Things you should know before becoming a process engineer in the energy industry

The energy industry offers a unique set of challenges and opportunities you should know about if you are considering a process engineering career at Shell.

This post explores insights based on industry knowledge to help aspiring energy industry process engineers make informed decisions. These insights are particularly relevant at Shell Philippines, especially within teams like our Technical Asset Support (TAS).

1. Process engineering is not just about equipment and efficiency

Many process engineers assume that process engineering is mostly technical and system-based. However, in the context of the energy industry, the role requires plenty of collaboration and strategic thinking, too.

In terms of collaboration, energy sector process engineers work with key departments like TAS to optimize how the company converts raw materials into end products.

Whether that's using process flow diagrams to communicate your ideas, or designing process control systems with feedback from the TAS team in mind, you will collaborate daily.

Also, a process engineer's role requires them to ensure that Shell's industrial processes comply with environmental regulations. You will need to develop process operations and come up with engineering solutions that maintain a strategic balance between furthering Shell's goals and minimizing environmental impacts.

2. Safety and compliance shape every process engineering job

Safety is deeply embedded into the work cultures of all energy sector participants. Strict adherence to Health, Safety, Security, and Environment (HSSE) standards is essential for companies like Shell to manage the inherent risks associated with energy production effectively.

Professionals who’ve worked process engineer jobs from less-regulated industries may experience adaptation difficulty due to the highly controlled environment. However, prospective process engineers at Shell Philippines must be ready to comply with and support the global safety standards

that guide daily operations.

In addition to complying with and basing their process engineering decisions on host country regulatory frameworks, Shell process engineers must be ready to perform real-time safety monitoring.

These activities may involve auditing manufacturing processes and process management methods, identifying and implementing process improvements, and preventing process safety issues.

3. Process engineers see the big picture—and their decisions matter

If you plan to work as a process engineer in the energy industry, you must be a big-picture thinker. Process engineering for companies like Shell requires an understanding of entire value chains, not just isolated components. From design and sourcing to output, emissions, and operational impact, your analysis must be comprehensive.

The reason is simple: your technical decisions can affect your co-workers' safety, project sustainability, and performance outcomes across global systems.

Members of our TAS team adopt this mindset when offering system-level support for asset optimisation. By managing multiple assets across territories, the team has perfected cross-functional collaboration to ensure they always see the bigger picture.

4. You’ll use digital tools more than you think

As a process engineer, you’ll spend plenty of time working with digital process engineering tools. Your arsenal will include process simulation software with analytics dashboards (like MATLAB) for process analysis and process engineering software systems like AutoCAD.

At Shell, in particular, you may also work as part of our TAS team that uses software to conduct remote diagnostics and predictive maintenance.

5. The work is global

Energy companies like Shell have a global presence, which means their process engineering roles are globally integrated. For example, Shell’s Philippines-based TAS teams do work that supports global assets across multiple time zones.

Therefore, it's important to adopt a global mindset, even if your work is primarily local.

Thinking globally may involve designing process equipment for field employees in remote locations, collaborating with process design team members you may never meet in person, or conducting process systems engineering analysis for energy projects across different continents.

6. You are part of the energy transition

What exactly does a process engineer do?

Before, it would be enough to describe process engineers as professionals who optimize manufacturing and industrial processes using their expertise.

While this remains true, energy industry process engineers now bear greater responsibility than ever before. Amid the climate crisis, their efforts in process development are vital for advancing decarbonisation and sustainability.

For example, process documentation and control enable engineers to embed sustainability into new energy projects from the onset. Additionally, their process design work provides blueprints for integrating future technologies seamlessly.

The significant role that process engineers play in achieving a greener future is recognized by Shell, aligning with the company’s energy transition commitments.

7. There’s no one-size-fits-all path for process engineer roles

Process engineering is a broad field with several engineering disciplines, offering diverse career paths. In the right environment, you will have the flexibility to move between various process engineer roles or transition into positions with a digital or data-driven focus.

A good example is the Shell Philippines TAS team

, which offers numerous development opportunities to professionals seeking flexibility. The global nature of their work and the assets they support provide numerous avenues for career transitions.

Shell process engineers can work in areas such as Asset Care, Production Optimisation, Asset Data and Digital Transformation, and more. Throughout their career, they can transition from roles like process plant design engineer to positions in process data analytics.

8. You don’t need to know everything on day one

Whether you’ve been working as a process engineer for years or you’re a recent graduate searching for process engineer jobs, the learning never stops. Recognizing this, companies like Shell don’t expect you to have all the answers from the start.

Shell Philippines is dedicated to fostering its engineers’ development through standardized global practices and a strong emphasis on team collaboration.

Considering process engineering roles at Shell Philippines?

If you are willing to keep learning, adopt a global mindset, adhere to safety regulations, and see the bigger picture, you might be a great fit for one of the many process engineering jobs in the energy industry. What you will get in return is a flexible career path that provides opportunities for growth and contributions to the energy transition.

Shell Philippines is a dynamic and supportive environment where the above apply. Visit our TAS page to learn more about what we do and how you can become a part of it.