Chemical or process engineering technicians support the work of chemical engineers. They are involved in the manufacture of a huge range of products and chemicals, including:

• plastics
• drugs and medicines
• food and drink
• artificial fibres
• energy and fuel production.

They can be employed in any area of process engineering, such as research and development, design and construction of chemical processing plants, or in plant operations and maintenance. Their duties could include:

• working as part of the team that designs, builds or installs production plant machinery
• carrying out laboratory experiments
• testing, running and looking after production equipment
• monitoring production processes
• recording data and adjusting controls
• supervising chemical plant process workers
• putting safety procedures into practice.

Technicians often begin their career in operating and maintaining existing plant machinery, and progress to working in research and development or in design and commissioning.

Hours and Environment

As a chemical engineering technician you will usually work 37 to 40 hours a week, but your working hours can vary. In research and development you will usually work 9am to 5pm Monday to Friday, sometimes with extra hours to meet a project deadline. In processing and manufacturing, you could work on a seven-day shift system that may include weekends, evenings and nights.

You will work indoors in laboratories, offices or factories. You may need to wear protective clothing and eye shields in laboratories and some factory environments.

If you work in the minerals processing or oil exploration industries, you may be based in remote parts of the world.

Skills and Interests

To be a chemical engineering technician, you need:

• good knowledge of chemistry and maths
• an understanding of engineering principles
• good spoken and written communication skills
• the ability to understand and present scientific data
• excellent computer and mathematical skills
• accuracy and attention to detail
• problem-solving ability
• the ability to work both on your own and also as a part of a team
• normal colour vision.

Entry

There are three common ways to become a chemical engineering technician. You could either:

• take a full-time college course in engineering or process engineering before applying for a trainee technician job
• be promoted from being a chemical plant process worker, or
• join an apprenticeship programme.

Full-time college courses that you could take before looking a trainee technician job include:

• BTEC National Certificate or Diploma in Manufacturing Engineering, Operations and Maintenance Engineering (Process) or Polymer Processing and Materials Technology
• City & Guilds Technical Certificate in Engineering or Process Technology
• A Level in Engineering.

If you are already employed as a chemical plant process worker, you may be able to progress to technician level after studying for one of the above qualifications part-time, or taking relevant NVQ/SVQ levels 1 and 2 whilst you are working (see the Training section below for a list of relevant NVQs/SVQs).

You may be able to get into this job through an apprenticeship scheme. Funding for apprenticeships is available for 16-24 year olds and some over-25s. To find out more, visit www.apprenticeships.org.uk. For information about apprenticeships in other parts of the UK, see Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.

For information about chemical engineering as a career, see the websites for:

• Institution of Chemical Engineers (IChemE)
• Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET)
• Science, Engineering and Materials Training Alliance (SEMTA)
• Women into Science and Engineering (WISE).

For details of careers in the energy, polymer or petroleum sectors of the chemical industry, contact Cogent.

See the Further Information section for all contact details.

Training

You will be trained on the job by your employer. Your training will also often include the chance to gain a suitable NVQ/SVQ to at least level 3, possibly as part of an apprenticeship scheme.

Relevant NVQs/SVQs include:

• Chemical, Pharmaceutical and Petrochemical Manufacture
• Polymer Processing and Related Operations
• Process Engineering Maintenance
• Laboratory and Associated Technical Activities.

You may also have the opportunity to study by day release for other level 3 qualifications such as BTEC national certificates/diplomas or City & Guilds certificates in engineering or scientific subjects.

You could improve your career prospects by joining a professional engineering body like IChemE or IET and applying for registered Engineering Technician (EngTech) status from the Engineering Council.

If you want to progress to become a professional engineer, you can do further study towards a foundation degree, HNC/HND or degree in chemical technology, engineering or engineering technology. You may be able to study for these part-time or by distance learning whilst you are working. 

For more information about Foundation Degrees, see Foundation Degree Forward. To search for colleges and universities offering foundation degrees, HNDs and degrees see Universities and Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS).

For more details about professional engineer and EngTech status, see the Engineering Council, IChemE or IET websites.

Opportunities

There are opportunities for chemical engineering technicians across a wide range of industries. Some of the main ones, apart from the chemical industry itself, include:

• manufacturing
• food
• energy
• medical
• the armed services
• scientific research and development companies
• public utilities such as water, gas and electricity.

Manufacturing companies may also employ technicians in materials development and design, sales and marketing or customer support.

Annual Income

Figures are intended as a guideline only.

Technicians usually start on around £14,000 a year.
Experienced technicians earn around £20,000 a year.
Senior technicians can earn £30,000 or more.

Further information

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