Process Eng. Job Interview, I'm a ME
Process Eng. Job Interview, I'm a ME
(OP)
Hello everyone,
I recently been contacted by an E&P for a screen interview for the role of a Process Engineer at a Petrochemical Facility.
Can anyone suggest / reference a good book/website/etc. that I may look at and do an intense reading for a less than a week and help me grasp the general calculation done as a process engineer? Such as heat/mass balance, heat transfer applications, chemistry, etc. The basics. I did see thermodynamics and heat transfer in college but haven't really applied them in my roles.
Brief background of myself. I’m a mechanical engineer and my experience involves engineering, quality, and fabrication of O&G equipment such as test separator skid packages, skid packages, pressure piping, and pressure vessels for the upstream and midstream. I have a large interest to be more involved with the process aspect of a system and to work in a downstream facility. Given what I know, I would tell my younger self to study chemical engineering.
Note: interview is in two weeks.
I recently been contacted by an E&P for a screen interview for the role of a Process Engineer at a Petrochemical Facility.
Can anyone suggest / reference a good book/website/etc. that I may look at and do an intense reading for a less than a week and help me grasp the general calculation done as a process engineer? Such as heat/mass balance, heat transfer applications, chemistry, etc. The basics. I did see thermodynamics and heat transfer in college but haven't really applied them in my roles.
Brief background of myself. I’m a mechanical engineer and my experience involves engineering, quality, and fabrication of O&G equipment such as test separator skid packages, skid packages, pressure piping, and pressure vessels for the upstream and midstream. I have a large interest to be more involved with the process aspect of a system and to work in a downstream facility. Given what I know, I would tell my younger self to study chemical engineering.
Note: interview is in two weeks.





RE: Process Eng. Job Interview, I'm a ME
Whilst i would commend you for taking an interest in the processes used by your potential employer they have obviously considered you as a potentially suitable candidate based on your current resume.
Unless you have not been careful with the facts they should have seen that you have at best limited process engineering experience. For many that is good news provided that you are generally smart, capable and willing to learn.
Going back a few years i got paired up with a lady who had absolutely zero process engineering knowledge. She actually had qualifications in education and mathematics but was really keen to learn and was interested. It was like starting with a blank canvas and had no biases or preconceived notions and had to learn about everything. She would ask the most difficult questions sometimes in pursuit of knowledge.
Although she eventually had to leave the industry due to ill health after a few years she was way better than at least half of the well qualified "Process Engineers" that i knew.
I guess what i am saying is this.
1)You may already have the core skills the employer is looking for, and they will teach you the detailed process knowledge you need.
2) in the time available you are not going to get anymore than a very basic knowledge of the processes involved. Don't try to present yourself with anything more than this. But well done on expressing enough willingness to try to get a basic understanding.
Regards
Ashtree
"Any water can be made potable if you filter it through enough money"
RE: Process Eng. Job Interview, I'm a ME
- Process control (basic PID, master-slave logic etc.)
- Process quality (engineering statistics)
- Basic fluid and thermodynamics (Bernoulli equation, pump basics, q=mcpdT)
- Simple chemistry (exothermic/endothermic, equilibrium principles, perhaps the some hydrocarbon chemistry since it's a petrochem role)
- Processes (upstream, downstream, reactions related to petrochem)
I've seen mechanical engineers work as process engineers. The reverse (process engineers working as mechanical engineers) is not so common in my experience
RE: Process Eng. Job Interview, I'm a ME
BTW, you'll find tons of info about what process engineers do by simply searching in Google.
RE: Process Eng. Job Interview, I'm a ME
In a plant a ME background is even better than a ChE, just present yourself as you are, you'll pickup whatever Chemical Eng details through on the job training,
Learn your way into the field...
RE: Process Eng. Job Interview, I'm a ME
It all depends on the company, I guess.
However, it is difficult to find a new position, as the employers I've spoken with do ask for a larger chemical engineering experience, which I don't have. On the other hand, I don't have much MEP or HVAC experience so finding a job in that field is even harder. Unless I move closer to a plant, there aren't many process piping jobs out there.
I design aqueducts in a parallel universe.
RE: Process Eng. Job Interview, I'm a ME
If a company assigns their process engineers to narrowly focus on tasks such as fluid flow and heat transfer, then an ME could probably function just fine. But if they're expecting their process engineers to be proficient at tasks like distillation design and process modeling, then I think an ME will have a hard time competing with ChE colleagues.
RE: Process Eng. Job Interview, I'm a ME
RE: Process Eng. Job Interview, I'm a ME
Right now I am waiting until next week when they're supposed to notify me if I continue for an in-person interview with the hiring manager. The screen interview was mostly conversational with the HR rep. Lasted 15 min.
Really hope I hear back from them.