The Most Rewarding Jobs in Oil and Gas for Chemical Engineers

The oil and gas sector is highly diverse – there is a multitude of careers available, each offering something unique.

As a qualified chemical engineer, there are ample opportunities to work offshore on rigs, ships, and FPSOs, as well as onshore too. Working within the oil and gas industry is financially rewarding, exciting, and helps keep vital resources such as electricity, fuel, and chemical production running.

Chemical engineers are a critical resource to the oil and gas industry. They ensure petroleum and oil materials go directly into gas tanks and that the correct chemicals are used to transform crude oil into a usable form.

Let’s take a look at the best chemical engineering jobs in oil and gas and explore the benefits of working in this industry:

Most desirable oil and gas jobs

There are myriad oil and gas jobs available throughout the industry, such as:

• Chemical engineers
• Upstream services
• Downstream operators
• Lab technicians and chemists
• Foremen and line supervisors
• Electronics technicians
• HSE managers

As for chemical engineers, though:

Employers who require chemical engineers span a wide range of industries, with key players including oil and gas.

For large exploration and production companies such as Shell, there are a variety of roles for workers with a background in chemical engineering. These workers are needed:

1. in the upstream, where catalysts, polymers, and new molecules help boost production.
2. in downstream operations, which focuses on what happens with hydrocarbons once they are out of the ground.
3. in labs, with roles ranging from laboratory technicians to specialised chemists.

Oilfield jobs salary guide for chemical engineers

As conditions for extracting oil become increasingly difficult, chemical engineering jobs within this field are extremely desirable.

As reserves become harder to extract, the oil and gas industry requires top-quality engineers to sustain it. Because of this, the oil and gas sector offers an extremely generous income, often in excess of £70,000. For graduates looking to get into this industry, it offers the highest graduate engineering salary of any sector – often over £30,000 a year.

Aside from the obvious benefits associated with the high pay attached to this kind of job, there is an extensive list of reasons why a chemical engineer would want to go into the oil and gas sector:

The benefits of working in the oil and gas sector

• Travel the world

As most oil and gas companies have offices abroad, there is a chance to gain international experience. This widens the scope of job roles and locations available for chemical engineering jobs, spanning from Offshore Europe, Texas, and California, to North Dakota and Alaska.

It’s not just the UK that needs oil, which means workers have the chance to go overseas, and in many cases, work in parts of the world that may not otherwise be accessible.

With a universal demand for oil, engineers who are fully trained are able to enjoy the perks that travelling brings.

• Stimulating work environment

A career in the oil and gas sector as a chemical engineer is far from dull. The exciting and challenging nature of this field means that each day is varied.

Despite growing attention being paid to renewables , we’re likely to be dependent on oil and gas for some time now and the industry remains strong, meaning that there is an ongoing need for this field of work.

As technology continues to advance in this area, workers in the oil and gas industry will always be given the opportunity to learn something new.

• Diverse working conditions

For chemical engineers looking for varied working conditions, the oil and gas sector is the ideal field.

Offshore oil rigs mean that workers will be outside a lot in varied surroundings. That said, there are also plenty of jobs that are based in labs and offices, so you have a choice of which work environment you prefer.

Find your next chemical engineering role with our help

No matter which work setting you choose, the oil and gas industry offers many training and development opportunities for chemical engineers.

Due to the need to retain top talent, many employers provide excellent training for their workers, as well as offering other bonuses such as a pension plan and healthcare.

At TRS, we have a number of exciting chemical engineering opportunities within the oil and gas industry. To explore existing opportunities, visit the Oil, Gas and Chemicals Engineering jobs section and apply today.