Chemical Engineer CV Example
A chemical engineer CV demonstrates your ability to design and optimise chemical processes for manufacturing, energy, and pharmaceuticals.
Recommended template: Sleek
Key Skills to Include
Quick Tips
- Include specific process improvements and cost savings you have achieved.
- Highlight familiarity with simulation tools like Aspen Plus or MATLAB.
- Detail your experience with safety assessments and regulatory compliance.
- Mention any chartered engineer status or professional body memberships.
Ready to build your CV?
Start with the Sleek template and customise it for your science role.
How to Write Your Chemical Engineer CV
A chemical engineer CV must demonstrate your ability to apply engineering principles to the design, operation, and improvement of chemical processes. Employers across petrochemicals, pharmaceuticals, FMCG, and energy want to see evidence of technical problem-solving alongside commercial awareness. Your CV should link your engineering skills to tangible outcomes — cost savings, safety improvements, capacity increases, or successful project delivery.
CV Structure
Use a reverse-chronological format with sections for your profile, experience, education, technical skills, and professional memberships. Each role should include the company name, a brief description of the site or process, and your scope of responsibility. Follow with four to five responsibilities and two to three quantified achievements. Keep the CV to two pages unless you have more than fifteen years of experience.
CV Format
Select a professional, engineering-appropriate template with clear section headings and consistent formatting. Avoid heavily designed templates — engineering hiring managers value clarity and structure. Include your IChemE membership grade and chartered status prominently. Save as a PDF to preserve layout.
CV Profile Examples
Chartered Chemical Engineer
Chartered chemical engineer (MIChemE) with twelve years of experience in process design, commissioning, and optimisation across the petrochemical and specialty chemicals sectors. Skilled in process simulation using Aspen Plus and HYSYS, HAZOP facilitation, and capital project delivery from FEED through to startup. Proven record of delivering process improvements that have generated over £3M in annual cost savings.
Process Development Engineer
Chemical engineer specialising in pharmaceutical process development, with expertise in reaction engineering, crystallisation, and continuous manufacturing. Experienced in applying Quality by Design principles and statistical DoE to develop robust, scalable processes that meet regulatory requirements. Strong collaborator who works effectively across R&D, manufacturing, and quality functions.
Graduate Chemical Engineer
MEng chemical engineering graduate from the University of Birmingham with industrial placement experience at a major FMCG company. Proficient in Aspen Plus, MATLAB, and AutoCAD, with practical exposure to batch processing, utility systems, and health and safety management. Seeking a graduate role that offers structured professional development towards chartered engineer status.
State your chartership status, years of experience, sector focus, and a headline achievement. Mention key software tools and the types of processes you specialise in to help recruiters quickly assess your fit for the role.
Key Skills for Your Chemical Engineer CV
Process Design
Developing process flow diagrams, P&IDs, and equipment specifications for new plants and modifications to existing facilities.
HAZOP Analysis
Facilitating and participating in hazard and operability studies to identify process risks and define safeguards.
Aspen Plus
Building steady-state and dynamic process simulations to evaluate design options, optimise operating conditions, and support troubleshooting.
Process Simulation
Using simulation software including HYSYS, gPROMS, and MATLAB to model chemical processes and predict performance under various scenarios.
Mass & Energy Balances
Calculating material and energy flows across unit operations to support process design, debottlenecking, and efficiency improvements.
P&ID Development
Creating and reviewing piping and instrumentation diagrams that define the process configuration and control philosophy.
Six Sigma
Applying Lean Six Sigma methodologies to reduce process variability, eliminate waste, and improve manufacturing performance.
Health & Safety Compliance
Ensuring process designs and operations comply with COMAH, DSEAR, ATEX, and other relevant health and safety regulations.
Commissioning & Startup
Planning and executing commissioning activities including pre-startup safety reviews, loop checks, and performance testing.
Work Experience Examples
Describe the site, process type, and your specific engineering responsibilities. Include the tools and methodologies you used — simulation software, safety study techniques, statistical methods. Quantify achievements in terms of cost savings, efficiency gains, or project delivery metrics. Chemical engineering is a results-driven discipline, so evidence of impact is essential.
Senior Process Engineer
INEOS, Grangemouth
Led process engineering activities for a 500,000 tpa olefins production unit, supporting day-to-day operations and capital improvement projects.
Responsibilities
- Developed and maintained process simulations in Aspen HYSYS to evaluate operating scenarios, debottlenecking options, and energy recovery opportunities.
- Facilitated HAZOP and LOPA studies for modification projects, ensuring compliance with COMAH regulations and company safety standards.
- Designed process modifications and prepared P&IDs, equipment specifications, and design basis documents for FEED and detailed design phases.
- Provided technical support to operations during plant upsets, conducting root cause analysis and implementing corrective actions.
- Managed a portfolio of small capital projects with a combined value of £2.5M, coordinating with multidisciplinary engineering teams.
Achievements
- Identified and implemented a heat integration scheme that recovered 4 MW of waste heat, saving £1.8M per year in fuel gas costs.
- Led the process design for a new product finishing line that was delivered on time and £150,000 under the approved budget.
- Reduced unplanned shutdowns by 25% over two years through targeted reliability improvements to the distillation column overhead system.
Process Engineer
GSK, Barnard Castle
Supported pharmaceutical manufacturing operations and continuous improvement initiatives within a GMP-regulated active pharmaceutical ingredient production facility.
Responsibilities
- Conducted mass and energy balance calculations for batch reactor and distillation processes to support capacity assessments.
- Prepared and reviewed process risk assessments, including PHAs and change control documentation for process modifications.
- Supported technology transfer of new API processes from development to manufacturing scale, authoring process descriptions and batch record sections.
- Analysed process data to identify trends, deviations, and opportunities for yield improvement using statistical tools.
Achievements
- Improved crystallisation yield of a key API by 8% through solvent ratio optimisation, generating an additional £600,000 in annual revenue.
- Authored the process section of a regulatory filing that received approval from the MHRA without major observations.
Education & Qualifications
List your degree first, specifying the classification and any relevant final-year project or dissertation topic. Include IChemE membership grade and chartered status. Mention any additional qualifications such as NEBOSH, Six Sigma, or project management certifications.
CEng MIChemE
Chartered Engineer status through the Institution of Chemical Engineers, the gold standard for chemical engineering professionals.
MEng / BEng Chemical Engineering
Accredited undergraduate or integrated master's degree providing the academic foundation for a chemical engineering career.
NEBOSH Certificate
National Examination Board in Occupational Safety and Health qualification demonstrating competence in workplace health and safety management.
Six Sigma Green/Black Belt
Process improvement certification demonstrating capability in data-driven problem-solving and waste reduction methodologies.
Frequently Asked Questions
Should I mention my chartership on a chemical engineer CV?
What software should I list on a chemical engineer CV?
How do I demonstrate safety experience on my CV?
How long should a chemical engineer CV be?
More Science CV Examples
Scientific CV
A well-structured scientific CV highlights your research experience, publications, and technical expertise across any scientific discipline.
Biochemist CV
A biochemist CV should demonstrate your expertise in molecular biology, protein chemistry, and laboratory research techniques.
Bioinformatics CV
A bioinformatics CV bridges computational science and biology, showcasing your ability to analyse large-scale biological datasets.
Biomedical Science CV
A biomedical science CV highlights your expertise in diagnosing diseases and conducting clinical laboratory investigations.
Biotech CV
A biotech CV showcases your ability to apply biological science and technology to develop innovative products and processes.
Ecologist CV
An ecologist CV should highlight your expertise in biodiversity assessment, habitat surveys, and environmental impact analysis.