Chemical Engineering

Career Pathways

Overview
Chemical Engineering offers you diverse career options in areas such chemical processing, environmental management,
food and beverage manufacture, minerals and mining, oil and gas refining, petrochemicals and pharmaceuticals.

Specialisations
As a chemical engineer, you could work Environmental Petroleum
in the following specialisations:* Waste and water treatment, environmental Production of oil, gas and LPG from onshore
regulations, bioremediation and recycling. and offshore fields.
Bioprocess
Pharmaceuticals and the food and drink Minerals Process Control
industries. Major minerals processing industries such Instrumentation and control systems which
as alumina/aluminium, steel, copper, lead, enable a manufacturing process to run
Chemical Process uranium and gold. smoothly, safely and efficiently.
Fertiliser industry, including pesticides and
herbicides, caustic soda, glass, explosives and Paper Project Delivery
specialty chemicals. Production of paper and paper products such Construction of a process plant, converting
as tissues and towelling. the design into an efficient, safe operating
Combustion plant.
Large industrial furnaces such as those for Petrochemicals
*Information provided by the Australian
steel manufacture or for power generation Conversion of oil and gas into plastics, Government Job Guide 2011
from coal or gas. synthetic rubber and similar end uses.

Chemical Engineering 1
Engineering Pathways (Chemical)
School leavers School leavers

Melbourne Model degrees (3 years) Any Bachelors

Degree
Bachelor of Bachelor of Bachelor of Bachelor of Science
Must include
Biomedicine Environments Commerce Majors include:
Linear Algebra
Majors include: Majors include: Sequences in the Bioengineering and Calculus 2
Bioengineering Civil Systems following Engineering Systems
areas: or equivalents,
Systems Geomatics Chemical Systems along with science
Exit to Chemical Systems
employment Physical systems Civil Systems relevant to intended
Civil Systems specialisation.
(without Computing and
professional Computing and Software Systems
accreditation) Software Systems
Electrical Systems
Electrical Systems
Geomatics
Mechanical Systems
Mechanical Systems
Physical Systems

Note: Duration of
Master of Engineering (2 years) Master of Engineering
Specialisations: will vary from
2-3years depending
Biomedical Civil Geomatics Software
on amount of credit
Biomolecular Electrical Mechanical Structural obtained from prior
Chemical Environmental Mechatronics study

Exit to employment with professional accreditation

Note: While the study stream highlighted above is considered the traditional pathway, alternative course plans can achieve the
same qualification outcome. Please speak to a University of Melbourne course advisor to discuss your options.

Career Planning Employment

For university students, career planning is about choosing a career path related to Sectors and Industries
your field of study and preparing for employment. While engineering can lead to • Bioremediation
specific occupations it can also give you the foundation for a variety of career paths. • Chemical Manufacturing
• Consulting
Choosing an occupation, getting that first or Adult Directions (via Online Career • Electronics
graduate job, and growing in your job will Tools for current University of Melbourne • Food and Beverage Production
require planning, self awareness, flexibility students) • Government Departments, Agencies
and a forward-looking attitude to help and Municipal Authorities
3. Learning about the job market by
manage the personal transitions, as well as
investigating Work Experience • Industrial
the technological and economic changes of
opportunities, browsing company/ • Minerals and Energy
the future. With so many factors to consider
industry websites and talking to lots of
an effective employment plan will include • Petrochemicals
people in your field of interest using the
strategies for enhancing career awareness & • Petroleum
informational interviewing technique
self awareness, and can be done in a 4-Step • Pharmaceutical
process, starting with: 4. Developing job search skills – preparing
• Research and Development
1. Doing some self-assessment to clarify your job applications and preparing for
interviews using the Online Career Tools • Tertiary Education
interests and strengths
or booking a Career Consultation through • Waste and Water Treatment
2. Gathering information and exploring Careers Online (both services available to
careers that appeal to you and match current University of Melbourne students).
your interests, abilities and values – using
myFuture (accessible to the public)

2 Chemical Engineering
Employers Resources Co-operative Programs
A sample of employers who actively recruit The Careers and Jobs Guide on the Enable students to alternate study terms
our Chemical Engineering graduates includes: Library website has been developed for with paid work and offer hands-on experience
current University of Melbourne students contributing to a real project, skills
AECOM Jacobs in conjunction with Careers & Employment. development and a chance to network with
Alcoa Engineering This guide will help you find quality library professionals in the field. Application opening
Anglo American KPMG resources to help with: and closing dates for co-operative programs
Coal Kraft Foods • Career planning are varied.
Australian Paper Lion Nathan • Researching industries Cadetships
Barrick National Foods • Researching employers
Employed positions offered to students
Melbourne Water • Employability skills or graduates, designed to provide specific
Beca Pty Ltd
Minmetals • Job hunting training or mentoring. Cadetships can be
BHP Billiton
Resources • Resumes and job applications full- or part-time and vary from formalised,
BOC • Interview preparation structured schemes to informal arrangements
Newmont
Boral between an individual and an organisation.
Nufarm
BP Australia Types of employment Application opening and closing dates are
varied.
Orica Limited
Chevron Work Experience
OneSteel
CSL Limited There are many forms of work experience. Graduate Employment Programs
OzMinerals Include substantial training, development
Defence Science With the introduction of the Fair Work
and Technology Parsons Act 2009, all work experience must be and support. Some programs include
Organisation Brinckerhoff paid unless the placement forms part of a rotations through various departments
Qenos university course. For engineering students, within the organisation. Usually offered
ExxonMobil
work experience could take the form of an by large organisations and government
Fluor Australia Rio Tinto
industry-based final year project or a paid departments, an increasing number of smaller
Fonterra Schlumberger placement (such as those listed below). organisations are now offering graduate
General Electric Shell Voluntary work for not-for profit agencies employment programs. Many organisations
Uhde Shedden is another way of gaining valuable work offer a number of programs – some for
GHD specific or technical roles, and others which
experience but these placements must
Golder Associates URS Australia are broader based. Graduate programs vary in
adhere to the Vocational Placements &
Halliburton Wood Group Student Volunteering Policy. length, from 1-3 years. Competition is strong
Woodside and final year students must apply in March
HRL Technology Vacation Programs or April for commencement in January or
Worley Parsons
Are degree-related, structured paid work February of the following year.
placements usually undertaken by students
For a more extensive listing including current Opportunities to get exposure to
at the end of their penultimate year of study.
employment opportunities, University of Industry through the Melbourne
These can often lead to a graduate position,
Melbourne students can visit Careers Online, School of Engineering:
so competition for placements is intense.
our online jobs portal. Connect with industry through the
Winter vacation programs are available from
It is also important to attend events like time to time. curriculum, via:
the Graduate Careers Fair in Semester 1 • student projects that are partnered with
and student-run Industry Nights to become Internships industry
familiar with who the key employers are and IInternships are supervised, paid work • guest lectures led by industry leaders
the dates of their recruiting campaigns. placements arranged between the employer
• site visits hosted by key organisations
and student, sometimes brokered by the
university. Ranging from a few weeks • career mentoring programs
part-time to multiple semesters full-time,
internships occur in a field relevant to the
student’s qualification. Application opening
and closing dates for internships are varied.

Chemical Engineering 3
 Career Progression (trajectories) – Chemical

Graduate 3-5 years experience 10 years

Graduate Chemical Engineer Chemical Engineer Environmental Chemical Principal Chemical Engineer
Graduate Environmental Chemical Food Process Engineer Process Controls
Chemical Engineer Engineer Fuels Engineer Superintendent
Graduate Biochemical Chemical Process Engineer Inventory Analyst
Process Superintendent
Engineer Chemical Engineer – Line Manager
Bioremediation Plastics Engineer Production Manager
Graduate Process Engineer
Chemical Engineer – Mining Project/Design Engineer Project Manager
Chemical Research Engineer
Chemical Engineer – Process Modelling Chemical Senior Chemical Engineer
Petroleum/Petrochemicals Engineer
Senior Environmental
Chemical Engineer – Process Supervisor
Chemical Engineer
Pharmaceuticals Process Support
Chemical Engineer – Waste/ Technologist Senior Chemical Process
Water Management Engineer
Refinery Process Engineer
Chemical/Process Engineer Technical Innovation
– Food Industry Specialist – Mining and
Chemical/Process Engineer Resources
– Hydrocarbons

Careers in Research Alternative Careers

If you are passionate about a certain field An engineering degree offers you excellent For current University of Melbourne students,
and would like to advance your research technical and design expertise, but also Careers Online advertises numerous
skills, enrolling in a research higher degree equips you with the foundations for a ‘generalist’ graduate jobs during the peak
(RHD) may be a great option for you. RHDs diverse range of positions. Over a third of recruitment season (March-April of your final
enhance your ability to problem solve, think our graduates choose to move into non- year). You will often find that many state and
autonomously and creatively, and analyse. traditional engineering roles, including: federal government departments and defence
Careers in research are diverse and may • Management consulting agencies will actively recruit for engineers
include: academic positions at universities; • Finance, economics and banking as they value their high-end problem-solving
policy-making or research positions at public and analytical abilities.
• Marketing and communications
sector organisations; private sector research
and development projects; and self-employed • Business analysis
consulting positions on technical or policy • Project management
issues in your area of expertise. • Technical writing
• Government, policy and intellectual
property management.

Amey Higgins commenced in her role as During the course of her degree, Amey
Inventory Analyst for Kraft Foods, after undertook vacation work at WorleyParsons
completing three rotations within their in their Process Engineering department,
graduate program: which provided an excellent insight to
careers in the oil and gas industry and
“The breadth of experience I have received
vital work experience:
in my short time with the company has
been great. Being in my fourth role (and “Securing vacation work undoubtedly
fourth site), I have already amassed a helped me to attain a permanent position
wealth of experience and knowledge across at the conclusion of my studies.”
the Kraft business in different functions,
Amey values the problem-solving skills she
including continuous improvement, process
developed during her studies, which she
AMEY HIGGINS improvement, quality, general operations,
continues to draw upon in her career:
and now logistics.”
Inventory Analyst –
“The ability to apply rational and logical
Customer Service and Kraft Foods Limited is the world’s second
problem-solving skills to a real-life business
Logistics, Kraft Foods largest food company. Amey is involved in
problem is a vital tool, which I learnt
reviewing the company’s inventory policies
Study Area: Chemical exclusively from my Engineering education.”
across its factories and distribution centres
Engineering in Australia and New Zealand, helping to
meet their 2012 inventory targets.

4 Chemical Engineering
Salary Information
According to a survey conducted in 2011 by
Engineers Australia, gross mean base salary
figures for chemical engineers across the
private and public sectors are as follows:
New graduate: $63,192
2-3 years: $76,911
4-10 years: $100,144
10-15 years: $137,577
Over 15 years: $171,057

Job Outlook
According to the Australian Government’s
Job Outlook website*:
• Job Prospects for Chemical Engineering
Professionals are good.
Graduate Attributes (IChemE), Engineers Australia and EUR-
• Employment for Chemical Engineering ACE® with which the course is accredited
Professionals to 2015-2016 is expected
for Employment • Understanding of professional and ethical
to grow very strongly. Employment rose As a graduate chemical engineer you responsibilities and commitment to them
very strongly in the last five years, and in will have: • General knowledge
the long-term (ten years). • Opportunities to interact with industry • Understanding of the business environment
• The internet vacancy level for Chemical professionals through guest lectures, • Ability to communicate effectively, with
Engineering Professionals is moderate. field and project work the engineering team and the community
• A sound fundamental understanding at large
• The mix of industries employing
of the technical skills and principles of • Ability to function effectively as an
Chemical Engineering Professionals is
chemical engineering and their application individual and in multidisciplinary and
very favourable for employment growth
to complex, open-ended engineering multicultural teams, as a team leader
prospects.
tasks and problems or manager as well as an effective team
* The Data on Job Outlook is updated on a yearly
• Generic skills, including management, member
basis and is compiled from national statistics which
may not reflect either regional variations or more communication, problem-solving and • Ability to manage information and
recent changes in employment conditions. design and innovation in chemical documentation
engineering
• Capacity for lifelong learning and
• The educational and professional standards professional development.
of the Institution of Chemical Engineers

Barry Lo studied chemical engineering at skills to succeed, in particular problem

the University of Melbourne and now works solving and the ability to work under
as a chemical engineer at URS Australia, pressure.”
an environmental and engineering
During his study, Barry was awarded a
consultancy that provides services to a
scholarship with world leading integrated
wide range of businesses and communities
aluminium company, Alcoa, where he
within Australia and internationally:
undertook a 12-week work placement
“The projects are quite varied and often at its Victorian Operations:
challenging, requiring a multidisciplinary
“Although Alcoa was a different industry to
approach. I’ve been involved with
the one I work in now, I believe it was a real
environmental site assessments,
BARRY LO stepping stone to life after university. The
remediation engineering design, and
experience I gained during vacation work
Chemical Engineer, URS waste management. I especially enjoy
gave me invaluable confidence and exposure
the team environment and excitement
Australia to industry practices, particularly with
of finding new and innovative solutions.”
Study Area: Chemical respect to health and safety.”
Barry values the skills he developed
Engineering
during his degree, which have served him
well in his current role:
“Graduating from Melbourne gave me the

Chemical Engineering 5
 As a Process Support Technologist for Monique studied chemical engineering at
Shell, Monique Corban works in the oil and The University of Melbourne and values the
gas industry, providing technical support technical expertise developed:
and guidance to optimise performance
“Graduating from Melbourne gave me a
and efficiency of process units.
solid base of fundamental engineering
Monique works in multi-disciplined teams principles, and an engineering degree that
that aim to improve site-wide safety, is well respected for its technical depth.”
performance and reliability, which involves
Monique also enjoyed the great
assisting in the development and execution
opportunities to network with industry and
of short and long-term projects:
MONIQUE CORBAN encouragement to gain work experience
“The variety of work every day presents through vacation work. She completed two
Process Support a new challenge and I have the chance to internships, with Uhde Shedden and Shell,
Technologist, Shell use my problem-solving skills. I also have over consecutive summers:
Study Area: Chemical the opportunity to work with people from
“The Chemical Engineering Department
Engineering a variety of backgrounds and a wide range
has strong ties with both large and small
of skills and knowledge.”
engineering companies and does all it
can to ensure that students engage with
industry through campus networking events
and vacation work.”

Useful Links
Job Search Sites Licensing and registration territories engineers operate under the self-
• Careers Online There is no formal system of regulation for regulatory system operated by the National
engineers throughout Australia. Engineering Engineering Registration Board (NERB).
• Engineer Jobs
services are regulated under a variety of
• Engineering Career
Acts in ad hoc areas, many of which relate International Students/Graduates
• Engineering Jobs Australia to engineers in the building and construction Working in Victoria: An Engineer’s Guide
• Grad Connection industry.
Overseas Qualifications
• H2Oz Engineers in Queensland are required by
Assessment Team (OSQA)
• Just Engineers legislation to be registered through the
Board of Professional Engineers in Engineers Australia
• Job Search Australia/Engineers
Queensland (BPEQ). In other states and
• Mining Careers
• MyCareer – Chemical Engineering
• Oil Careers
• Seek – Chemical Engineering

Recruiters
• Recruitment and Consulting Services
Association’s Member Index
• Seek recruiter search

Professional Associations
• Engineers Australia
• APESMA
• Australian Water Association
• Institution of Chemical Engineers
• Consult Australia

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Authorised by the Industry Relations Melbourne 2012. Copyright in this Disclaimer: The University has used its completeness of information and the
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Engineering. Published by The and no part of it may be reproduced contained in this publication was correct changes without notice at any time at
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July 2012. University. gives no warranty and accepts no