1. Chemical Engineering 1
As a chemical engineer, you could work
in the following specialisations:*
Bioprocess
Pharmaceuticals and the food and drink
industries.
Chemical Process
Fertiliser industry, including pesticides and
herbicides, caustic soda, glass, explosives and
specialty chemicals.
Combustion
Large industrial furnaces such as those for
steel manufacture or for power generation
from coal or gas.
Environmental
Waste and water treatment, environmental
regulations, bioremediation and recycling.
Minerals
Major minerals processing industries such
as alumina/aluminium, steel, copper, lead,
uranium and gold.
Paper
Production of paper and paper products such
as tissues and towelling.
Petrochemicals
Conversion of oil and gas into plastics,
synthetic rubber and similar end uses.
Petroleum
Production of oil, gas and LPG from onshore
and offshore fields.
Process Control
Instrumentation and control systems which
enable a manufacturing process to run
smoothly, safely and efficiently.
Project Delivery
Construction of a process plant, converting
the design into an efficient, safe operating
plant.
*Information provided by the Australian
Government Job Guide 2011
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.
Chemical Engineering
Career Pathways
Specialisations

2. 2 Chemical Engineering
Employment
Sectors and Industries
• Bioremediation
• Chemical Manufacturing
• Consulting
• Electronics
• Food and Beverage Production
• Government Departments, Agencies
and Municipal Authorities
• Industrial
• Minerals and Energy
• Petrochemicals
• Petroleum
• Pharmaceutical
• Research and Development
• Tertiary Education
• Waste and Water Treatment
Engineering Pathways (Chemical)
School leavers
Melbourne Model degrees (3 years)
Master of Engineering (2 years)
Specialisations:
Bachelor of
Biomedicine
Majors include:
Bioengineering
Systems
Biomedical
Biomolecular
Chemical
Any Bachelors
Degree
Must include
Linear Algebra
and Calculus 2
or equivalents,
along with science
relevant to intended
specialisation.
Note: Duration of
Master of Engineering
will vary from
2-3years depending
on amount of credit
obtained from prior
study
Bachelor of
Environments
Majors include:
Civil Systems
Geomatics
Physical systems
Bachelor of
Commerce
Sequences in the
following Engineering
areas:
Chemical Systems
Civil Systems
Computing and
Software Systems
Electrical Systems
Mechanical Systems
Physical Systems
Bachelor of Science
Majors include:
Bioengineering
Systems
Chemical Systems
Civil Systems
Computing and
Software Systems
Electrical Systems
Geomatics
Mechanical Systems
Exit to employment with professional accreditation
Exit to
employment
(without
professional
accreditation)
School leavers
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.
Choosing an occupation, getting that first
graduate job, and growing in your job will
require planning, self awareness, flexibility
and a forward-looking attitude to help
manage the personal transitions, as well as
the technological and economic changes of
the future. With so many factors to consider
an effective employment plan will include
strategies for enhancing career awareness &
self awareness, and can be done in a 4-Step
process, starting with:
1. Doing some self-assessment to clarify
interests and strengths
2. Gathering information and exploring
careers that appeal to you and match
your interests, abilities and values – using
myFuture (accessible to the public)
or Adult Directions (via Online Career
Tools for current University of Melbourne
students)
3. Learning about the job market by
investigating Work Experience
opportunities, browsing company/
industry websites and talking to lots of
people in your field of interest using the
informational interviewing technique
4. Developing job search skills – preparing
your job applications and preparing for
interviews using the Online Career Tools
or booking a Career Consultation through
Careers Online (both services available to
current University of Melbourne students).
Civil
Electrical
Environmental
Geomatics
Mechanical
Mechatronics
Software
Structural
Career Planning
For university students, career planning is about choosing a career path related to
your field of study and preparing for employment. While engineering can lead to
specific occupations it can also give you the foundation for a variety of career paths.

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

4. 4 Chemical Engineering
Careers in Research
If you are passionate about a certain field
and would like to advance your research
skills, enrolling in a research higher degree
(RHD) may be a great option for you. RHDs
enhance your ability to problem solve, think
autonomously and creatively, and analyse.
Careers in research are diverse and may
include: academic positions at universities;
policy-making or research positions at public
sector organisations; private sector research
and development projects; and self-employed
consulting positions on technical or policy
issues in your area of expertise.
Alternative Careers
An engineering degree offers you excellent
technical and design expertise, but also
equips you with the foundations for a
diverse range of positions. Over a third of
our graduates choose to move into non-
traditional engineering roles, including:
• Management consulting
• Finance, economics and banking
• Marketing and communications
• Business analysis
• Project management
• Technical writing
• Government, policy and intellectual
property management.
For current University of Melbourne students,
Careers Online advertises numerous
‘generalist’ graduate jobs during the peak
recruitment season (March-April of your final
year). You will often find that many state and
federal government departments and defence
agencies will actively recruit for engineers
as they value their high-end problem-solving
and analytical abilities.
AMEY HIGGINS
Inventory Analyst –
Customer Service and
Logistics, Kraft Foods
Study Area: Chemical
Engineering
Amey Higgins commenced in her role as
Inventory Analyst for Kraft Foods, after
completing three rotations within their
graduate program:
“The breadth of experience I have received
in my short time with the company has
been great. Being in my fourth role (and
fourth site), I have already amassed a
wealth of experience and knowledge across
the Kraft business in different functions,
including continuous improvement, process
improvement, quality, general operations,
and now logistics.”
Kraft Foods Limited is the world’s second
largest food company. Amey is involved in
reviewing the company’s inventory policies
across its factories and distribution centres
in Australia and New Zealand, helping to
meet their 2012 inventory targets.
During the course of her degree, Amey
undertook vacation work at WorleyParsons
in their Process Engineering department,
which provided an excellent insight to
careers in the oil and gas industry and
vital work experience:
“Securing vacation work undoubtedly
helped me to attain a permanent position
at the conclusion of my studies.”
Amey values the problem-solving skills she
developed during her studies, which she
continues to draw upon in her career:
“The ability to apply rational and logical
problem-solving skills to a real-life business
problem is a vital tool, which I learnt
exclusively from my Engineering education.”
Graduate 3-5 years experience 10 years
Career Progression (trajectories) – Chemical
Graduate Chemical Engineer
Graduate Environmental
Chemical Engineer
Graduate Biochemical
Engineer
Graduate Process Engineer
Chemical Research Engineer
Principal Chemical Engineer
Process Controls
Superintendent
Process Superintendent
Production Manager
Project Manager
Senior Chemical Engineer
Senior Environmental
Chemical Engineer
Senior Chemical Process
Engineer
Chemical Engineer
Chemical Food Process
Engineer
Chemical Process Engineer
Chemical Engineer –
Bioremediation
Chemical Engineer – Mining
Chemical Engineer –
Petroleum/Petrochemicals
Chemical Engineer –
Pharmaceuticals
Chemical Engineer – Waste/
Water Management
Chemical/Process Engineer
– Food Industry
Chemical/Process Engineer
– Hydrocarbons
Environmental Chemical
Engineer
Fuels Engineer
Inventory Analyst
Line Manager
Plastics Engineer
Project/Design Engineer
Process Modelling Chemical
Engineer
Process Supervisor
Process Support
Technologist
Refinery Process Engineer
Technical Innovation
Specialist – Mining and
Resources

5. Chemical Engineering 5
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.
• Employment for Chemical Engineering
Professionals to 2015-2016 is expected
to grow very strongly. Employment rose
very strongly in the last five years, and in
the long-term (ten years).
• The internet vacancy level for Chemical
Engineering Professionals is moderate.
• The mix of industries employing
Chemical Engineering Professionals is
very favourable for employment growth
prospects.
* The Data on Job Outlook is updated on a yearly
basis and is compiled from national statistics which
may not reflect either regional variations or more
recent changes in employment conditions.
Graduate Attributes
for Employment
As a graduate chemical engineer you
will have:
• Opportunities to interact with industry
professionals through guest lectures,
field and project work
• A sound fundamental understanding
of the technical skills and principles of
chemical engineering and their application
to complex, open-ended engineering
tasks and problems
• Generic skills, including management,
communication, problem-solving and
design and innovation in chemical
engineering
• The educational and professional standards
of the Institution of Chemical Engineers
(IChemE), Engineers Australia and EUR-
ACE® with which the course is accredited
• Understanding of professional and ethical
responsibilities and commitment to them
• General knowledge
• Understanding of the business environment
• Ability to communicate effectively, with
the engineering team and the community
at large
• Ability to function effectively as an
individual and in multidisciplinary and
multicultural teams, as a team leader
or manager as well as an effective team
member
• Ability to manage information and
documentation
• Capacity for lifelong learning and
professional development.
Barry Lo studied chemical engineering at
the University of Melbourne and now works
as a chemical engineer at URS Australia,
an environmental and engineering
consultancy that provides services to a
wide range of businesses and communities
within Australia and internationally:
“The projects are quite varied and often
challenging, requiring a multidisciplinary
approach. I’ve been involved with
environmental site assessments,
remediation engineering design, and
waste management. I especially enjoy
the team environment and excitement
of finding new and innovative solutions.”
Barry values the skills he developed
during his degree, which have served him
well in his current role:
“Graduating from Melbourne gave me the
skills to succeed, in particular problem
solving and the ability to work under
pressure.”
During his study, Barry was awarded a
scholarship with world leading integrated
aluminium company, Alcoa, where he
undertook a 12-week work placement
at its Victorian Operations:
“Although Alcoa was a different industry to
the one I work in now, I believe it was a real
stepping stone to life after university. The
experience I gained during vacation work
gave me invaluable confidence and exposure
to industry practices, particularly with
respect to health and safety.”
BARRY LO
Chemical Engineer, URS
Australia
Study Area: Chemical
Engineering

6. Job Search Sites
• Careers Online
• Engineer Jobs
• Engineering Career
• Engineering Jobs Australia
• Grad Connection
• H2Oz
• Just Engineers
• Job Search Australia/Engineers
• 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
Licensing and registration
There is no formal system of regulation for
engineers throughout Australia. Engineering
services are regulated under a variety of
Acts in ad hoc areas, many of which relate
to engineers in the building and construction
industry.
Engineers in Queensland are required by
legislation to be registered through the
Board of Professional Engineers in
Queensland (BPEQ). In other states and
territories engineers operate under the self-
regulatory system operated by the National
Engineering Registration Board (NERB).
International Students/Graduates
Working in Victoria: An Engineer’s Guide
Overseas Qualifications
Assessment Team (OSQA)
Engineers Australia
MONIQUE CORBAN
Process Support
Technologist, Shell
Study Area: Chemical
Engineering
As a Process Support Technologist for
Shell, Monique Corban works in the oil and
gas industry, providing technical support
and guidance to optimise performance
and efficiency of process units.
Monique works in multi-disciplined teams
that aim to improve site-wide safety,
performance and reliability, which involves
assisting in the development and execution
of short and long-term projects:
“The variety of work every day presents
a new challenge and I have the chance to
use my problem-solving skills. I also have
the opportunity to work with people from
a variety of backgrounds and a wide range
of skills and knowledge.”
Monique studied chemical engineering at
The University of Melbourne and values the
technical expertise developed:
“Graduating from Melbourne gave me a
solid base of fundamental engineering
principles, and an engineering degree that
is well respected for its technical depth.”
Monique also enjoyed the great
opportunities to network with industry and
encouragement to gain work experience
through vacation work. She completed two
internships, with Uhde Shedden and Shell,
over consecutive summers:
“The Chemical Engineering Department
has strong ties with both large and small
engineering companies and does all it
can to ensure that students engage with
industry through campus networking events
and vacation work.”
Useful Links
Chemical Engineering Pathways.
Authorised by the Industry Relations
Manager, Melbourne School of
Engineering. Published by The
Melbourne School of Engineering,
July 2012.
Copyright: © Copyright University of
Melbourne 2012. Copyright in this
publication is owned by the University
and no part of it may be reproduced
without the permission of the
University.
CRICOS provider code 00116K.
Disclaimer: The University has used its
best endeavours to ensure that material
contained in this publication was correct
at the time of printing. The University
gives no warranty and accepts no
responsibility for the accuracy or
completeness of information and the
University reserves the right to make
changes without notice at any time at
its absolute discretion.