How to become a production and process engineer

Official title: Production and process engineers

Also called: Engineer, Process engineer, Product engineer, Chemical engineer, Plastics engineer, Production adviser, Explosive engineer, Automation engineer, Industrial engineer, Instrument engineer, Production engineer, Production consultant

Production and process engineers advise on and direct technical aspects of production programmes to ensure cost-effectiveness and efficiency. This unit group incorporates: planning and quality control engineers who plan production schedules, work sequences, and manufacturing and processing procedures to ensure accuracy, quality and reliability; and chemical engineers who undertake research on commercial scale chemical processes and processed products, design and provide specifications and direct the construction, operation, maintenance and repair of chemical plants and control systems.

Main tasks

• Studies existing and alternative production methods, regarding work flow, plant layout, types of machinery and cost
• Recommends optimum equipment and layout and prepares drawings and specifications
• Devises and implements production control methods to monitor operational efficiency
• Investigates and eliminates potential hazards and bottlenecks in production
• Advises management on and ensures effective implementation of new production methods, techniques and equipment
• Liaises with materials buying, storing and controlling departments to ensure a steady flow of supplies
• Undertakes research and develops processes to achieve physical and/or chemical change for oil, pharmaceutical, synthetic, plastic, food and other products
• Designs, controls and constructs process plants to manufacture products

How to become one

Production and process engineers usually possess an accredited university degree. After qualifying, periods of appropriate training and experience are required before membership of a chartered engineering institution. Incorporated engineers possess an accredited university degree, BTEC/SQA award or an apprenticeship leading to an NVQ/SVQ at level 4. All routes are followed by periods of appropriate training and relevant experience.

Ways in

• Apprenticeship (England): Non-destructive testing engineer (degree) (level 6). England. Typically 48 months. Skills England standard ST0369.
• Apprenticeship (England): Nuclear reactor desk engineer (level 6). England. Typically 30 months. Skills England standard ST0784.
• Apprenticeship (England): Process leader (level 4). England. Typically 24 months. Skills England standard ST0695.
• Apprenticeship (England): Science industry process and plant engineer (degree) (level 6). England. Typically 60 months. Skills England standard ST0473.
• University: Engineering degrees, Offered by 25 universities in the UK

Pay · Outlook

• Median full-time pay: £47,946 a year The middle half earn £39,642 to £58,754.
• About 39,900 people work in this job now, and about 44,300 are projected by 2035. (+11.1%)

Related jobs

• Civil engineers
• Mechanical engineers (professional)
• Electrical engineers
• Electronics engineers (professional)
• Aerospace engineers
• Engineering project managers and project engineers

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Questions people ask

How do I become a production and process engineer?

Production and process engineers usually possess an accredited university degree. After qualifying, periods of appropriate training and experience are required before membership of a chartered engineering institution. Incorporated engineers possess an accredited university degree, BTEC/SQA award or an apprenticeship leading to an NVQ/SVQ at level 4. All routes are followed by periods of appropriate training and relevant experience.

How much does a production and process engineer earn in the UK?

Median full-time pay is £47,946 a year (Office for National Statistics). The middle half earn £39,642 to £58,754.

Is a production and process engineer a growing career in the UK?

Yes. Employment is projected to grow 11% by 2035, from about 39,900 to about 44,300 people (Department for Education).

Do you need a degree to become a production and process engineer?

Not always. 59% of people in this job hold a bachelor's degree or higher. Ways in include: Engineering degrees; Non-destructive testing engineer (degree) (level 6).

Sources

• Office for National Statistics: Annual Population Survey: employment by occupation (April 2025 to March 2026), OGL v3.0, retrieved 2026-10-03
• Office for National Statistics: SOC 2020 Volume 1: structure and descriptions (2026-08-27 edition), OGL v3.0, retrieved 2026-10-03
• Department for Education: Skills Imperative 2035: employment projections by occupation (2021 to 2035 (Warwick IER / Cambridge Econometrics)), OGL v3.0, retrieved 2026-10-03
• Office for National Statistics: Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings, Table 14 (2025 provisional), OGL v3.0, retrieved 2026-10-03

Updated 2026-10-03

Graduate outcomes: Discover Uni dataset, HESA (www.hesa.ac.uk), licensed under CC BY 4.0 (creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0). Aggregated by subject and adapted by Peernovo.