Careers

Chemical engineering offers graduates a wide range of career opportunities across industries that impact everyday life. Chemical engineers apply principles of chemistry, physics, mathematics, and biology to design and optimize processes that transform raw materials into valuable products safely, efficiently, and sustainably. Career paths span traditional sectors such as chemicals, pharmaceuticals, energy, polymers, and food processing, as well as rapidly growing areas including biotechnology, renewable energy, advanced manufacturing, and environmental engineering. Chemical engineers work as process engineers, product development engineers, quality and safety specialists, data and modeling engineers, and research scientists, with roles in industry, national laboratories, startups, consulting firms, and government agencies. Their strong analytical and problem-solving skills also prepare them for careers in management, patent law, medicine, and entrepreneurship.

Materials engineering focuses on the discovery, design, and application of materials that enable modern technologies. Materials engineers study the structure, property, performance relationships of metals, ceramics, polymers, semiconductors, composites, and biomaterials to develop materials with tailored properties for specific applications. Career opportunities exist in industries such as aerospace, electronics, energy storage, biomedical devices, construction, automotive, and nanotechnology. Materials engineers work in research and development, materials characterization, manufacturing, reliability and failure analysis, and sustainability-focused materials design. As emerging technologies demand lighter, stronger, smarter, and more sustainable materials, materials engineers play a critical role in advancing innovations that support economic growth, environmental responsibility, and improved quality of life.