Chemical Engineer Interview Questions

The goal for a successful interview for a Chemical Engineer is to demonstrate their knowledge and skills in analyzing chemical processes and designing solutions, showcase their experience in managing and handling chemical materials safely, and illustrate their ability to collaborate effectively with multidisciplinary teams in a laboratory or production environment.

Situational interview questions

• Situation: A chemical plant is experiencing frequent breakdowns in its manufacturing equipment, leading to significant production delays and lost revenue. What approach would you take to identify the root cause of the problem and minimize equipment downtime?
• Situation: A client has requested that your chemical engineering team design a process to produce a new compound with a very narrow range of purity specifications. What steps would you take in the design process to ensure that the final product meets the client’s requirements?
• Situation: A chemical spill has occurred in a manufacturing facility, putting workers and nearby residents in danger. What immediate actions would you take to contain and cleanup the spill while minimizing environmental and health impacts?
• Situation: A company is seeking to reduce its carbon footprint and switch to more sustainable sources for its manufacturing processes. As a chemical engineer, what strategies would you suggest to help the company achieve these goals while maintaining profitability?
• Situation: A plant manager has noticed that process yield has been decreasing over time, and suspects that the manufacturing process may need to be redesigned or optimized. How would you go about verifying the root cause of the low yields and identifying potential solutions to improve the process?

Soft skills interview questions

• Can you describe a time when you had to work in a team to accomplish a challenging goal in your previous engineering project?
• How do you communicate complex technical information to a non-technical audience?
• Can you provide an example of when you demonstrated adaptability in the face of unexpected challenges during a project?
• How do you manage your time and prioritize tasks in order to meet project deadlines efficiently?
• Can you tell us about a time where you had to use your critical thinking skills to solve a problem on an engineering project?

Role-specific interview questions

• Can you explain the process of designing a chemical plant from start to finish, including safety considerations?
• How do you troubleshoot an issue in chemical plant operations? Please walk us through your problem-solving process.
• Can you discuss your experience working with process simulation software such as Aspen HYSYS or CHEMCAD?
• How have you implemented process safety management (PSM) principles in your previous work experience?
• Can you discuss your experience with regulatory compliance in the chemical engineering field, including any experience with the EPA or OSHA regulations?

STAR interview questions

1. Can you describe a situation where you had to troubleshoot a production process that was not meeting its quality targets in your previous role as a chemical engineer? What was your task in that situation, and what steps did you take to identify and correct the issue? What was the result?

2. Tell me about a project you worked on to develop a new chemical product. What was your role in that project, and what actions did you take to ensure that the product met the required specifications and safety standards? What was the outcome of that project?

3. Have you ever faced a safety incident or hazardous situation in your career as a chemical engineer? Can you describe the event, your task in managing that situation, the actions you took, and the result?

4. Can you share an example of a project where you had to create a new process to improve efficiency or reduce costs in a plant operation? What was your task in that project, and what actions did you take to implement the new process? What were the results of the project?

5. Describe a situation where you had to work with a cross-functional team to solve a technical problem in a chemical process. What was your role in that team, and what steps did you take to collaborate and communicate effectively with your team members? What was the outcome of that project?