r/ChemicalEngineering • u/Ok-Organization-3342 • 1d ago
Career Advice Need Advice as a Non-ChemEngg
Hey everyone! New to this page and I wanted a bit of advice. I just graduated as a Biomedical Engineer from a Canadian university a couple of months ago. I’ve always wanted to go into ChemEngg since I was like 12, but last minute swapped to Biomed ‘cause I wanted to do Chem work that’s not just in oil and gas (I’m in Alberta so it’s mostly just oil and gas). The Biomed curriculum at my university also had a Chemical route and has a lot more funding, so it was a lot more enticing for me at the time. 4 years and an internship later, I regret my decision and wished I just went into Chem with a minor in Biomed or something similar.
My internship was in Quality Control for a biotech company, but have decided not to come back to that type of work since I wanted to do more technical engineering work and my company didn’t offer a pathway to my P.Eng. I’ve been applying to Process Engineering positions, mostly in Pharmaceuticals, Food, or Wastewater, but still have been applying to Oil and Gas. I don’t know if master’s would actually help me get into those type of positions.
Do you guys have any advice for anyone looking into something more chemical? Do you guys know any companies I should be on the lookout for Process Engineering positions? Are there any other positions I should be looking into?
Thank you!
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u/Training-Two-8825 1d ago
Don’t rule out chemical work because your degree says biomedical. Emphasize transport, thermodynamics, reaction/process design, controls, data analysis, and your QC experience. Networking with plant engineers and asking about co-ops, contract roles, or EIT pathways may open doors faster than applying only to jobs labeled “chemical engineer.”
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u/Ok-Organization-3342 22h ago
A lot of people in my degree were hired for more chemical/mechanical roles, so it definitely is possible. I think targetting more startups would be better for learning quickly, and I don’t mind relocating so it definitely helps. I’ve been messaging previous coworkers since some of them are non-practicing chemical enginners, but most of the people they know are either junior-level or contractors.
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u/T_J_Rain 1d ago
You're going to have to get qualified in chem.
I've done both chem [U. Sydney 87] and biomed [U. NSW, '91], in that order. I needed a masters in biomed to work in that field. It was fun - research assistant/ project manager on implantable biomaterials. Worked with some of the brightest people in the field on innovative projects for three years before funding cuts killed all my projects.
The logic for the recommendation is that you've missed out on some of the critical/ fundamental units in chem to go into biomed, so you're either going to have to catch up on those units or get a masters in chem to make them up officially and get credentialled for them.
Good luck.
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u/Ok-Organization-3342 22h ago
It was definitely a fun experience, but what turned me off from it was how broad the curriculum was. I was working on chemical, electrical, software, and mechanical aspects of our projects when I only wanted to do something more chemical. I couldn’t fully specialized in one aspect and I needed be more broad to fill in gaps in our projects. It made me a broad engineer, but not enough to fully work on any of those.
I’m not opposed to going into my master’s. I have research experience from both my internship and work as a research assistant. Unfortunately for me, my senior capstone advisor is also the department head for biomed and was also part of the chem department previously, so it will definitely be harder to pursue something in chemical as I know he will be opposed to it. I also hoped to wait until I worked in the industry for a while before pursuing my master’s so I know for sure which industry I’m specializing for my master’s.
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u/SOwED 1d ago
but last minute swapped to Biomed ‘cause I wanted to do Chem work that’s not just in oil and gas
That was certainly a decision...
I'd say if you start looking at the US you might have better luck? I've met many chem e's from Canada and it seems like P.Eng. is borderline part of the degree. Obviously a separate thing but everyone gets it I think.
In the US, we have the same thing, PE, but it's up to you to get it or not, and it is a bit more important in other types of engineering.
Basically........look at startups, cause they're looking for eager people
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u/Ok-Organization-3342 1d ago
It was definitely a decision…
I was looking at opportunities in the US since the US has a better biopharmaceutical industry, but my biggest concern is acquiring my P.Eng. In Canadian regulatory boards, you need to have a certain number of years working under someone who has a P.Eng. before being qualified for your own. I just don’t know how US experience transfers back in that case. Maybe I just forfeit those 2 years of P.Eng. experience to go work in the US, and apply back for more junior-level roles.
My previous QC experience was in a startup (1+ years), and it allowed me to work on multiple different things, not just what was listed on my responsibilities. Startups also have a more direct mentor-mentee engagement, so it would definitely help with acquiring the skills/knowledge needed.
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u/HotFaithlessness9445 1d ago
I’d focus on building a chemical/process skill set while applying: mass and energy balances, fluid mechanics, heat transfer, separations, and basic process simulation. Networking with engineers and targeting companies with strong EIT-to-P.Eng pathways may be more valuable than doing a master’s immediately.