The Complete Guide to Lead Process Engineer Interview Questions

After honing your skills, crafting your resume, and applying for work, next (hopefully) comes the interview. When you get to the interview stage, you may feel like you’re almost done looking for a job that fits your needs. With some good prep work and a little bit of practice, this can be true.

Reading up on possible interview questions and making up possible answers is one of the best ways to get ready for an interview. This helps you get ready for the questions they will ask and gives you a chance to think about some of your professional achievements.

These are some common interview questions for a process engineer. This article will go over them and give you some sample answers to help you write your own.

Additional Process Engineer Interview Questions for Employers

• Do you have experience with process simulation software? Could you show us a project that you used this software to complete?
• To make a process more efficient, what tools and methods do you use? How do you go about optimizing it?
• How much experience do you have with control systems? How do you make sure that the process control system is working right and at its best?
• How do you go about managing safety in a process engineering setting? Can you explain what you know about process safety and hazard analysis?
• Tell me about your experience with process design, such as making material and energy balances, sizing equipment, and making process flow diagrams.
• How do you deal with process failures or problems that come up out of the blue? Can you give us an example of a time when you had to figure out what was wrong in a process plant?
• What do you think about when moving from design to production? How do you make sure that a new process is put into place correctly?
• Have you worked with strategies for process control like feedback control, cascade control, and advanced process control? Let me know.
• How much experience do you have with process instruments? How do you make sure that the instruments are calibrated correctly and working right?
• Tell me about your experience using statistical analysis and design of experiments (DOE) to improve a process. Could you show us an example of a project you solved using these methods?
• What kind of experience do you have with programmable logic controllers (PLC) and distributed control systems (DCS)?
• How much do you know about process economics, such as the difference between capital costs, operating costs, and the time it takes for a project to pay for itself?
• Tell me about your experience with heat integration, pinch analysis, and other types of process integration.
• What kind of experience do you have with modeling and simulating processes, both in steady-state and dynamic ways?
• In what ways do you stay up to date on new technologies and developments in process engineering? What sources do you use?

15 Process Engineer Interview Questions and Answers

• Tell me about yourself. This is a question that a lot of process engineers are asked, so make sure you know how to answer it. Outline your education and work history, and make a list of your most important technical and soft skills. As a final touch, if you can, say why you’re applying for this job. Answer: I’ve been a process engineer for eight years, and I love being able to help businesses solve problems. When I finished college at Northwestern in 2014, I got a job as a process engineer for a small manufacturing company. I moved on to a bigger company, and I’ve loved the challenging work there. Now I want to work for a smaller company again so I can do a range of tasks and improve my abilities. After reading this job posting, I was excited about the chance to work on a wide range of projects, so I sent in my application.
• It is a given that this question will come up at some point during the interview process. Why are you interested in this job? There are lots of ways to answer this question, but in general, you should stress how your resume and long-term career goals match up with the job description. Question Answer: I’ve been a process engineer for four years and a project manager for two years before that. I want to keep using my skills in chemical engineering, and I think I would make a great senior process engineer.
• What are the most important traits you think a process engineer should have? This question shows how you think about your daily work and the philosophy that guides your career path. Some engineering interviews ask more technical questions than this one. This question is more general, and it gives you a chance to stand out from the other applicants. If you want to answer this question, it helps to think about yourself and how you have shown these qualities. Answer: I believe the most important traits are being interested and creative in all parts of your work. When you’re curious, you can look into logistics more deeply because you really want to find solutions. And at work, I always felt more creative when I was curious because I could try new things and come up with new ways to do things.
• During your time as a process engineer, describe a time when you had to deal with a big problem and how you did it. This is another question that you should be ready to hear at least once during the recruiting process. This question is meant to show how you solve problems, or even what kinds of things you think are problems in the first place. Make sure your answer to this question includes a relevant problem and a clear plan for how to solve it. In my last job, it was always hard for me to keep in touch with construction teams often enough to make sure they were following every step of the process correctly. I saw that there was a lack of communication and made sure that I could keep an eye on every step by creating specific PIDs for each step of the process.
• How do you organize and prioritize your work? As a process engineer, you need to be very good at planning and strategizing because you are usually the top person in charge of a project. This question comes from an interviewer who wants to know if you will be able to handle your work and still turn in good work on time. When I get home from work, I make sure to write down right away all the tasks I need to do, along with their due dates and specific deliverables. Prioritizing tasks is based on their due date, how important they are, and how quickly they need to be done. I also make sure I talk to anyone I need to complete a task on a regular basis.
• Do you have any safety certifications? This is a simple but important question. One of the most important things for process engineers to think about when they look at processes and workflows is safety. There can be huge and even terrible effects if operations are not safe at every step of the way. So, when you answer this question, it’s important to stress your qualifications and how important it is to keep everyone safe. This is an example answer: I have an OSHA 30 card because I finished the 30-hour construction outreach course. This course is something I take about once a year to make sure I’m up to date on safety rules.
• Can you tell me about a time when you saw a safety risk and how you fixed it? This question, like the last one, tests your ability to see and fix safety problems, but it does so in a bit more detail. The person hiring you wants to know that you can use your skills in the real world of work, where they matter. So use this chance to show how careful you are, how well you can observe, and how quickly you can solve problems. When I was in my last job, I was overseeing a warehouse and saw a fire extinguisher that wasn’t where it should be on a high shelf. Even though it was a small thing, I knew what could happen if the fire extinguisher was knocked over and used, or if it was hard to find during a fire. So I decided right then that, as a safety measure, the fire extinguisher should be moved to a better spot.
• How do you keep yourself motivated to work? You can answer this question in a number of different ways, depending on whether you want to talk about how you motivate yourself, how you think about work, or both. The interviewer wants to know that the candidate is dedicated to their job and passionate about it, and that they don’t need outside forces to push them. Example Answer: I stay motivated at work by making daily schedules that are both flexible and strict. This way, I feel like I’ve accomplished something without feeling too busy. I also frequently remind myself of my passion for engineering.
• How would you fix a problem with a piece of equipment at our plant? Process engineers need to know the standard ways to fix problems with the equipment and processes they will be working with. Every day, it’s your job to make sure everything runs smoothly, which includes making sure all the tools you need are in good shape. This question allows you to demonstrate crucial knowledge. The first thing I would do is talk to the person who is operating the equipment and ask them to go over their most recent steps with it, along with any relevant data logs. From there, I come up with a few theories and test and change them as needed.
• What level of Six Sigma certification do you have now? The Six Sigma process is used to get the most out of everything. People who are trained and experienced in these methods can lower costs and improve production at every level. Because of this, process engineers want Six Sigma certification because it shows not only that they are very skilled but also that they are willing to invest in professional training. The Six Sigma DMADV method, which stands for define, measure, analyze, define, and verify, is what I’ve been taught. It’s used to make new processes. I have a black belt certification in Six Sigma DMADV right now.
• Could you tell me about a time when you made a big change for the better at work? This is a great chance to show off your best work, or at least some examples of the kind of work you can do. When someone asks you this question, they are directly interested in what your plan is for making the company better and what results they can expect from you. Example Answer: I used to work for a company that had to process a lot of data every day. As the company grew, so did the amount of data that had to be processed. I chose to use and oversee advanced AI and digitization technology, and I made sure my team knew how to use these tools properly. From then on, processing data was one of the tasks that took the least amount of time, not the most.
• Which do you like better: a management style that is more “hands-on” or one that emphasizes independent work? This is a personal question, but be very careful about how you answer it. While you can say what you like, please don’t put down the other management style, because that could very well be how this company is run. Reflect your true feelings while remaining open and flexible. I have worked for both companies with more involved management styles and companies with less involved management styles. I think each has its time and place, depending on the needs of the company. I like to work alone most of the time, but I’m fine with checking in with my bosses often and getting feedback.
• Question: What is a PID? When have you used one, if ever? You either know the answer or you don’t. This kind of technical question is important for process engineer interviews because candidates need to know a lot about the tools and equipment they will be using on the job. This question is another chance to show what skills you have and what kind of work you’ve done. Answer: A PID is a piping and instrumentation diagram that shows the pipes and other parts of a physical process flow. I have used PIDs to figure out where in a factory to put control and shutdown plans.
• “Where do you see yourself in five years?” This question wants to know more about your career plans so they can learn more about who you are and what drives you. You can make any plans you want, but for this question, you should answer as if you will still be working for this company in five years. If it’s true, no company will want to hear that you are using them as a way to get to bigger and better things. Answer Example: In the next five years, I’d like to show that I’m a versatile process engineer at this company, and I’d eventually like to move up to a supervisory role. After that, I’d love to keep having an effect on the growth of this company and giving it strategic direction.
• How would you handle a lot of data that comes from many processes that overlap? As a process engineer, you will probably have to deal with a lot of data or information. If you don’t have a clear plan for how to handle it, you can quickly become overwhelmed. So, give a clear answer to this question with a well-organized plan. Be creative and aware of your budget. An example answer would be that data analysis usually takes up most of the time needed to process data. Because of this, I would usually hire someone else to analyze the data and then work with it after it has been organized and categorized.
• What kind of written communication or writing skills do you have? It might not seem important at first, but every process engineer needs to be able to write well. As part of this job, you will be writing a lot of technical documents like blueprints, instructions, and troubleshooting guides. If your writing isn’t clear or up to par, it could lead to big problems in the future. For example: I’ve learned over the years that a well-written document is very important for making sure that everyone is on the same page. I have written troubleshooting and instruction manuals, as well as production reports. I think of myself as a clear and concise writer.

What Does a Process Engineer Do?

FAQ

How do I prepare for a process engineer interview?

What is a lead process engineer?

What is the key skill for process engineer?

What questions should a lead engineer ask in an interview?

Most interviews will include questions about your personality, qualifications, experience and how well you would fit the job. In this article, we review examples of various lead engineer interview questions and sample answers to some of the most common questions. What does your ideal engineering team look like?

What happens during a process engineer interview?

When applying for a process engineer position, an interview provides an opportunity to discuss your qualifications and why you’re a strong candidate for the position. During an interview, a potential employer is likely to ask a variety of questions to learn more about you as a potential employee.

What questions should you ask a process engineer?

Common in-depth process engineer interview questions include: Tell me about a time you went above and beyond expectations on a project and the results you delivered. What do you feel is the most important information to possess when designing a new production process? What is the biggest challenge you have faced in your career so far?