<p>I know an M. Eng is meant for people who want to go into design. So in Chem Eng, I'd assume this would mean things like designing chemical reactors. This sounds really fun to me, but I'm just worried that most of these jobs will take me to small towns in the middle of nowhere, and I really like living in a city, or at least in a suburb close to a city. Are there jobs for M. Eng Chem Engineers in cities and if so, what do they entail?</p>
<p>As a ChemE you can find work in almost any setting; urban or suburban to remote.</p>
<p>ChemEs who do design work will work from where ever their offices are located and will make frequent trips to the plant site during build and start-up. I’m in design now and am located in a small bedroom community outside Cincinnati, OH. There are other engineering firms in the area that do similar work. Larger companies will have offices in larger cities.</p>
<p>It is important for design companies to be located near or in large(r) cities because we meet with people from many different types of organizations, and it is convenient for the client if they all run through a common city. I.e. a job we are looking at working on in the Florida panhandle has all parties meet in Atlanta because that is where the lead contractor is located.</p>
<p>We design chemical plants and not just reactors. My job requires me to draft designs on AutoCad, size and specify equipment, instruments and pipe sizes, research similar plants and aid in troubleshooting from a design perspective, and conduct feasibility studies. I meet with equipment and instrument vendors on a regular basis and work on cost estimates on a very rudimentary, non-budgetary, basis for value engineering purposes. Many design companies do hire engineers right out of college but those I respect and know have very good reputations want their engineers to have several years of hands-on plant experience. It’s good to have sometime troubleshooting and doing process improvements, you see what needs more attention and improved more routinely, and thus are a better designer because of it.</p>
<p>Still, there are a lot of plants near large cities, I don’t think you’ll have a problem living where you want.</p>
<p>Awesome, your job sounds exactly like the sort of thing I’d like to do, and I didn’t know there were many plants near cities. Does an M. Eng help in anyway for these sorts of positions, or would it give you a negligible edge over a BS candidate? I guess if they’re looking to hire engineers with plant experience their work experience would be what firms would look at and not really their college years, correct?</p>
<p>Masters in engineering probably won’t matter as much to get an edge into such a job unless your masters studies were tailored to the specific industry that the consulting company consults to. There are certain things that can’t be learned from a book. Field experience and a PE will give you the edge.</p>
<p>Interesting, thanks a lot Japher.</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>I would argue that point. If you’re willing to do anything, a ChE can work anywhere. However, in many places, a ChE can’t find traditional work.</p>
<p>For example, try to find a job as a ChE in Atlanta. You’re pretty much limited to project engineer roles or Sewer, Waste water, and Environmental position. And the few jobs you can find (usually in rural GA, 90-120 minutes from downtown), pay peanuts because of the low demand for ChE’s and the rural setting.</p>
<p>I have met a number of engineers who work on plant design during co-op (they’re contractors btw), and I don’t recall anyone having a masters. Some are actually mechanical engineers by training. Just FYI.</p>
<p>I am a senior getting a BS in Chem Engineering, but I am having trouble finding entry-level positions for recent graduates. I would like to find out how one would obtain “several years hands on experience” if the opportunities currently available require 5-10 yrs of experience in the industry.</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>People here aren’t having much trouble. The salaries seem to have stagnated, but there are still jobs.</p>
<p>What school?</p>
<p>The 5-10 is a rule of thumb, or something that is put on the job posting. Personally, after 2-3 years of hands-on experience I would start applying for the jobs you want.</p>
<p>I know in my area, Cincinnati, there are a good number of positions available for entry level engineers.</p>
<p>@Burdell @Japher</p>
<p>Thanks for the replies. That helps me a lot. I live in California and I am graduating from UCLA, however the openings I have looked at in San Diego, Los Angeles, and the bay area all require years of experience.</p>