I received an inquiry from Aizuddin who is presently a first year Chemical Engineering student at University of New South Wales (UNSW) Australia. Like me before (when I was a student), he have vague idea on what a process/chemical engineer do. I'll try my best to explain about it. I hope if other process/chemical engineer reads this, you can also add up so we can have better idea on the job scope.
A very simple idea of process engineer from me: "
Process engineer is a person involve in process engineering in a plant in a manufacturing industry."
Basically, process engineering is the type of engineering dealing with manufacturing. It
determines the sequence of operations and the selection of tools required to manufacture a product.
Process engineering is closely associated with chemical engineering. Hence, a process engineer position is largely occupied by chemical engineers. They will oversee and manage the process.
According to
Wikipedia,
"Chemical engineering is the branch of engineering that deals with the application of physical science (e.g. chemistry and physics), with mathematics, to the process of converting raw materials or chemicals into more useful or valuable forms. As well as producing useful materials, chemical engineering is also concerned with pioneering
valuable new materials and techniques; an important form of research and development. A person employed in this field is called a chemical engineer." "Chemical engineering largely involves the design and maintenance of chemical processes for large-scale manufacture. Chemical engineers in this branch are usually employed under the title of process engineer. The development of the large-scale processes characteristic of industrialized economies is a feat of chemical engineering, not chemistry. Indeed, chemical engineers are responsible for the availability of the modern high-quality materials that are essential for running an industrial economy."
Another definition/concept of
Process engineering according to Answers.com:
"A branch of engineering in which a process effects chemical and mechanical transformations of matter, conducted continuously or repeatedly on a substantial scale. Process engineering constitutes the specification, optimization, realization, and adjustment of the process applied to manufacture of bulk products or discrete products. Bulk products are those which are homogeneous throughout and uniform in properties, are in gaseous, liquid, or solid form, and are made in separate batches or continuously. Examples of bulk product processes include petroleum refining, municipal water purification, the manufacture of penicillin by fermentation or synthesis, the forming of paper from wood pulp, the separation and crystallization of various salts from brine, the production of liquid oxygen and nitrogen from air, the electrolytic beneficiation of aluminum, and the manufacture of paint, whiskey, plastic 
resin, and so on. Discrete products are those which are separate and individual, although they may be identical or very nearly so. Examples of discrete product processes include the casting, molding, forging, shaping, forming, joining, and surface finishing of the component piece parts of end products or of the end products themselves. Processes are chemical when one or more essential steps involve chemical reaction. Almost no chemical process occurs without many accompanying mechanical steps such as pumping and conveying, size reduction of particles, classification of particles and their separation from fluid streams, evaporation and distillation with attendant boiling and condensation, absorption, extraction, membrane separations, and mixing. See also Dialysis; Distillation; Evaporation; Extraction; Ion-selective membranes and electrodes; Mechanical classification; Mechanical separation techniques; Mixing; Optimization; Production engineering."
The above explanation from Answers.com can give a better picture on process engineering and can imply/provide better ideas on what a process engineer is expected to do.
Hmm....enough about the definitions I adopted from the internet. I'll try to explain it based on my experience and understanding, in simpler and practical terms.
Basically a process engineer will have to take care of the plant processes. This will include monitoring the process plant operating parameters such as temperature, pressure, level, vacuum etc. In addition to that, the plant utilities must also be monitored such as water, steam, LFO (liquid fuel oil), diesel, natural gas, air compressor and other chemical type utilities. He must ensure that operating process parameters and the utilities are kept within acceptable range (or continuously improving it). If not, trouble shooting must be carried out.
Besides that, equipments and instruments in a processing plant such as pumps, motors, fans, control valves, valves, etc should be maintained properly. Vital supporting equipments like
cooling tower, heat exchanger, boiler, high pressure boiler, air compressor etc must be closely monitored as well. Some plants/factories will have their own utility engineer to take care of this. Some does not and will require the process engineer taking care of this as well. All these equipments require scheduled and regular maintenance to ensure plant running smoothly.
A process engineer should also be capable on paper work stuff. He must prepare various types of reports (daily, monthly, quarterly, annually....). He should also possess good communication skill (soft skill) because he definitely have to attend/conduct various meetings and communicate with his superiors (managers) and downline staffs (supervisors/operators).
There are still more to write about what a process engineer does. It's already late at night....I shall continue sharing about it in my next post. Wait for it....
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