrs

Principal Engineer Senior Project Manager Vice President, Technology

Vice President Of Global Operations

15 Yearsyrs

Production Manager Plant Manager

Vice President Of Manufacturing

14 Yearsyrs

Average Length of Employment

Senior Process Engineering Technician 6.2 years
Senior Manufacturing Process Engineer 5.2 years
Senior Process Control Engineer 5.2 years
Senior Manufacturing Engineer 5.2 years
Senior Process Engineer 5.0 years
Process Engineering Technician 4.8 years
Principal Process Engineer 4.7 years
Senior Materials Engineer 4.5 years
Staff Process Engineer 4.5 years
Senior Chemical Engineer 4.5 years
Process Engineering Supervisor 4.3 years
Process Engineering Manager 4.3 years
Senior Product Engineer 4.3 years
Senior Process And Quality Engineer 4.2 years
Senior Production Engineer 4.0 years
Industrial Process Engineer 3.7 years
Process Engineer 3.5 years
Senior Project Engineer 3.4 years
Process Engineer Lead 3.3 years
Manufacturing Project Engineer 3.3 years
Process Development Engineer 3.3 years
Process Design Engineer 3.0 years
Production Engineer 3.0 years
Chemical Engineer 2.9 years
Process Improvement Engineer 2.6 years
Associate Process Engineer 2.5 years
Process Engineer Internship 0.5 years

Top Careers Before Senior Process Engineer

Top Careers After Senior Process Engineer

Senior Process Engineer Demographics

Gender

Male
79.9%
Female
14.5%
Unknown
5.5%

Ethnicity

White
67.4%
Asian
19.5%
Hispanic or Latino
9.1%
Unknown
3.2%
Black or African American
0.7%

Languages Spoken

Spanish
30.4%
French
12.2%
Chinese
8.8%
Mandarin
8.3%
German
7.7%
Italian
5.0%
Portuguese
4.4%
Japanese
4.4%
Cantonese
2.8%
Dutch
2.2%
Arabic
2.2%
Hindi
1.7%
Korean
1.7%
Russian
1.7%
Carrier
1.7%
Polish
1.7%
Telugu
1.1%
Vietnamese
1.1%
Swedish
0.6%
Romanian
0.6%

Senior Process Engineer

Unfortunately we don’t have enough data for this section.

Senior Process Engineer Education

Schools

Pennsylvania State University
8.2%
Georgia Institute of Technology -
7.4%
Arizona State University
6.5%
Purdue University
6.3%
University of Massachusetts - Lowell
6.0%
Rochester Institute of Technology
5.9%
Northeastern University
5.2%
Texas A&M University
5.1%
University of Texas at Austin
5.1%
San Jose State University
4.7%
North Carolina State University
4.6%
University of Florida
4.4%
University of Houston
4.3%
Drexel University
4.3%
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
4.1%
University of Phoenix
4.0%
Auburn University
3.6%
Michigan State University
3.5%
University of Utah
3.5%
Ohio State University
3.3%

Majors

Chemical Engineering 30.0%
Business 12.2%
Mechanical Engineering 11.8%
Electrical Engineering 8.7%
Chemistry 5.4%
Materials Science And Engineering 3.6%
Industrial Technology 3.5%
Industrial Engineering 3.4%
Physics 2.9%
Engineering 2.6%
Management 2.3%
Project Management 2.1%
Engineering And Industrial Management 1.7%
Electrical Engineering Technology 1.5%
Finance 1.5%
Mechanical Engineering Technology 1.5%
Materials Sciences 1.5%
Manufacturing Engineering 1.5%
Plastics Engineering 1.2%
Computer Science 1.1%

Degrees

Bachelors
41.9%
Masters
33.4%
Doctorate
11.2%
Other
8.4%
Certificate
2.2%
Associate
2.1%
Diploma
0.5%
License
0.1%

Senior Process Engineer

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Real Senior Process Engineer Salaries

Job Title	Company	Location	Start Date	Salary
SR. Process Engineer (SR. Staff Engineer, Process)	Cheniere Energy, Inc.	Cameron, LA	Sep 18, 2016	$212,000
Senior Process Engineer	Cheniere Energy, Inc.	Cameron, LA	Jan 20, 2016	$205,920
Senior Process Engineer	Chevron Corporation	Richmond, CA	Aug 23, 2016	$183,000
Senior Supervising Process Engineer	Technip USA, Inc.	Houston, TX	May 13, 2015	$179,382
SR. Module Process Engineer	Apple Inc.	Cupertino, CA	Aug 11, 2015	$175,000 - $180,000
Senior Process Engineer	Exxon Mobil Corporation	Baytown, TX	Jun 01, 2015	$174,400 - $296,600
SR. Process Engineer	Proplant Inc.	Houston, TX	Nov 02, 2016	$171,184
Senior Image Processing Engineer	Gopro Inc.	San Mateo, CA	Jul 23, 2015	$165,000
Senior Platform Process Engineer	Apple Inc.	Cupertino, CA	Feb 16, 2016	$161,200 - $187,200
Senior Process Engineer	Exxon Mobil Corporation	Baytown, TX	Jul 18, 2016	$155,750 - $263,800
Senior Process Engineer I	CB&I Inc.	Houston, TX	Feb 23, 2016	$155,750
Senior Process Engineer	Doris USA, Inc.	Houston, TX	Aug 17, 2016	$155,000
Senior Process Engineering Advisor	Tetra Technologies, Inc.	The Woodlands, TX	Apr 22, 2015	$153,650
SR. Technical Professional-Process Engineering	Wood Group Mustang, Inc.	Houston, TX	Jul 31, 2015	$149,261
SR. Process Engineer	Bechtel Oil, Gas & Chemicals, Inc.	Houston, TX	Nov 16, 2015	$112,920 - $127,308
Senior Process Engineer	Technip USA, Inc.	Houston, TX	Oct 01, 2015	$112,135
Senior Process Engineer	Technip USA, Inc.	Houston, TX	Jan 10, 2015	$112,135
Senior Process Integraton Engineer	Micron Technology, Inc.	Boise, ID	Jun 29, 2015	$112,000
Senior Process Engineer	Tel Technology Center, America, LLC	Albany, NY	Feb 16, 2015	$112,000
Senior Process Engineer	Tokyo Electron Technology Center, America, LLC	Albany, NY	Feb 10, 2015	$112,000
SR. Process Engineer	Solarcity Corporation	Fremont, CA	Dec 10, 2015	$111,400
Senior Process Engineer	Lanzatech Incorporated	Skokie, IL	Jan 10, 2015	$110,330
Senior Process Engineer	Hospira, Inc.	Rocky Mount, NC	Jun 10, 2015	$95,534 - $128,000
Senior Process Engineer	Hospira, Inc.	Rocky Mount, NC	Mar 23, 2016	$95,534 - $128,000
Senior Mems Process Engineer	Kionix, Inc.	Ithaca, NY	Sep 21, 2015	$95,031
SR. Process Engineer	Vallourec Star LP	Youngstown, OH	Aug 25, 2015	$95,000
Senior Process Engineer	Tetra Pak Processing Equipment Inc.	Winsted, MN	Sep 09, 2015	$95,000 - $120,000
Senior Process Engineer-BIW	Tesla Motors, Inc.	Fremont, CA	Sep 01, 2015	$95,000 - $115,000
SR. Process Engineer IV	Smith & Burgess LLC	Houston, TX	Aug 24, 2016	$94,966
Senior Process Engineer	Lima Refining Company (A Subsidiary of Husky Energy, Inc.)	Lima, OH	Jan 21, 2016	$94,800

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Top Skills for A Senior Process Engineer

Top Senior Process Engineer Skills

Facility
Safety
Procedures

You can check out examples of real life uses of top skills on resumes here:

Developed Process Flow Diagrams, facility cost estimate for Formulation and Packaging Equipment and prepared preliminary Packaging Equipment Layouts.
Assessed equipment safety, power consumption and energy efficiency.
Developed procedures for process setup for shift personnel.
Lead Process Improvement engaging Production team adopting Lean Six Sigma methodology and culture.
Influenced company partners to follow recommended equipment selection path by demonstrating high accuracy capabilities of next generation die mount equipment.