A chemical engineer applies chemical and engineering knowledge to several fields—environmental protection, pollution prevention, biotechnology, electronics, chemistry, petroleum, medicine, and law. Chemical engineers are involved in research, development (taking a process from bench scale to full scale), design and evaluation (how should the process work), plant design (how should the chemical plant be built), plant operation, sales, management, and academics.

Although chemical engineering career opportunities are diverse, job functions can be categorized more easily. Chemical engineers are usually involved in research, design, development, production, technical sales, or management: In research, they develop new ideas, new products, and new ways to produce existing products more economically and with less environmental impact. In design, they create the processes that convert raw materials into finished products with emphasis on efficiency, safety, consumer needs, and environmental protection. The development engineer improves existing processes and technology to better meet changing needs. Production engineering involves processes and operations. Management and technical sales involve decision making with regard to consumer needs and technical capabilities. Chemical engineers are creative problem solvers. The careers of chemical engineers are rewarding not only from an intellectual and financial view, but also from a personal perspective. Their occupations are intellectually stimulating, and encourage creativity, and the fruits of their labors provide a better quality of life for humankind.