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Recent Graduate Chemical Engineer Jobs in California

Form Energy

Senior Chemical Engineer

Berkeley, CA · On-site

$111K - $139K/yr

In recent years, Form Energy has earned a number of accolades, including being named by TIME as a ... Role Description Form Energy is hiring a Senior Chemical Engineer to join the Product Echem ...

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All JobsRecent Graduate Chemical Engineer JobsRecent Graduate Chemical Engineer Jobs in California

Recent Graduate Chemical Engineer information

What is the difference between Recent Graduate Chemical Engineer vs Chemical Technician?

AspectRecent Graduate Chemical EngineerChemical Technician
Required CredentialsBachelor's degree in Chemical EngineeringAssociate's degree or diploma in Chemical Technology
Work EnvironmentDesign, analysis, process development, and project planningOperating equipment, data collection, and assisting engineers
Employer & Industry UsageManufacturing, pharmaceuticals, energy, and research labsManufacturing plants, quality control labs, and production facilities

The main difference between a Recent Graduate Chemical Engineer and a Chemical Technician lies in their education, responsibilities, and work scope. Recent graduates typically focus on designing and analyzing processes, while Chemical Technicians assist with operational tasks and data collection. Both roles are essential in the chemical industry, but they require different levels of education and focus areas.

What does a recent graduate chemical engineer do?

A Recent Graduate Chemical Engineer applies 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 often work under the supervision of more experienced engineers and are involved in designing processes, conducting experiments, analyzing data, and ensuring safety and efficiency in manufacturing settings. Their role may also include supporting research and development, troubleshooting plant operations, and helping to optimize processes. It's a dynamic entry-level position that provides practical experience and foundational skills for a career in chemical engineering.

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

To thrive as a Recent Graduate Chemical Engineer, you need a solid background in chemical engineering principles, process design, and a bachelor's degree in chemical engineering or a related field. Familiarity with industry-standard software such as Aspen Plus, MATLAB, and AutoCAD, as well as knowledge of safety and environmental regulations, is typically required. Strong analytical thinking, problem-solving abilities, and effective communication skills help recent graduates stand out in multidisciplinary teams. These competencies enable new engineers to contribute to safe, efficient, and innovative process solutions in the chemical industry.

What kind of mentorship and training can a recent graduate chemical engineer expect in their first role?

As a recent graduate chemical engineer, you can typically expect a structured onboarding process that includes mentorship from experienced engineers and participation in training programs. Many organizations pair new hires with a mentor who helps guide them through technical challenges and company procedures during the first several months. You may also rotate through different departments or projects to gain exposure to various aspects of chemical engineering, such as process optimization, safety protocols, and plant operations. This supportive environment is designed to help you build confidence, develop practical skills, and prepare for more advanced responsibilities as you progress in your career.
What are popular job titles related to Recent Graduate Chemical Engineer jobs in California? For Recent Graduate Chemical Engineer jobs in California, the most frequently searched job titles are:
What job categories do people searching Recent Graduate Chemical Engineer jobs in California look for? The top searched job categories for Recent Graduate Chemical Engineer jobs in California are:
What cities in California are hiring for Recent Graduate Chemical Engineer jobs? Cities in California with the most Recent Graduate Chemical Engineer job openings:
Recent Graduate Chemical Engineer jobs near you
Infographic showing various Recent Graduate Chemical Engineer job openings in California as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 3% As Needed, 75% Full Time, 19% Part Time, and 3% Contract. Highlights an 97% Physical, and 3% Remote job distribution.

Mechanical Engineer (Recent Graduate)

Bureau of Reclamation

Folsom, CA • On-site, Remote

$57K - $125K/yr

Full-time

Posted 2 days ago

New

Bureau Of Reclamation rating

9.2

Company rating: 9.2 out of 10

Based on 8 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

56th of 844 rated public administrative organizations

Job description

Summary
Reclamation is seeking a career professional looking for an opportunity to capitalize on their expertise as a Mechanical Engineer (Recent Graduate). You can make a difference in the West by assisting in meeting increasing water demands while protecting the environment.
Learn more about this agency
Duties
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  • Engineering Analysis- Performs engineering analyses to include performing and/or coordinating technical planning activities; data collection (including validation and management); design; modeling and data analyses; analyses of site location and/or conditions; troubleshooting mechanical equipment and systems; and risk estimation and analyses.
  • Documentation and Presentation- Prepares and reviews technical documentation such as technical memorandums and reports, engineering study analyses and results, correspondence, etc.
  • Investigations, Assessments, and/or Inspections- Plans, schedules, coordinates, and conducts mechanical engineering facility examinations, reviews, and/or inspections which include conducting condition assessments and construction and transfer inspections.
  • Other Duties: Project Management, Administration of contracts and agreements, Database Operation.

GS-05: Serves as a basic entry-level trainee mechanical engineer. Assignments are like those assigned to non-professional employees, but such tasks are primarily for training purposes, and, in some cases, to relieve higher-grade engineers of routine work.
GS-07: Serves as an advanced entry-level trainee mechanical engineer. Assignments are primarily for training purposes, and, in some cases, to relieve higher-grade engineers of routine work.
GS-09: Serves as an advanced trainee mechanical engineer. Participates with higher graded engineer in planning and accomplishment of specific work assignments. Performs design and layout of mechanical equipment systems such as plumbing, heating, air conditioning, steam distribution, etc.
GS-11: Serves as a journey level Mechanical Engineer performing a full range of conventional, journey level assignments.
Requirements
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Conditions of employment
  • Must provide proof of U.S. citizenship.
  • Appointment subject to background investigation and favorable adjudication.
  • Males born after 12-31-59 must be registered for Selective Service.
  • Direct Deposit participation required.
  • Successfully pass the E-Verify employment verification check. To learn more, visit www.dhs.gov/EVerify/.
  • Must have and maintain a valid driver's license throughout employment.
  • You are required to wear a uniform and comply with the uniform standards. A uniform allowance will be provided.
  • You are required to complete training, obtain and maintain a government credit card with travel and purchase authority.
  • You must be at least (1)18 years old or (2) at least 16 years old and: (a) Have graduated from high school or been awarded a certificate equivalent to graduating from high school; or (b) Have completed a formal vocational training program; or (c) Have received a statement from school authorities agreeing with their preference for employment rather than continuing their education; or (d) Be currently enrolled in a secondary school and either work only during school vacation periods or work part-time during the school year under a formal student employment program.
  • Recent Graduates will enter a formal training program with a mentor and execute an Individual Development Plan outlining training requirements and program expectations.
  • Recent Graduates must receive at least 40 hours of formal training directly linked to their employment field.
  • Recent Graduates will be required to sign a Pathways Recent Graduate Participant Agreement.

Recent Graduate applicants must meet all eligibility and qualification requirements by the closing date of the announcement, 08/20/2026.
To be eligible, you must meet one of the following:
  1. A student that has completed, within the previous two years, a qualifying associate's, bachelor's, master's, professional, doctorate, vocational or technical degree or certificate from a qualifying educational institution. Certain exceptions to the two-year limitation will be made for veterans who, due to military service obligations, were precluded from applying to the Program during the two-year eligibility period. OR,
  2. An individual who has completed a qualifying career or technical education program which may include Registered Apprenticeship Programs, Job Corps, Climate Corps, AmeriCorps, and Peace Corps or specific Volunteer Service Programs.

Qualifications
Qualifications:
All qualifications must be met by the closing date of this announcement-08/20/2026-unless otherwise stated in this vacancy announcement.
To receive credit for experience, your resume MUST state either "full-time" (or "40 hours a week") or "part-time" with the number of hours worked per week to ensure proper crediting of specialized experience. Failure to adequately provide information needed to determine number of hours worked in each position may result in that time not being credited when evaluating qualifying experience. For periods of time that reflect military service, the DD-214 or Statement of Service is sufficient to meet the full and/or part-time hours requirement as the service dates will be reflected.
Minimum Qualification Requirements: To qualify for this position, you must meet the following minimum qualifications:
Basic Educational Requirement AND/OR Specialized Experience for the series to which you are applying.
Basic Educational Requirements: In addition to the specialized experience requirements for this position, you must meet at least one of the following:
  • A. Degree: I possess a full 4-year course of study in an accredited college or university leading to a bachelor's or higher degree in engineering. To be acceptable, the program must: (1) lead to a bachelor's degree in a school of engineering with at least one program accredited by ABET; or (2) include differential and integral calculus and courses (more advanced than first-year physics and chemistry) in five of the following seven areas of engineering science or physics: (a) statics, dynamics; (b) strength of materials (stress-strain relationships); (c) fluid mechanics, hydraulics; (d) thermodynamics; (e) electrical fields and circuits; (f) nature and properties of materials (relating particle and aggregate structure to properties); and (g) any other comparable area of fundamental engineering science or physics, such as optics, heat transfer, soil mechanics, or electronics. You must submit transcripts. -OR-
  • B. Combination of education and experience: College-level education, training, and/or technical experience that furnished (1) a thorough knowledge of the physical and mathematical sciences underlying engineering, and (2) a good understanding, both theoretical and practical, of the engineering sciences and techniques and their applications to one of the branches of engineering. The adequacy of such background must be demonstrated by one of the following: 1. Professional registration or licensure Current registration as an Engineer Intern (EI), Engineer in Training (EIT)1, or licensure as a Professional Engineer (PE) by any State, the District of Columbia, Guam, or Puerto Rico. Absent other means of qualifying under this standard, those applicants who achieved such registration by means other than written test (e.g., State grandfather or eminence provisions) are eligible only for positions that are within or closely related to the specialty field of their registration. For example, an applicant who attains registration through a State Board's eminence provision as a manufacturing engineer typically would be rated eligible only for manufacturing engineering positions. 2. Written Test Evidence of having successfully passed the Fundamentals of Engineering (FE)2 examination or any other written test required for professional registration by an engineering licensure board in the various States, the District of Columbia, Guam, and Puerto Rico. 3. Specified academic courses Successful completion of at least 60 semester hours of courses in the physical, mathematical, and engineering sciences and that included the courses specified in the basic requirements under paragraph A. The courses must be fully acceptable toward meeting the requirements of an engineering program as described in paragraph A. 4. Related curriculum Successful completion of a curriculum leading to a bachelor's degree in an appropriate scientific field, e.g., engineering technology, physics, chemistry, architecture, computer science, mathematics, hydrology, or geology, may be accepted in lieu of a bachelors degree in engineering, provided the applicant has had at least 1 year of professional engineering experience acquired under professional engineering supervision and guidance. Ordinarily there should be either an established plan of intensive training to develop professional engineering competence, or several years of prior professional engineering-type experience, e.g., in interdisciplinary positions.

Applicants that meet the basic qualification requirements minimally qualify for the GS-05 grade level.
-AND-
To qualify for this position at the GS-07 grade level:
  • Specialized Experience Requirement: you must possess at least one full year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-05 level in the Federal service (obtained in either the public or private sectors). Specialized experience is defined as demonstrated experience: Perform trainee level duties to assist higher-graded engineers in data collection, designs; knowledge of mechanical engineering concepts. You must include hours per week worked. -OR-
  • Education: Successful completion of at least one full academic year of graduate level education (18 semester hours) in a field which demonstrates the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to do the work of the position, such as Mechanical Engineering. You must include transcripts. -OR-
  • Superior Academic Achievement (SAA): Successfully completed a bachelor's degree in a directly related field AND meet one of the following: (1) Class Standing: rank in the upper 3rd of the graduating class in the college, university, or major subdivision, based on the completed courses; OR (2) Grade-Point Average (GPA): earn a GPA of (a) 3.0 or higher out of a possible 4.0 ("B" or better) based on 4 years of education, or based on courses completed during the final 2 years of the curriculum -or- (b) 3.5 or higher out of a possible 4.0 ("B" or better) based on the average of the required courses completed in the major field, or the required courses completed during the final two years. Note: GPA will be rounded to one decimal place, for example, 2.95 = 3.0, 2.94 = 2.9; OR (3) Membership in a National Scholastic Honor Society.
  • Combination of education and experience. To combine education and experience, first take the number of months of full-time experience and divide by 12 months. Then, divide your semester hours of graduate education by 18. Add the two percentages. The total percentage must equal at least 100 percent to qualify. You must include hours per week and transcripts.

** Continued below in Education **
Education
Qualifications Continued...
To qualify for this position at the GS-09 grade level:
  • Specialized Experience Requirement: you must possess at least one full year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-07 level in the Federal service (obtained in either the public or private sectors). Specialized experience is defined as demonstrated experience: Provide support to higher-graded engineers in reviewing inspection data of equipment/systems; knowledge of mechanical engineering concepts; experience developing mechanical engineering designs and plans for mechanical utility systems using computer software. You must include hours per week worked. -OR-
  • Education: Successful completion of at least a masters or equivalent graduate degree or 2 full years (36 semester hours) of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to such a degree in a field which demonstrates the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to perform the work of the position, such as Mechanical Engineering. You must include transcripts. -OR-
  • Combination of education and experience. To combine education and experience, first take the number of months of full-time experience and divide by 12 months. Then, divide your semester hours of graduate education beyond the first year (total graduate semester hours minus 18) by 18. Add the two percentages. The total percentage must equal at least 100 percent to qualify. You must include hours per week and transcripts.

To qualify for this position at the GS-11 grade level:
  • Specialized Experience Requirement: you must possess at least one full year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-09 level in the Federal service (obtained in either the public or private sectors). Specialized experience is defined as demonstrated experience: Performing more independent data collection, designs, preparing cost estimates, and engineering duties concerned with design, construction, maintenance and operation for hydroelectric powerplants, pumping plant, dams, reservoirs, canal structures, various offices and shop facilities; knowledge of mechanical engineering concepts; perform inspections and investigation of equipment/systems. You must include hours per week worked. -OR-
  • Education: Successful completion of at least a Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree or 3 full years (54 semester hours) of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to such a degree in a field which demonstrates the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to perform the work of the position, such as Mechanical Engineering. You must include transcripts. -OR-
  • Combination of education and experience. To combine education and experience, first take the number of months o

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