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Useful experience for chemical engineers includes:

• work experience or internship with companies that use chemical engineering processes
• project management or supervisory experience.

Chemical engineers may do some or all of the following:

• research and develop or improve designs for factory chemical processes
• research and develop new materials and procedures to make production processes more efficient
• select materials and equipment to be used in factory processes
• examine the effects of industrial processes on the environment
• develop methods to control pollution
• study the efficiency and cost of factories and associated equipment
• prepare and present reports and proposals
• manage technicians and operating staff.

Chemical engineers in demand

The number of chemical engineers is increasing but there are still not enough to meet demand. Demand is highest for experienced engineers, but there are still good opportunities for graduates.

Chemical engineer and the related job industrial engineer (process) appear on Immigration New Zealand's long-term skill shortage list. This means the Government is actively encouraging skilled chemical engineers from overseas to work in New Zealand.

According to the Census, 471 chemical engineers worked in New Zealand in 2018.

Opportunities for chemical engineers in water infrastructure and chemical products

Job opportunities for chemical engineers are growing in the water industry as the clean water and waste water infrastructure throughout the country gets upgraded. There is also reasonable demand for engineers to oversee products of chemical engineering such as infant formula and fertilisers. 

Work across a range of industries

• agriculture, forestry and fisheries
• construction and infrastructure
• electricity, gas, water and waste services
• energy and mining
• food, beverage and dairy processing
• heavy industry such as petroleum production, steel smelters and refineries
• plastics, pharmaceutical and chemical production
• professional, scientific and technical consulting
• wood, pulp and paper processing.

Some chemical engineers work for city or district councils, or at universities or research institutes.

Engineering New Zealand

(04) 473 9444 - hello@engineeringnz.org - www.engineeringnz.org

Chemical engineers may move into management or project management positions. They may also become consultants at engineering consulting firms, or set up their own consultancies. Some chemical engineers may work at polytechnics or universities as lecturers.

Chemical engineers may specialise in certain industry areas such as:

• biochemicals
• food processing
• materials and manufacturing
• petroleum or petrochemicals
• pharmaceuticals.

Chemical engineers need to be:

• careful and safety-conscious
• able to work well in a team and unsupervised
• analytical and accurate, with an eye for detail
• patient and methodical
• good at problem solving and decision making
• able to work well under pressure.