Problems in chemical engineering design

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I’ve almost forgotten everything I learned in my undergraduate studies in chemical engineering and technology. Now that I’m pursuing a master’s degree in medicinal chemistry, my mind is filled with concepts related to reaction mechanisms. Will I be able to return to my previous field after a few years? Is there any overlap between organic synthesis, drug synthesis, and chemical engineering design? Or are they completely separate paths? The closer one gets to medicinal chemistry, the further away does one seem to be from chemical engineering? I remember my graduation project on the isomerization of p-xylene; it seemed quite interesting – things like reactor selection, phase composition, flooding phenomena, and tower efficiency… Are these considered simple examples of chemical engineering design? What exactly does real chemical engineering design involve? What do those fresh graduates who enter design firms do? Do they end up playing minor roles at the bottom of a huge “pyramid,” and will it take them years to climb out of that situation? Could someone please explain how work in chemical engineering design actually is – whether it’s exciting and full of promise? It’s a pity that I won’t be able to sit in front of those PRO2 programs to carry out parameter-based designs anymore… Let’s hear everyone’s opinions first, just to spark some imagination