Urbain led the laboratories of the Compagnie Générale d’Electricité from 1899 to 1904.  Among the topics he studied was the use of rare earth oxides to manufacture arc lamps. Next he became a teacher at the École  de  Physique  et  Chimie  (1905-1906) and the Sorbonne (1906, 1908). In 1907 Urbain joined the Commission  Internationale  des  Poids  Atomiques.
During World War I  Urbain served in the  Ministry of War as a laboratory director and technical  advisor for artillery and explosives. 
Following the war he taught at the École Centrale des Arts et Manufactures. In  1928  he accepted the chair  of  general  chemistry  at  the Sorbonne, in addition to serving as Director of  Chemistry at the Institute of Biologie. Urbain was also appointed head of the Chemistry Section of the Palais de la Découverte, director of the Chemical Treatment laboratory of Thiais, and president of the École Pratique des Hautes Etudes (2nd section).