Top Chemical Industry Engineering Internships for Summer 2022
The chemical industry offers a wide array of career paths for engineering students. One of the best ways to explore the range of professional options available and build real world, hands-on experience is to take part in an internship program at a chemical manufacturing company.
Powder & Bulk Solids editors compiled this master list of engineering internships at US chemical firms for summer 2022 to provide a resource to students looking for professional development opportunities. The positions included were active on company websites and LinkedIn as of February 18.
Find your perfect internship below!
Albemarle
A facility occupied by the Albemarle Corporation in South Haven, MI. Representative image.
Process Controls Engineer Intern
Magnolia, AR
Specialty chemicals supplier Albemarle has an open process controls engineer internship at its Magnolia South Plant in Magnolia, AR. Students will help perform process controls maintenance tasks to support the facility’s production and non-production units. The company prefers candidates who are working on a bachelor’s degree in engineering, physics, chemistry, and other related fields who have a working knowledge of PC operating systems and networking systems.
View the internship listing.
Avient Corp.
Engineering Intern
Avon Lake, OH
This entry level process engineering and production internship at specialty polymer formulations firm Avient immerses students in process engineering projects like productivity enhancements and tackling EHS and quality concerns. Interns accepted into the program will work at the firm’s Avon Lake, OH location. Applicants must be pursuing a degree in engineering or a related field.
View the internship listing.
Engineering Intern
Winona, MN
Engineering interns at Avient’s Winona, MN site will support the firm’s PlastiComp business unit by taking part in technical, lab testing, sales, production, clerical, and project work.
View the internship listing.
Technical Development Engineering Intern
Romeoville, IL
Students with an interest in plastics engineering can gain hands-on experience this summer in this role at Avient’s Romeoville, IL facility. Participants shadow senior technical development engineers as they work on customer processing issues, quality complaints, and customer technical requests. The program also involves track testing of materials with suppliers and other business units within Avient and the development of technical training documents. Juniors or seniors in a bachelor’s plastics engineering technology program are the ideal candidates for the position.
View the internship listing.
BASF
Employees examine equipment and discuss work on the steam drum deck of the steam cracker at BASF TOTAL Petrochemicals LLC in Port Arthur, TX.
Professional Development Program (PDP) Internship – Mechanical Engineering
Various US Locations
Mechanical engineering students can obtain some practical knowledge working as an intern this summer at one of BASF’s North American facilities. The PDP internships are the precursor to the firm’s engineering rotational programs.
View the internship listing.
Professional Development Program (PDP) Internship – Chemical Engineering
Various US Locations
Sophomores or juniors in chemical engineering programs can apply for an internship to work at a BASF site in North America for the summer. The PDP internships are the precursor to the firm’s engineering rotational programs.
View the internship listing.
Celanese
The headquarters of the Celanese Corporation in Irving, TX. Representative image.
Chemical Engineering Intern
Bishop, TX
During this 12-week program, interns will work with process engineers to help solve issues and improve process and personal safety at Celanese’s Bishop, TX location. The internship takes place May 23 through August 12. The company seeks chemical engineering students who are scheduled to graduate by December 2022 or May 2023.
View the internship listing.
Technology and Innovation Intern
Florence, KY
Running from May 23 to August 12 at the Celanese site in Florence, KY, this internship allows students with backgrounds in chemical engineering, materials science engineering, chemistry, mechanical engineering, or industrial engineering to work with process engineers on process and personal safety improvements and problem solving. Applicants who are expected to graduate in December 2022 or May 2023 are preferred.
View the internship listing.
CF Industries
The headquarters of CF Industries Holdings, Inc., in Deerfield, IL. Representative image.
Engineer Summer Intern
Claremore, OK
Hydrogen and nitrogen products manufacturer CF Industries has an engineer summer internship that allows students to assist in process optimization activities, process safety and reliability upgrades, environmental compliance efforts, and other projects at its Claremore, OK production facility. The company seeks students enrolled in chemical or mechanical engineering programs.
View the internship listing.
Chemours
A sign outside of a facility occupied by The Chemours Company in Wilmington, DE on Dec.r 11, 2016. Representative image.
Chemical Engineering Summer Co-op
Fayetteville, NC
Under the supervision of the Chemours Manufacturing Technology team, chemical engineer co-ops will gain knowledge through completing projects at the firm’s Fayetteville, NC manufacturing location. Running from May through August, the program involves collaborating on improvement and expansion projects, helping with operations and maintenance, and root cause analysis, and troubleshooting, and assisting in process safety management activities and reviews. The company seeks juniors or above for the position.
View the internship listing.
Coatings Summer Intern
Newark, DE
Advance your knowledge of particle science while supporting Chemours’ Titanium Technologies business this summer as an intern with the company’s Technology team. Students who are accepted will focus on developing applications for coatings from May through August at the company’s Newark, DE site. Applicants who are a junior, senior, or graduate student earning a degree in chemistry of chemical engineering are ideal candidates.
View the internship listing.
DuPont
A facility occupied by DuPont in Beloit, WI, on June 23, 2018. Representative image.
Mechanical Engineering Internship/Co-op
Various US Locations
Students enrolled in a mechanical engineering undergraduate or graduate degree program can apply to work at one of 11 locations within DuPont’s US network in a 10- to 12-week internship or a three- to six-month co-op assignment. Those who take part in the program will work to support manufacturing and operations at a DuPont facility, including reliability and maintenance, capital projects, continuous improvement, quality, and more.
View the internship listing.
Chemical Engineering Internship/Co-op
Various US Locations
Budding chemical engineers can apply this DuPont program to develop experience in capital projects, automation and process control, continuous improvement, quality analysis, leveraged engineering, and technical initiatives to improve safety and production performance. Positions are open at 11 DuPont sites in the US. Undergraduate or graduate chemical engineering students are encouraged to apply.
View the internship listing.
Ecolab
The headquarters of Ecolab, Inc., in St. Paul, MN. Representative image.
Engineering Technical Sales Internship
Various US Locations
Engineering students who want to explore a technical sales role can apply for this 10- to 12-week summer internship with Ecolab. Interns in the program will receive a technical introduction to water treatment applications and visit multiple customer facilities across a region to observe staff as they provide technical services to customers. Participants will also learn how to build key relationships and engage with various departments and personnel to support customer needs.
View the internship listing.
H.B. Fuller
The headquarters of the H.B. Fuller Co. in St. Paul, MN. Representative image.
Roofing Adhesives R&D Intern
Michigan Center, MI
Adhesives, sealants, and specialty chemicals firm H.B. Fuller is hiring a R&D intern to support its Roofing Adhesives business at its Michigan Center, Mi facility. Interns will perform physical property testing, formulating and mixing of compounds, and develop an understanding of application techniques used in the commercial roofing industry. Students enrolled in a chemistry, materials science, chemical engineering or related program will be considered for the role.
View the internship listing.
Honeywell
The headquarters of Honeywell in Morris Plains, NJ. Representative image.
Chemical Engineering Intern
Des Plaines, IL
Based at Honeywell UOP’s Des Plaines, IL facility, chemical engineering students in this role will assist in carrying out service assignments, including the development of catalyst performance estimates and technology transfer to ensure UOP-licensed or UOP-designed units operate safely and profitably. Students earning a degree in chemical engineering or a related field who will graduate after December 2022 are desired.
View the internship listing.
Ingevity
Process Engineering Intern
Waynesboro, GA
Develop experience in the chemicals and materials industry in this summer internship at Ingevity’s Waynesboro, GA facility. The 12-week program involves solving complex technical challenges and working to increase the efficiency, reliability, and productivity of the site. Applications are to open to students in chemical or mechanical engineering programs slated to graduate between December 2022 and May 2024.
View the internship listing.
Kuraray America
Chemical Engineering Intern
La Porte, TX
Students who take part in Kuraray America’s chemical engineering internship this summer will develop practical knowledge on Process Safety Management (PSM) and Management of Change (MOC) as they take part in a cyclical or project Process Hazard Analysis (PHA) and help create MOC packages. Interns also help the company’s chemical engineers work through process and process equipment issues in the vinyl acetate monomer (VAM) and polyvinyl alcohol (PVOH) units. The program also allows students to assist in the development of capex project scopes for authorization.
View the internship listing.
Maintenance Engineer Intern
Pasadena, TX
Kuraray America’s maintenance engineer interns collaborate with maintenance and operations engineers, suppliers, and other stakeholders to address equipment reliability issues and repairs. Participants will also take part in equipment failure analysis investigations, physical failure analysis, and observing how process variation and equipment operation impact equipment reliability. The company seeks sophomores or above who are currently enrolled in an electrical engineering or mechanical engineering program.
View the internship listing.
Process Engineering Intern
Bayport, TX
This internship program allows students to help in the evaluation of distillation columns’ capacity in the recovery section of the firm’s Bayport, TX location and assist in the commissioning of a head exchanger at the site. Participants will take part in evaluating new instrumentation in the plant’s crushing section, monitor and evaluate the performance of new heat exchangers, and develop process flow diagrams (PDFs).
View the internship listing.
Process Engineering Intern
Parkersburg, WV
Students who are selected as process engineering interns at Kuraray America’s Parkersburg, WV facility will assist in Process Hazard Analysis (PHA), take part in planning for a resin expansion project, help optimize a dryer, and create ISO of the plant’s slurry routing system. The company seeks applicants who are juniors or above earning a bachelor’s degree in an engineering discipline, particularly mechanical engineering or chemical engineering.
View the internship listing.
Process Safety Intern
Bayport, TX
This program allows students to help support process safety activities at Kuraray America’s Bayport plant. Interns will take part in incident investigations, help perform PHAs and hazard reviews, create and implement MOCs, and update process safety-related documentation. Students who are juniors or above in engineering programs are encouraged to apply.
View the internship listing.
Project Engineering Intern
Houston, TX
Sophomores or above who are enrolled in a chemical or mechanical engineering degree program can apply for a project engineering internship at Kuraray America’s Houston, TX location. Participants update engineering datasheets, verify data, provide assistance in feasibility study and engineering projects, and carry out hydraulic simulations and other simple simulations. Interns also help with HAZOPs, PSSRs, and other project-related tasks.
View the internship listing.
Production Intern
Pasadena, TX
Students who are interested in specialty chemicals, fiber, and resin manufacturing can apply for an internship this summer at Kuraray America’s Pasadena, TX site. Mentors guide interns through the three- to four-month program as they work to identify improvement opportunities, help with remote plant monitoring, alarm rationalization improvements, and more. Candidates with at least two years in a bachelor’s degree program for chemical engineering or computer science are ideal for the role.
View the internship listing.
Lubrizol
A facility occupied by Lubrizol Corporation in Houston, TX. Representative image.
Chemical Engineering Co-Op Program – Summer
Various US Locations
Sophomores in chemical engineering programs can apply to the Lubrizol Chemical Engineering Co-Op Program to work at one of the company’s facilities this summer. Upon acceptance, interns are placed in a role within the firm’s Lubrizol Additives, Lubrizol Advanced Materials, or Lubrizol Texas businesses. The program offers a range of professional experiences, from chemical operations to process development.
View the internship listing.
Occidental Chemical
Mechanical Engineering Intern
Various US Locations
Occidental Chemical (Oxy) has an opportunity to work as a mechanical engineering intern in its chemical business from May through August at several of its US facilities. The position is open to students earning a degree in mechanical engineering who are slated to graduate between December 2022 and May 2024.
View the internship listing.
Chemical Engineering Intern
Various US Locations
Running from May through August, Oxy’s chemical engineering internship program provides the chance to complete real-world projects for the company’s chemical business while building hands on experience. Chemical engineering students scheduled to graduate after December 2022 are encouraged to apply.
View the internship listing.
Olin
EHS Chemical Engineer Intern
Charleston, TN
Chemical engineering students who are sophomores or above can apply to this role in the EHS department at Olin’s Charleston, TN manufacturing plant. From May to August, participants will assist the facility’s EHS team in supporting the company’s Responsible Care program, take part in optimization projects, and contribute to efforts that make processes more sustainable. The location is operated by Olin’s Chemicals business.
View the internship listing.
Westlake Chemical
A Westlake Chemical Corp. petrochemical facility is pictured in West Lake, LA, U.S., June 12, 2018. REUTERS/Jonathan Bachman
Mechanical Engineer Internship
Various US Locations
For mechanical engineering students seeking experience in a manufacturing environment, this role at Westlake Chemical involves working on assigned projects with a mentor/supervisor, assisting in day-to-day activities at the site, and contributing to safety and environmental programs. Interns maintain a work/activity journal and offer a presentation to the management team at the end of the program.
Click here (and here, here, here, and here) to view the internship listings
Chemical Production Engineer Internship
Various US Locations
This internship gives chemical engineering students real world experience in the day-to-day operations of a manufacturing plant. Working with a mentor/supervisor, participants help with daily tasks, take part in safety and environmental programs, and more. Chemical engineering majors who have completed their second year are ideal fits for the position.
Click here (and here, here, here, and here) to view the internship listings.
Safety Intern
New Martinsville, WV
Engineering students with an interest in safety can take part in this internship program at Westlake’s New Martinsville, WV plant. During the summer, participants are assigned projects, assist mentors/supervisors with daily duties, and develop experience working on complex safety and environmental programs. Ideal candidates are juniors or above.
View the internship listing.
Environmental Engineer Intern
Lake Charles, LA
This role provides engineering students with the opportunity to learn how to carry out safety and environmental projects under the supervision of a mentor. Interns observe the activities of their assigned department or unit, help with daily tasks, and maintain a work and activity journal. Applicants who have completed their second year are preferred.
View the internship listing.
W.R. Grace
A facility occupied by W.R. Grace & Co., in Curtis Bay, MD. Representative image.
Process Safety Engineer Intern
Baton Rouge, LA
Looking to gain professional experience in process safety? This program at the W.R. Grace facility in Baton Rouge, LA from May 23 to August 12 offers juniors, seniors, and grad students a chance to complete a process safety-related internship project with company experts.
View the internship listing.
More Ways to Advance Your Career
Beyond internships and co-op programs, it is important for engineering students to stay on top of the latest trends and technical developments in industry. Check back with Powder & Bulk Solids for information on new equipment, case studies, and the latest news.