Process Engineers play a vital role in the overall success of manufacturing and engineering businesses. They focus on the design, operation, control, optimisation and continuous monitoring of engineering processes, typically in a manufacturing setting. This is can include anything such as chemical, physical, and biological processes, meaning the roles can be extremely varied. This also means Process Engineers are likely to be present in lots of industries, such as agriculture, biotechnical, industry/manufacturing and software development, to name but a few.
It’s an in-demand skill with many top organisations seeking the very best talent in the space. In fact, it’s recently been highlighted as one of the most in-demand skills within the manufacturing industry. Here at BMR Solutions, we’re passionate about matching top engineering talent with these top organisations, on both a permanent and temporary basis. If you’re a Process Engineer looking to advance your career, or perhaps a graduate just starting out, submit your CV to us and we’ll help you get started. Similarly, if you’re a business, make sure you get in touch, so we can make sure you find and have access to the top talent within the marketplace.
What is a Process Engineer?
The role of a Process Engineer is very much centred around creating, monitoring and controlling the manufacturing process of turning raw materials into end products. This makes it an essential part to the overall support of successful manufacturing and requires very talented and skilled engineers.
Any product being made, whether its biological, chemical or a physical product, needs to meet safety standards and Process Engineers help maintain clear standard operating procedures as well as industry standards for the products being made.
This also means there are going to be lots of unique requirements and duties that are dependent on the sector and organisation a Process Engineer works within.
They’re likely to be involved in a whole lifecycle of a system, from designing, creating and setting specifications, right through to the implementation, deployment and continuous monitoring of the equipment and processes involved in the desired system. Their focus may be on an existing process, or perhaps working on theoretical projects to help a business expand and launch new products. The result is a job that is highly varied and involves working with a range of departments and teams to meet expectations.
Skills Needed to be a Process Engineer
Process Engineers are likely to be interested in how things work, and why they work the way they do. This curiosity can then allow them to problem solve and innovate when it comes to the performance and functioning of systems.
Where are there opportunities for improvements? What are the associated risks currently within a system? These sorts of questions must be asked on a daily basis to maximise the efficiency and growth of engineering businesses.
Top candidates are likely to be very technical and enjoy the details of complex and advanced processes. They need to be logical thinkers that can actively problem solve and see potential problems before they arise. They also need to be able to effectively communicate the information and data they collect and handle to senior managers and even external parties.
Also, due to huge technological advances in recent years, they need to be creative and enjoy applying creative solutions to older systems that may have been designed and created without this new technology available. This helps ensure manufacturing is utilising all the equipment, knowledge and technology available.
Einstein’s famous quote “Everything Should Be Made as Simple as Possible, But Not Simpler,” is a very good reflection of how Process Engineers need to think and work. Their job is to make even the most complex of processes or systems, function and appear effortless.
Qualifications and Experience Needed to be a Process Engineer
Many engineers come from a science and maths background. From there, most Process Engineers are likely to hold some type of engineering degree. It’s likely to be an advantage to hold a relevant degree or master’s degree in the type of sector most interesting to you, such as chemical or biological, if that’s where you want your career to go.
Many of the Process Engineering jobs will require some form of experience. This is why it’s always useful to get some type of work experience/internship under your belt in a relevant context to help show potential employers you are familiar with the processes and systems you’d be likely to encounter.
Particularly for chemical or biotech roles, having experience and knowledge of these sectors is likely to be a big advantage.
Applying for Jobs
Like any job, it’s important you are familiar with the expectations and requirements of the specific role you are applying for.
Having experience and being able to confidently uses advanced computer programmes, is also often highly desired. Much of the work is likely to use computer software, so having experience using these types of computer programmes is likely to be a big advantage.
It’s also very useful to understand how both new technologies are changing all industries as well as how political and environmental changes could impact the future of the product you’re manufacturing. A.I., automation, climate change, are just a few ways that manufacturing businesses are faced with both opportunities and challenges, and Process Engineers who embrace and welcome such aspects are likely to have a successful long-term career.
Learn More with BMR Solutions
Process Engineering is a fantastic career opportunity for ambitious and hardworking engineers. If you’d like to be the first to know of new Process Engineering jobs available in the South West of England, please don’t hesitate to get in touch or simply upload your C.V. with us.
Make sure you also keep up to date with our job board for new engineering and manufacturing opportunities.
We’ll help provide support and recommendations and hopefully match you with your dream employer.
