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Chemist Engineer Jobs in Virginia (NOW HIRING)

Specialized experience is defined as performing professional principles, concepts, practices, and methodologies of chemistry, chemical engineering or petroleum engineering to anticipate the effects ...

Material Chemist

Lorton, VA · On-site +1

$69K - $158K/yr

Share Material Chemist The Opportunity: Become a part of our warfighter technology team delivering ... You'll wear multiple hats such as a formulator, engineer, applied scientist, applicator, and ...

Material Chemist

Lorton, VA · On-site

$69K - $158K/yr

Material Chemist The Opportunity: Become a part of our warfighter technology team delivering ... You'll wear multiple hats such as a formulator, engineer, applied scientist, applicator, and ...

Material Chemist

Lorton, VA · On-site

$69K - $158K/yr

Material Chemist The Opportunity: Become a part of our warfighter technology team delivering ... You'll wear multiple hats such as a formulator, engineer, applied scientist, applicator, and ...

Formulation Chemist

Middletown, VA · On-site

$30 - $35/hr

Bachelor's or Master's degree in Chemistry or Chemical Engineering. * Strong knowledge of electrochemistry, formulation science, chemical processes, and process engineering principles. * Strong hands ...

Bachelor's degree in chemistry preferred; chemical engineering, biology, or environmental science acceptable; * Five years plus experience in a process chemistry or environmental laboratory setting

PET Chemist

Salem, VA · On-site

$60K - $75K/yr

Job Requirements │ Skills │Education:   Requires a bachelor's degree in chemistry, Radiology, Nuclear Medicine, Nuclear Physics, Nuclear Engineering, or related field. Familiarity with a GMP ...

PET Chemist

Salem, VA · On-site

$60K - $75K/yr

Job Requirements │ Skills │Education:   Requires a bachelor's degree in chemistry, Radiology, Nuclear Medicine, Nuclear Physics, Nuclear Engineering, or related field. Familiarity with a GMP ...

Bachelor's degree in chemistry preferred; chemical engineering, biology, or environmental science acceptable; * Five years plus experience in a process chemistry or environmental laboratory setting

Project Chemist

Ashland, VA · On-site

$70K - $80K/yr

Bachelor's degree in chemistry preferred; chemical engineering, biology, or environmental science acceptable; * Five years plus experience in a process chemistry or environmental laboratory setting

PET Chemist

Salem, VA · On-site

$60K - $75K/yr

Job Requirements │ Skills │Education:   Requires a bachelor's degree in chemistry, Radiology, Nuclear Medicine, Nuclear Physics, Nuclear Engineering, or related field. Familiarity with a GMP ...

Degree: physical sciences, life sciences, or engineering that included 30 semester hours in chemistry, supplemented by course work in mathematics through differential and integral calculus, and at ...

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Chemist Engineer information

See Virginia salary details

$16

$24

$34

How much do chemist engineer jobs pay per hour?

As of Aug 19, 2026, the average hourly pay for chemist engineer in Virginia is $24.82, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $20.96 and $28.12 per hour, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is a chemist engineer?

Chemist Engineers, often referred to as Chemical Engineers, are professionals who apply principles of chemistry, physics, mathematics, and engineering to solve problems involving the production or use of chemicals, fuel, drugs, food, and many other products. They design processes and equipment for large-scale manufacturing, plan and test production methods, and oversee facility operations. Chemical Engineers work in a variety of industries, including energy, pharmaceuticals, food processing, and environmental protection. Their work ensures that products are produced efficiently, safely, and sustainably.

What are some common challenges a chemist engineer faces when transitioning projects from the laboratory to large-scale production?

Chemist Engineers often encounter challenges when scaling up from lab experiments to full-scale manufacturing, such as maintaining product quality, ensuring process safety, and optimizing cost-efficiency. Variations in reaction yields, unexpected equipment issues, and the need for strict regulatory compliance can complicate this transition. Effective collaboration with multidisciplinary teams—including safety, quality assurance, and production staff—is crucial to address these challenges and refine processes for consistent, safe, and economical operation.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a chemist engineer, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Chemical Engineer, you need a solid background in chemistry, mathematics, and engineering principles, typically supported by a bachelor's degree in chemical engineering or a related field. Familiarity with process simulation software (like Aspen Plus or ChemCAD), safety regulations, and industry certifications such as FE or PE is often required. Strong problem-solving, teamwork, and communication skills set exceptional professionals apart in this role. These skills are crucial for designing safe, efficient processes and collaborating effectively to solve complex engineering challenges.

What job categories do people searching Chemist Engineer jobs in Virginia look for?

The top searched job categories for Chemist Engineer jobs in Virginia are:

What cities in Virginia are hiring for Chemist Engineer jobs?

Cities in Virginia with the most Chemist Engineer job openings:

Infographic showing various Chemist Engineer job openings in Virginia as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 85% Full Time, 12% Part Time, and 3% Contract. Highlights an 85% Physical, 6% Hybrid, and 9% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $51,632 per year, or $24.8 per hour.

$102K/yr

Full-time

Posted 20 days ago


United States Navy rating

6.4

Company rating: 6.4 out of 10

Based on 380 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

42nd of 49 rated military and defense


Job description

You will serve as a Chemist in the Quality Division of the Naval Petroleum Office of NPO FORT BELVOIR.Qualifications:For GS-13:
In addition to the Basic Requirements for this position, your resume must also demonstrate at least one year of specialized experience at or equivalent to the GS-12 grade level or pay band in the Federal service or equivalent experience in the private or public sector. Specialized experience is defined as performing professional principles, concepts, practices, and methodologies of chemistry, chemical engineering or petroleum engineering to anticipate the effects of changes to petroleum product specifications, standards and test methods to document the effects of the changes on the behavior of the products in the operational use/storage. Examples of specialized experience must include: 1) Provide supply logistics support to assist in the operational and policy decisions in the procurement, transportation, storage, delivery, and use of fuels and lubricants; 2) Provide support to other personnel concerning technical and quality-related aspects of petroleum; 3) Evaluate and advise the procurement activity of the technical acceptability of alternate or equal bids, contract specification requirements, or contractor wavier requests relating to the petroleum products or test methods offered by the contractor; 4) Assist in establishing guidelines for petroleum testing laboratories to perform analytical research to ensure the nature and degree of contamination and/or deterioration of fuels and lubricants being received or stored; and 5) Experience of the fuel and lubricant systems for boilers, gas turbines and diesels, POL storage and handling on ships, aircraft and shore stations to serve the operating forces (ships/aircraft/shore facilities) with proper quality fuels/lubricants throughout the DOD logistics System.
For GS-12:
In addition to the Basic Requirements for this position, your resume must also demonstrate at least one year of specialized experience at or equivalent to the GS-11 grade level or pay band in the Federal service or equivalent experience in the private or public sector. Specialized experience is defined as performing professional principles, concepts, practices, and methodologies of chemistry, chemical engineering or petroleum engineering to anticipate the effects of changes to petroleum product specifications, standards and test methods to include technical and business practices/procedures of the petroleum industry. Examples of specialized experience must include: 1) Document the effects of the changes on the behavior of the petroleum products in use or storage; 2) Utilize statistical analysis to determine the validity of test methods through the analysis of test results; 3) Provide costs and other analyses to procurement and research; 4) Experience of the fuel and lubricant systems for boilers, gas turbines and diesels, POL storage and handling on ships, aircraft and shore stations to serve the operating forces (ships/aircraft/shore facilities) with proper quality fuels/lubricants throughout the DOD logistics system.
Additional qualification information can be found from the following Office of Personnel Management website:
https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/general-schedule-qualification-standards/#url=List-by-Occupational-Series
Chemistry Series, 1320 (opm.gov)
Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., professional, philanthropic, religious, spiritual, community, student, social). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge, and skills and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment.Education:Applicants must meet the following positive education qualifications requirements of the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) Qualifications Standards Manual: Applicants must possess:
  1. Degree: physical sciences, life sciences, or engineering that included 30 semester hours in chemistry, supplemented by course work in mathematics through differential and integral calculus, and at least 6 semester hours of physics.

    or

  2. Combination of education and experience -- course work equivalent to a major as shown in A above, including at least 30 semester hours in chemistry, supplemented by mathematics through differential and integral calculus, and at least 6 semester hours of physics, plus appropriate experience or additional education.
    A transcript is required and must be submitted with your application.

Employment Type: OTHER

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Industry

National security, national security and international affairs, public safety statistics centers and offices, guided missile and space vehicle manufacturing and public administration

Company size

10,000+ Employees

Headquarters location

Washington, DC, US

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