How to Become a Process Development Engineer

A process development engineer develops strategies for producing items with high fidelity and quality.

A process development engineer defines the sequence of steps required to duplicate a product or a portion of a product in multiple identical copies. This function resides in companies with manufacturing capabilities. Production centers greatly value this type of job because it may elevate company profits and customer satisfaction. A process development engineer's expertise will ensure that two items randomly pulled out of the production line look perfectly identical and meet high-quality workmanship.

Things You'll Need

• Internet access
• Funds for four years of college

Instructions

Before College

1. Evaluate your education background and your strengths. You will need to graduate from high school to qualify for entry into a college that teaches process development engineering. Interests in statistics and material science are good foundation for this type of job. Attention to details and rational thinking elevate the success of a process development engineer.

2. Consult a career counselor and obtain a list of engineering schools that provide courses in manufacturing or process engineering. Alternatively, abet.org lists the accredited engineering programs.

3. Review the entrance requirements. Submit an application to the programs of greatest interest and that seem most likely to accept your application.

In College

1. Choose electives that focus on statistics and process engineering. Add courses that discuss the importance of process development, such as Chemistry or Quality Management.

2. Choose assignments that analyze production issues or investigate manufacturing defects.

3. Seek internships with companies that manufacture products in large quantities. Ask for work in their production department.

Upon Graduation

1. Develop a resume that highlights the exposure that you experienced with process development during your years in college.

2. Contact the companies where you performed internships and inform them that you are seeking entry-level jobs in process development.

3. Call and email all the professionals in your network, including professors or individuals whom you met while in college. Ask them to keep their eyes open for entry-level jobs for process engineers.

Tips & Warnings

• Process development engineering involves the intense study of statistics and probability sciences. Enjoying mathematics helps with absorbing the course material.

• Professional networking events provide a venue to meet potential hiring managers. Search for meetings that gather individuals involved in manufacturing and develop relationships with them. The Industrial Engineering Society organizes monthly speaker events at their chapters.

References

• ABET: Accredited engineering programs
• IEEE: Industrial Engineering Society; Networking Group
• Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2010-11 Edition: Engineers

Resources

• The Packaging Development Process; Kristine DeMaria; 1999