Top Process Engineer Interview Questions with Example Answers [2022]

Question Overview: Employers are required to verify that all employees are legally authorized to work in the US. This question provides insight into the applicant's legal status.

Sample Answer: I am a US citizen.

What the interviewer is looking for:
• - Legal status
• - Level of detail in response

Question Overview: Process engineers are often required to work with other employees in the plant to complete their work. They should be able to describe how they interact with other employees and how they resolve conflicts.

Sample Answer: I am a good listener and I am able to work with others without getting frustrated. I have a good sense of humor and I can diffuse tense situations.

What the interviewer is looking for:
• - Level of detail in describing past experiences
• - Ability to work with a team
• - Proposed degree of interaction with production workers

Question Overview: This question gives candidates the opportunity to discuss their concerns about the position and how they will overcome them.

Sample Answer: I am concerned that I might not be able to keep up with the pace of the production line, but I am confident that I can learn quickly.

What the interviewer is looking for:
• - Ability to identify potential problems
• - Proposed solutions for overcoming problems

Question Overview: This question allows candidates to elaborate on their personal definition of a process engineer. Answers to this question can help employers determine whether the candidate has the necessary skills and experience to be successful in the position.

Sample Answer: A process engineer is someone who is able to work with a team and has the ability to learn new skills as needed.

What the interviewer is looking for:
• - Level of experience
• - Ability to work with a team
• - Willingness to learn new skills

Question Overview: This question gives candidates an opportunity to elaborate on a project that they worked on in college.

Sample Answer: I studied the effects of the new production line on the quality of the product. I discovered that the line was producing a higher percentage of defective products than the old line, so I recommended that we slow down the line.

What the interviewer is looking for:
• - Level of detail in describing project
• - Degree of innovation in project
• - Examples of how project was used in future career

Question Overview: Process engineers should have a basic understanding of the equipment they use. This question allows candidates to describe the differences between two pieces of equipment.

Sample Answer: A chemostat is used to control a chemical reaction by maintaining a constant concentration of reactants, while a turbidostat is used to control a reaction by maintaining a constant concentration of product.

What the interviewer is looking for:
• - Ability to differentiate between two pieces of equipment
• - Knowledge of basic engineering principles

Question Overview: Many process engineers are willing to relocate to find a job that is a good fit for their skills. This question allows candidates to elaborate on their willingness to relocate.

Sample Answer: I am willing to relocate for the right opportunity. I would prefer to stay within the U.S., but I am open to other countries as well.

What the interviewer is looking for:
• - Level of willingness to relocate
• - Proposed length of relocation
• - Proposed distance from current location

Question Overview: This question allows the interviewer to gauge the applicant's interest in the position and whether he or she is planning on staying with the company for a long time.

Sample Answer: I would like to become a process engineer with more responsibility. I would like to work in a plant that has a high level of production.

What the interviewer is looking for:
• - Long-term career goals
• - Desire to work in the industry
• - Desired position within the company

Question Overview: This question is designed to give employers a broad overview of the candidate's experience and skills. Candidates should provide a brief summary of their education and work history, and then elaborate on their most relevant experience.

Sample Answer: I have a bachelor's degree in chemical engineering from the University of Texas at Austin. I have worked for several chemical companies in the past, including Dow Chemical and BASF.

What the interviewer is looking for:
• - Ability to provide a concise summary of relevant experience
• - Ability to provide examples of past successes

Question Overview: Process engineers are responsible for designing equipment and machinery used in plant production. This question allows candidates to elaborate on their past experience designing equipment.

Sample Answer: I would start by determining the required volume of the reactor and then calculating the volume of the internal components. I would then determine the required pressure and temperature and determine if a heat exchanger is needed.

What the interviewer is looking for:
• - Level of detail in method for designing equipment
• - Proposed degree of interaction with production workers

Question Overview: This question tests the applicant's knowledge of the photo-lithography process. It is important that the candidate can identify the most important quantity to control in this process.

Sample Answer: The most important quantity to control is the amount of light that is projected onto the surface of the wafer.

What the interviewer is looking for:
• - Ability to identify a key process parameter
• - Knowledge of photo-lithography process

Question Overview: Process engineers are often required to work long hours when plant production is running. This question provides insight into the applicant's ability to work in a 24/7 environment.

Sample Answer: I have worked in 24/7 operations before, and I am comfortable with the schedule.

What the interviewer is looking for:
• - Familiarity with 24/7 operations
• - Proposed degree of interaction with production workers
• - Proposed degree of interaction with management

Question Overview: Process engineers are responsible for designing and maintaining all of the equipment used in a plant. This question provides insight into the applicant's experience with designing complex systems.

Sample Answer: I designed a new purification system for a plant that had been using a manual process. It was a complex project that required several steps and many people to complete.

What the interviewer is looking for:
• - Level of complexity of design
• - Number of people involved in design
• - Number of steps involved in design

Question Overview: This question provides the candidate with an opportunity to discuss his or her personal feelings about the city and its culture. It is important to note that candidates should not discuss their personal feelings about the city's size, as this may be considered a negative.

Sample Answer: I love New Bern! I think it is a great place to live, and I am looking forward to getting to know the area better.

What the interviewer is looking for:
• - Personal feelings about the city
• - Ability to make a positive impression on future colleagues

Question Overview: A normal distribution is a bell-shaped curve that represents the probability of a given value occurring. Process engineers should be able to describe the characteristics of a normal distribution and explain how they can be used to determine the likelihood of an event occurring.

Sample Answer: A normal distribution is a bell-shaped curve that represents the probability of a given value occurring. For example, if you roll a die, there is a 1 in 6 chance that you will roll a 2.

What the interviewer is looking for:
• - Familiarity with statistical terms
• - Ability to apply knowledge to real-world situations

Question Overview: Process engineers are often responsible for calculating costs associated with their projects. They should be familiar with the most common financial software packages and be able to demonstrate their ability to use them.

Sample Answer: I have used Microsoft Excel to calculate costs associated with equipment maintenance. I have also used it to calculate the cost of raw materials needed for a project.

What the interviewer is looking for:
• - Familiarity with commonly used financial software
• - Ability to calculate costs
• - Level of detail in calculations

Question Overview: Process engineers should be familiar with the basic mechanics of all machines that they work with and be able to troubleshoot problems as they arise. This question allows candidates to elaborate on past experiences.

Sample Answer: Electrons are fired at a specimen and cause the specimen to emit light. The light is then transmitted through a series of lenses and magnifiers to produce a detailed image of the specimen.

What the interviewer is looking for:
• - Familiarity with equipment used
• - Level of detail in method for diagnosing problems
• - Proposed degree of interaction with production workers

Question Overview: Process engineers are often faced with difficult decisions, such as whether to shut down a process to fix a problem or to keep it running and risk a larger problem later. This question allows candidates to elaborate on previous experiences where they had to make such decisions.

Sample Answer: I once had to decide whether to shut down the process or continue running it. I chose to shut it down and then I had to figure out how to fix the problem.

What the interviewer is looking for:
• - Ability to make difficult decisions
• - Ability to explain rationale for decision
• - Examples of past decisions

Question Overview: This question tests the applicant's knowledge of basic electronics.

Sample Answer: A diode is a semiconductor device that allows current to flow in only one direction.

What the interviewer is looking for:
• - Basic electronics knowledge
• - Ability to research and explain technical terms