What does the word engineer mean

Engineer

MarCO CubeSat.jpg

Mechanical engineer Joel Steinkraus and systems engineer Farah Alibay (right) from NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory hold a full-scale mockup of Mars Cube One

Occupation
Names Engineer

Occupation type

Profession

Activity sectors

Applied science
Description
Competencies Mathematics, science, design, analysis, critical thinking, engineering ethics, project management, engineering economics, creativity, problem solving, (See also: Glossary of engineering)

Education required

Engineering education

Fields of
employment

Research and development, industry, business

Related jobs

Scientist, architect, project manager, inventor, astronaut

Engineers, as practitioners of engineering, are professionals who invent, design, analyze, build and test machines, complex systems, structures, gadgets and materials to fulfill functional objectives and requirements while considering the limitations imposed by practicality, regulation, safety and cost.[1][2] The word engineer (Latin ingeniator[3]) is derived from the Latin words ingeniare («to contrive, devise») and ingenium («cleverness»).[4][5] The foundational qualifications of an engineer typically include a four-year bachelor’s degree in an engineering discipline, or in some jurisdictions, a master’s degree in an engineering discipline plus four to six years of peer-reviewed professional practice (culminating in a project report or thesis) and passage of engineering board examinations.

The work of engineers forms the link between scientific discoveries and their subsequent applications to human and business needs and quality of life.[1]

Definition[edit]

In 1961, the Conference of Engineering Societies of Western Europe and the United States of America defined «professional engineer» as follows:[6]

A professional engineer is competent by virtue of his/her fundamental education and training to apply the scientific method and outlook to the analysis and solution of engineering problems. He/she is able to assume personal responsibility for the development and application of engineering science and knowledge, notably in research, design, construction, manufacturing, superintending, managing and in the education of the engineer. His/her work is predominantly intellectual and varied and not of a routine mental or physical character. It requires the exercise of original thought and judgement and the ability to supervise the technical and administrative work of others. His/her education will have been such as to make him/her capable of closely and continuously following progress in his/her branch of engineering science by consulting newly published works on a worldwide basis, assimilating such information and applying it independently. He/she is thus placed in a position to make contributions to the development of engineering science or its applications. His/her education and training will have been such that he/she will have acquired a broad and general appreciation of the engineering sciences as well as thorough insight into the special features of his/her own branch. In due time he/she will be able to give authoritative technical advice and to assume responsibility for the direction of important tasks in his/her branch.

Roles and expertise[edit]

Design[edit]

An aerial screw (c. 1489), suggestive of a helicopter, from the Codex Atlanticus

Engineers develop new technological solutions. During the engineering design process, the responsibilities of the engineer may include defining problems, conducting and narrowing research, analyzing criteria, finding and analyzing solutions, and making decisions. Much of an engineer’s time is spent on researching, locating, applying, and transferring information.[7] Indeed, research suggests engineers spend 56% of their time engaged in various information behaviours, including 14% actively searching for information.[8]

Engineers must weigh different design choices on their merits and choose the solution that best matches the requirements and needs. Their crucial and unique task is to identify, understand, and interpret the constraints on a design in order to produce a successful result.

Analysis[edit]

Engineers conferring on prototype design, 1954

Engineers apply techniques of engineering analysis in testing, production, or maintenance. Analytical engineers may supervise production in factories and elsewhere, determine the causes of a process failure, and test output to maintain quality. They also estimate the time and cost required to complete projects. Supervisory engineers are responsible for major components or entire projects. Engineering analysis involves the application of scientific analytic principles and processes to reveal the properties and state of the system, device or mechanism under study. Engineering analysis proceeds by separating the engineering design into the mechanisms of operation or failure, analyzing or estimating each component of the operation or failure mechanism in isolation, and recombining the components. They may analyze risk.[9][10][11][12]

Many engineers use computers to produce and analyze designs, to simulate and test how a machine, structure, or system operates, to generate specifications for parts, to monitor the quality of products, and to control the efficiency of processes.

Specialization and management[edit]

NASA Launch Control Center Firing Room 2 as it appeared in the Apollo era

Most engineers specialize in one or more engineering disciplines.[1] Numerous specialties are recognized by professional societies, and each of the major branches of engineering has numerous subdivisions. Civil engineering, for example, includes structural engineering, along with transportation engineering, geotechnical engineering, and materials engineering, including ceramic, metallurgical, and polymer engineering. Mechanical engineering cuts across most disciplines since its core essence is applied physics. Engineers also may specialize in one industry, such as motor vehicles, or in one type of technology, such as turbines or semiconductor materials.[1]

Several recent studies have investigated how engineers spend their time; that is, the work tasks they perform and how their time is distributed among these. Research[8][13] suggests that there are several key themes present in engineers’ work: technical work (i.e., the application of science to product development), social work (i.e., interactive communication between people), computer-based work and information behaviors. Among other more detailed findings, a 2012 work sampling study[13] found that engineers spend 62.92% of their time engaged in technical work, 40.37% in social work, and 49.66% in computer-based work. Furthermore, there was considerable overlap between these different types of work, with engineers spending 24.96% of their time engaged in technical and social work, 37.97% in technical and non-social, 15.42% in non-technical and social, and 21.66% in non-technical and non-social.

Engineering is also an information-intensive field, with research finding that engineers spend 55.8% of their time engaged in various different information behaviors, including 14.2% actively information from other people (7.8%) and information repositories such as documents and databases (6.4%).[8]

The time engineers spend engaged in such activities is also reflected in the competencies required in engineering roles. In addition to engineers’ core technical competence, research has also demonstrated the critical nature of their personal attributes, project management skills, and cognitive abilities to success in the role.[14]

Types of engineers[edit]

There are many branches of engineering, each of which specializes in specific technologies and products. Typically, engineers will have deep knowledge in one area and basic knowledge in related areas. For example, mechanical engineering curricula typically include introductory courses in electrical engineering, computer science, materials science, metallurgy, mathematics, and software engineering.

An engineer may either be hired for a firm that requires engineers on a continuous basis, or may belong to an engineering firm that provides engineering consulting services to other firms.

When developing a product, engineers typically work in interdisciplinary teams. For example, when building robots an engineering team will typically have at least three types of engineers. A mechanical engineer would design the body and actuators. An electrical engineer would design the power systems, sensors, electronics, embedded software in electronics, and control circuitry. Finally, a software engineer would develop the software that makes the robot behave properly. Engineers that aspire to management engage in further study in business administration, project management and organizational or business psychology. Often engineers move up the management hierarchy from managing projects, functional departments, divisions and eventually CEOs of a multi-national corporation.

Branch Focus Related sciences Products
Automobile engineering Focuses on the development of automobiles and related technology Structural engineering, electronics, materials science, automotive safety, fluid mechanics, thermodynamics, engineering mathematics, ergonomics, environmental compliance, road traffic safety, chemistry Automobiles
Aerospace engineering Focuses on the development of aircraft and spacecraft Aeronautics, astrodynamics, astronautics, avionics, control engineering, fluid mechanics, kinematics, materials science, thermodynamics Aircraft, robotics, spacecraft, trajectories
Agricultural engineering Focuses on the engineering, science, and technology for the production and processing of food from agriculture, such as the production of arable crops, soft fruit and livestock. A key goal of this discipline is to improve the efficacy and sustainability of agricultural practices for food production. Agricultural engineering often combines and converges many other engineering disciplines such as Mechanical engineering, Civil engineering, electrical engineering, chemical engineering, biosystems engineering, soil science, environmental engineering Livestock, food, horticulture, forestry, renewable energy crops.

Agricultural machinery such as tractors, combine harvesters, forage harvesters.

Agricultural technology incorporates such things as robotics and autonomous vehicles.

Architectural engineering and building engineering Focuses on building and construction Architecture, architectural technology Buildings and bridges
Biomedical engineering Focuses on closing the gap between engineering and medicine to advance various health care treatments. Biology, physics, chemistry, medicine Prostheses, medical devices, regenerative tissue growth, various safety mechanisms, genetic engineering
Chemical engineering Focuses on the manufacturing of chemicals and or extraction of chemical species from natural resources Chemistry, thermodynamics, chemical thermodynamics, process engineering, transport phenomena, nanotechnology, biology, chemical kinetics, genetic engineering medicine, fluid mechanics, textiles Chemicals, hydrocarbons, fuels, medicines, raw materials, food and drink, waste treatment, pure gases, plastics, coatings, water treatment, textiles
Civil engineering Focuses on the construction of large systems, structures, and environmental systems Statics, fluid mechanics, soil mechanics, structural engineering, transportation engineering, geotechnical engineering, environmental engineering, hydraulic engineering Roads, bridges, dams, buildings, structural system, foundation, earthworks, waste management, water treatment
Computer engineering Focuses on the design and development of computer hardware & software systems Computer science, mathematics, electrical engineering Microprocessors, microcontrollers, operating systems, embedded systems, computer networks
Electrical engineering Focuses on application of electricity, electronics, and electromagnetism Mathematics, probability and statistics, engineering ethics, engineering economics, instrumentation, materials science, physics, network analysis, electromagnetism, linear system, electronics, electric power, logic, computer science, data transmission, systems engineering, control engineering, signal processing Electricity generation and equipment, remote sensing, robotics, control system, computers, home appliances, Internet of things, consumer electronics, avionics, hybrid vehicles, spacecraft, unmanned aerial vehicles, optoelectronics, embedded systems
Fire protection engineering Focuses on application of science and engineering principles to protect people, property, and their environments from the harmful and destructive effects of fire and smoke. Fire, smoke, fluid dynamics, thermodynamics, heat transfer, combustion, physics, materials science, chemistry, statics, dynamics, probabilistic risk assessment or risk management, environmental psychology, engineering ethics, engineering economics, systems engineering, reliability, fire suppression, fire alarms, building fire safety, wildfire, building codes, measurement and simulation of fire phenomena, mathematics, probability and statistics. Fire suppression systems, fire alarm systems, passive fire protection, smoke control systems, sprinkler systems, Code consulting, fire and smoke modeling, emergency management, water supply systems, fire pumps, structural fire protection, foam extinguishing systems, gaseous fire suppression systems, oxygen reduction systems, flame detection, aerosol fire suppression.
Industrial engineering Focuses on the design, optimization, and operation of production, logistics, and service systems and processes Operations research, engineering statistics, applied probability and stochastic processes, automation engineering, methods engineering, production engineering, manufacturing engineering, systems engineering, logistics engineering, ergonomics quality control systems, manufacturing systems, warehousing systems, supply chains, logistics networks, queueing systems, business process management
Mechatronics engineering Focuses on the technology and controlling all the industrial field Process control, automation Robotics, controllers, CNC
Mechanical engineering Focuses on the development and operation of energy systems, transport systems, manufacturing systems, machines and control systems Dynamics, kinematics, statics, fluid mechanics, materials science, metallurgy, strength of materials, thermodynamics, heat transfer, mechanics, mechatronics, manufacturing engineering, control engineering Cars, airplanes, machines, power generation, spacecraft, buildings, consumer goods, manufacturing, HVAC
Metallurgical engineering/materials engineering Focuses on extraction of metals from its ores and development of new materials Material science, thermodynamics, extraction of metals, physical metallurgy, mechanical metallurgy, nuclear materials, steel technology Iron, steel, polymers, ceramics, metals
Mining engineering Focuses on the use of applied science and technology to extract various minerals from the earth, not to be confused with metallurgical engineering, which deals with mineral processing of various ores after they have already been mined Rock mechanics, geostatistics, soil mechanics, control engineering, geophysics, fluid mechanics, drilling and blasting Gold, silver, coal, iron ore, potash, limestone, diamond, rare-earth element, bauxite, copper
Software engineering Focuses on the design and development of software systems Computer science, information theory, systems engineering, formal language Application software, Mobile apps, Websites, operating systems, embedded systems, real-time computing, video games, virtual reality, AI software, edge computing, distributed systems, computer vision, music sequencers, digital audio workstations, software synthesizers, robotics, CGI, medical software, computer-assisted surgery, Internet of things, avionics software, computer simulation, quantum programming, satellite navigation software, antivirus software, electronic design automation, computer-aided design, self-driving cars, educational software

Ethics[edit]

Engineers have obligations to the public, their clients, employers, and the profession. Many engineering societies have established codes of practice and codes of ethics to guide members and inform the public at large. Each engineering discipline and professional society maintains a code of ethics, which the members pledge to uphold. Depending on their specializations, engineers may also be governed by specific statute, whistleblowing, product liability laws, and often the principles of business ethics.[15][16][17]

Some graduates of engineering programs in North America may be recognized by the iron ring or Engineer’s Ring, a ring made of iron or stainless steel that is worn on the little finger of the dominant hand. This tradition began in 1925 in Canada with The Ritual of the Calling of an Engineer, where the ring serves as a symbol and reminder of the engineer’s obligations to the engineering profession. In 1972, the practice was adopted by several colleges in the United States including members of the Order of the Engineer.

Education[edit]

Most engineering programs involve a concentration of study in an engineering specialty, along with courses in both mathematics and the physical and life sciences. Many programs also include courses in general engineering and applied accounting. A design course, often accompanied by a computer or laboratory class or both, is part of the curriculum of most programs. Often, general courses not directly related to engineering, such as those in the social sciences or humanities, also are required.

Accreditation is the process by which engineering programs are evaluated by an external body to determine if applicable standards are met. The Washington Accord serves as an international accreditation agreement for academic engineering degrees, recognizing the substantial equivalency in the standards set by many major national engineering bodies. In the United States, post-secondary degree programs in engineering are accredited by the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology.

Regulation[edit]

In many countries, engineering tasks such as the design of bridges, electric power plants, industrial equipment, machine design and chemical plants, must be approved by a licensed professional engineer. Most commonly titled professional engineer is a license to practice and is indicated with the use of post-nominal letters; PE or P.Eng. These are common in North America, as is European engineer (EUR ING) in Europe. The practice of engineering in the UK is not a regulated profession but the control of the titles of chartered engineer (CEng) and incorporated engineer (IEng) is regulated. These titles are protected by law and are subject to strict requirements defined by the Engineering Council UK. The title CEng is in use in much of the Commonwealth.

Many skilled and semi-skilled trades and engineering technicians in the UK call themselves engineers. A growing movement in the UK is to legally protect the title ‘Engineer’ so that only professional engineers can use it; a petition[18] was started to further this cause.

In the United States, engineering is a regulated profession whose practice and practitioners are licensed and governed by law. Licensure is generally attainable through combination of education, pre-examination (Fundamentals of Engineering exam), examination (professional engineering exam),[19] and engineering experience (typically in the area of 5+ years). Each state tests and licenses professional engineers. Currently, most states do not license by specific engineering discipline, but rather provide generalized licensure, and trust engineers to use professional judgment regarding their individual competencies; this is the favoured approach of the professional societies. Despite this, at least one of the examinations required by most states is actually focused on a particular discipline; candidates for licensure typically choose the category of examination which comes closest to their respective expertise. In the United States, an «industrial exemption» allows businesses to employ employees and call them an «engineer», as long as such individuals are under the direct supervision and control of the business entity and function internally related to manufacturing (manufactured parts) related to the business entity, or work internally within an exempt organization. Such person does not have the final authority to approve, or the ultimate responsibility for, engineering designs, plans, or specifications that are to be incorporated into fixed works, systems, or facilities on the property of others or made available to the public. These individuals are prohibited from offering engineering services directly to the public or other businesses, or engage in practice of engineering unless the business entity is registered with the state’s board of engineering, and the practice is carried on or supervised directly only by engineers licensed to engage in the practice of engineering.[20] In some instances, some positions, such as a «sanitation engineer», does not have any basis in engineering sciences. Although some states require a BS degree in engineering accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission (EAC) of Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET) with no exceptions, about two thirds of the states accept BS degrees in engineering technology accredited by the Engineering Technology Accreditation Commission (ETAC) of ABET to become licensed as professional engineers. Each state has different requirements on years of experience to take the Fundamentals of Engineering (FE) and Professional Engineering (PE) exams. A few states require a graduate MS in engineering to sit for the exams as further learning. After seven years of working after graduation, two years of responsibility for significant engineering work, continuous professional development, some highly qualified PEs are able to become International Professional Engineers Int(PE). These engineers must meet the highest level of professional competencies and this is a peer reviewed process. Once the IntPE title is awarded, the engineer can gain easier admission to national registers of a number of members jurisdictions for international practice.[21]

In Canada, engineering is a self-regulated profession. The profession in each province is governed by its own engineering association. For instance, in the Province of British Columbia an engineering graduate with four or more years of post graduate experience in an engineering-related field and passing exams in ethics and law will need to be registered by the Association for Professional Engineers and Geoscientists (APEGBC)[22] in order to become a Professional Engineer and be granted the professional designation of P.Eng allowing one to practice engineering.

In Continental Europe, Latin America, Turkey, and elsewhere the title is limited by law to people with an engineering degree and the use of the title by others is illegal. In Italy, the title is limited to people who hold an engineering degree, have passed a professional qualification examination (Esame di Stato) and are enrolled in the register of the local branch of National Associations of Engineers (a public body). In Portugal, professional engineer titles and accredited engineering degrees are regulated and certified by the Ordem dos Engenheiros. In the Czech Republic, the title «engineer» (Ing.) is given to people with a (masters) degree in chemistry, technology or economics for historical and traditional reasons. In Greece, the academic title of «Diploma Engineer» is awarded after completion of the five-year engineering study course and the title of «Certified Engineer» is awarded after completion of the four-year course of engineering studies at a Technological Educational Institute (TEI).

Perception[edit]

Archimedes regarded as one of the leading scientists in classical antiquity.

The perception and definition of the term ‘engineer’ varies across countries and continents.

Corporate culture[edit]

In companies and other organizations, there is sometimes a tendency to undervalue people with advanced technological and scientific skills compared to celebrities, fashion practitioners, entertainers, and managers. In his book, The Mythical Man-Month,[23] Fred Brooks Jr says that managers think of senior people as «too valuable» for technical tasks and that management jobs carry higher prestige. He tells how some laboratories, such as Bell Labs, abolish all job titles to overcome this problem: a professional employee is a «member of the technical staff.» IBM maintains a dual ladder of advancement; the corresponding managerial and engineering or scientific rungs are equivalent. Brooks recommends that structures need to be changed; the boss must give a great deal of attention to keeping managers and technical people as interchangeable as their talents allow.

Europe[edit]

As of 2022, thirty two countries in Europe (including nearly all 27 countries of the EU) now recognise the title of ‘European Engineer’ which permits the use of the pre-nominal title of «EUR ING» (always fully capitalised). Each country sets its own precise qualification requirement for the use of the title (though they are all broadly equivalent). Holding the requisite qualification does not afford automatic entitlement. The title has to be applied for (and the appropriate fee paid). The holder is entitled to use the title in their passport. EUR INGs are allowed to describe themselves as professionally qualified engineers and practise as such in any of the 32 participating countries including those where the title of engineer is regulated by law.[citation needed]

UK[edit]

British school children in the 1950s were brought up with stirring tales of «the Victorian Engineers», chief among whom were Brunel, Stephenson, Telford, and their contemporaries. In the UK, «engineering» has more recently been erroneously styled as an industrial sector consisting of employers and employees loosely termed «engineers» who include tradespeople. However, knowledgeable practitioners reserve the term «engineer» to describe a university-educated professional of ingenuity represented by the Chartered (or Incorporated) Engineer qualifications.[24] A large proportion of the UK public incorrectly thinks of «engineers» as skilled tradespeople or even semi-skilled tradespeople with a high school education. Also, many UK skilled and semi-skilled tradespeople falsely style themselves as «engineers». This has created confusion in the eyes of some members of the public in understanding what professional engineers actually do, from fixing car engines, television sets and refrigerators (technicians, handymen) to designing and managing the development of aircraft, spacecraft, power stations, infrastructure and other complex technological systems (engineers).[citation needed]

France[edit]

In France, the term ingénieur (engineer) is not a protected title and can be used by anyone who practices this profession.[25]

However, the title ingénieur diplomé (graduate engineer) is an official academic title that is protected by the government and is associated with the Diplôme d’Ingénieur, which is a renowned academic degree in France. Anyone misusing this title in France can be fined a large sum and jailed, as it is usually reserved for graduates of French engineering grandes écoles. Engineering schools which were created during the French revolution have a special reputation among the French people, as they helped to make the transition from a mostly agricultural country of late 18th century to the industrially developed France of the 19th century. A great part of 19th-century France’s economic wealth and industrial prowess was created by engineers that have graduated from École Centrale Paris, École des Mines de Paris, École polytechnique or Télécom Paris. This was also the case after WWII when France had to be rebuilt. Before the «réforme René Haby» in the 1970s, it was very difficult to be admitted to such schools, and the French ingénieurs were commonly perceived as the nation’s elite. However, after the Haby reform and a string of further reforms (Modernization plans of French universities), several engineering schools were created which can be accessed with relatively lower competition.

In France, engineering positions are now shared between the ingénieurs diplomés graduating from engineering grandes écoles; and the holders of a Master’s degree in Science from public universities.

Italy[edit]

In Italy, only people who hold a formal engineering qualification of at least a bachelor’s degree are permitted to describe themselves as an engineer. So much so that people holding such qualifications are entitled to use the pre-nominal title of «Ingegnere» (or «Ingegnera» if female — in both cases often abbreviated to «Ing.») in lieu of «Signore», «Signorina» or «Signora» (Mr, Miss and Mrs respectively) in the same manner as someone holding a doctorate would use the pre-nominal title «Doctor».

North America[edit]

Canada[edit]

In Canada, engineering is a regulated profession whose practice and practitioners are licensed and governed by law.[26] Licensed professional engineers are referred to as P.Eng. Many Canadian engineers wear an Iron Ring.[27]

In all Canadian provinces, the title «Professional Engineer» is protected by law and any non-licensed individual or company using the title is committing a legal offence and is subject to fines and restraining orders.[28] Contrary to insistence from the Professional Engineers Ontario («PEO») and Engineers Canada, use of the title «Engineer» itself has been found by Canadian law to be acceptable by those not holding P.Eng. titles.[29][30]

The title of engineer is not exclusive to P.Eng titles. The title of Engineer is commonly held by «Software Engineer»,[31] the Canadian Military as various ranks and positions,[32] railway locomotive engineers,[33] and Aircraft Maintenance Engineers (AME), all of which do not commonly hold a P.Eng. designation.

United States[edit]

In the United States, the practice of professional engineering is highly regulated and the title «professional engineer» is legally protected, meaning that it is unlawful to use it to offer engineering services to the public unless permission, certification or other official endorsement is specifically granted by that state through a professional engineering license.[34]

Spanish-speaking countries[edit]

Certain Spanish-speaking countries follow the Italian convention of engineers using the pre-nominal title, in this case «ingeniero» (or «ingeniera» if female). Like in Italy, it is usually abbreviated to «Ing.» In Spain this practice is not followed.

The engineering profession enjoys high prestige in Spain, ranking close to medical doctors, scientists and professors, and above judges, journalists or entrepreneurs, according to a 2014 study.[35]

Asia and Africa[edit]

In the Indian subcontinent, Russia, Middle East, Africa, and China, engineering is one of the most sought after undergraduate courses, inviting thousands of applicants to show their ability in highly competitive entrance examinations.

In Egypt, the educational system makes engineering the second-most-respected profession in the country (after medicine); engineering colleges at Egyptian universities requires extremely high marks on the General Certificate of Secondary Education (Arabic: الثانوية العامة al-Thānawiyyah al-`Āmmah)—on the order of 97 or 98%—and are thus considered (along with the colleges of medicine, natural science, and pharmacy) to be among the «pinnacle colleges» (كليات القمة kullīyāt al-qimmah).

In the Philippines and Filipino communities overseas, engineers who are either Filipino or not, especially those who also profess other jobs at the same time, are addressed and introduced as Engineer, rather than Sir/Madam in speech or Mr./Mrs./Ms. (G./Gng./Bb. in Filipino) before surnames. That word is used either in itself or before the given name or surname.

See also[edit]

  • Building engineer
  • Engineer’s degree
  • Engineers Without Borders
  • European Engineer
  • Greatest Engineering Achievements
  • History of engineering
  • List of Bangladeshi engineers
  • List of engineering branches
  • List of engineers
  • List of fictional scientists and engineers

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b c d Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Manual Labor (2006). «Engineers». Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2006–07 Edition (via Wayback Machine). Archived from the original on 23 September 2006. Retrieved 23 September 2006.
  2. ^ National Society of Professional Engineers (2006). «Frequently Asked Questions About Engineering». Archived from the original on 22 May 2006. Retrieved 21 September 2006. «Science is knowledge based on our observed facts and tested truths arranged in an orderly system that can be validated and communicated to other people. Engineering is the creative application of scientific principles used to plan, build, direct, guide, manage, or work on systems to maintain and improve our daily lives.»
  3. ^ Pevsner, N. (1942). «The Term ‘Architect’ in the Middle Ages». Speculum. 17 (4): 549–562. doi:10.2307/2856447. JSTOR 2856447. S2CID 162586473.
  4. ^ Oxford Concise Dictionary, 1995
  5. ^ «engineer». Oxford Dictionaries. April 2010. Oxford Dictionaries. April 2010. Oxford University Press. 22 October 2011
  6. ^ Steen Hyldgaard Christensen, Christelle Didier, Andrew Jamison, Martin Meganck, Carl Mitcham, and Byron Newberry Springer. Engineering Identities, Epistemologies and Values: Engineering Education and Practice in Context, Volume 2, p. 170, at Google Books
  7. ^ A. Eide, R. Jenison, L. Mashaw, L. Northup. Engineering: Fundamentals and Problem Solving. New York City: McGraw-Hill Companies Inc.,2002
  8. ^ a b c Robinson, M. A. (2010). «An empirical analysis of engineers’ information behaviors». Journal of the American Society for Information Science and Technology. 61 (4): 640–658. doi:10.1002/asi.21290.
  9. ^ Baecher, G.B.; Pate, E.M.; de Neufville, R. (1979). «Risk of dam failure in benefit/cost analysis». Water Resources Research. 16 (3): 449–456. Bibcode:1980WRR….16..449B. doi:10.1029/wr016i003p00449.
  10. ^ Hartford, D.N.D. and Baecher, G.B. (2004) Risk and Uncertainty in Dam Safety. Thomas Telford
  11. ^ International Commission on Large Dams (ICOLD) (2003) Risk Assessment in Dam Safety Management. ICOLD, Paris
  12. ^ British Standards Institution (BSIA) (1991) BC 5760 Part 5: Reliability of systems equipment and components – Guide to failure modes effects and criticality analysis (FMEA and FMECA).
  13. ^ a b Robinson, M. A. (2012). «How design engineers spend their time: Job content and task satisfaction». Design Studies. 33 (4): 391–425. doi:10.1016/j.destud.2012.03.002.
  14. ^ Robinson, M. A.; Sparrow, P. R.; Clegg, C.; Birdi, K. (2005). «Design engineering competencies: Future requirements and predicted changes in the forthcoming decade». Design Studies. 26 (2): 123–153. doi:10.1016/j.destud.2004.09.004.
  15. ^ American Society of Civil Engineers (2006) [1914]. Code of Ethics. Reston, Virginia, USA: ASCE Press. Archived from the original on 14 February 2011. Retrieved 11 June 2011.
  16. ^ Institution of Civil Engineers (2009). Royal Charter, By-laws, Regulations and Rules. Archived from the original on 3 January 2011. Retrieved 11 June 2011.
  17. ^ National Society of Professional Engineers (2007) [1964]. Code of Ethics (PDF). Alexandria, Virginia, USA: NSPE. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2 December 2008. Retrieved 20 October 2006.
  18. ^ «Make ‘Engineer’ a protected title». Petitions – UK Government and Parliament.
  19. ^ [1] NCEES is a national nonprofit organization dedicated to advancing professional licensure for engineers and surveyors.
  20. ^ «Texas Engineering and Land Surveying Practice Acts and Rules Concerning Practice and Licensure» (PDF). texas.gov. The State of Texas. Archived (PDF) from the original on 9 October 2022. Retrieved 10 July 2021.
  21. ^ «NCEES International Registry for Professional Engineers». NCEES. Retrieved 8 February 2020.
  22. ^ «Engineers and Geoscientists BC». egbc.ca. Retrieved 11 September 2018.
  23. ^ The Mythical Man-Month: Essays on Software Engineering, p119 (see also p242), Frederick P. Brooks, Jr., University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, 2nd ed. 1995, pub. Addison-Wesley
  24. ^ Burns, Corrinne (19 September 2013). «Are you an engineer? Then don’t be shy about it | Are you an engineer? Then don’t be shy about it | Corrinne Burns». The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 19 February 2019.
  25. ^ Pourrat, Yvonne (1 April 2011). «Perception of French students in engineering about the ethics of their profession and implications for engineering education». ResearchGate. Retrieved 19 February 2019.
  26. ^ «About Engineers Canada». engineerscanada.ca. Engineers Canada. Retrieved 13 April 2022.
  27. ^ «The Calling of an Engineer», The Corporation of the Seven Wardens, Retrieved November 29, 2022
  28. ^ «Engineering licensing body clarifies the use of the term «engineer» following reported dismissal of Hydro One employee». peo.on.ca. Professional Engineers Ontario. 13 May 2015. Archived from the original on 8 April 2015. Retrieved 15 July 2020.
  29. ^ Assn. of Professional Engineers, Geologists and Geophysicists of Alberta (Council of) v. Merhej, 2003 ABCA 360 (CanLII), <https://canlii.ca/t/1g18s>, retrieved on 2022-11-29
  30. ^ Section (3)(f) of the Professional Engineer Act of Ontario does not prevent people form using the title Engineer. (3) Subsections (1) and (2) do not apply to prevent a person, (f) from using the title “engineer” or an abbreviation of that title in a manner that is authorized or required by an Act or regulation. It does prevent Professional Engineer title under section 2 of the act.
  31. ^ «Computer Software Engineer in Canada | Job requirements — Job Bank». www.jobbank.gc.ca. Retrieved 29 November 2022.
  32. ^ «Who Are We? | Canadian Military Engineers». cmea-agmc.ca. Retrieved 29 November 2022.
  33. ^ «Train Engineer in Canada | Labour Market Facts and Figures — Job Bank». www.jobbank.gc.ca. Retrieved 29 November 2022.
  34. ^ «What is a PE?». National Society of Professional Engineers. Retrieved 19 May 2022.
  35. ^ Lobera, Josep; Torres Albero, Cristóbal (2015). «El prestigio social de las profesiones tecnocientíficas». Percepción social de la Ciencia y la Tecnología 2014 (PDF) (in Spanish). FECYT. pp. 218–240. Archived (PDF) from the original on 15 March 2020. Retrieved 22 April 2021.

External links[edit]

Look up engineer in Wiktionary, the free dictionary.

Media related to Engineers at Wikimedia Commons

A train engineer is lulled to sleep by the monotony of the job and misses a signal. ❋ Tessa Muggeridge (2010)

In contrast, the term engineer is often associated with someone called out to repair a photocopier or gas boiler, where they are often dressed in clothing that is functional rather than a suit. ❋ Unknown (2010)

D. from two of the world’s finest engineering schools, a sizable handful of publications in peer-reviewed engineering and scientific journals (and a number more at large conferences), and am currently a working engineer consulting to the nuclear power industry in Ontario (where, incidentally, it is illegal for an unqualified person such as yourself to use the title engineer). ❋ Unknown (2006)

The exact words of the engineer is that the block alone provides little actual structural support in the case of an earthquake. ❋ Unknown (2009)

Amotz, an engineer, is busy juggling the day-to-day needs of his elderly father, his children, and his grandchildren. ❋ Unknown (2010)

In September, a commuter train engineer missed a stop signal while trading text messages with a friend, leading to a collision with a freight train that killed 25 people in California, according to federal investigators. ❋ Unknown (2009)

Matthews, a full-time network engineer, is the main financial backer, but Sawyers — a geotechnical engineer — played a key role: When the men needed more space, they moved their winery from Matthews ‘basement to the garage of Sawyers’ mom. ❋ Unknown (2010)

We had a meeting where the bottom-of-the-food-chain engineer, who of course was the one who actually knew what the heck was going on, talked directly to the lab management and AA from NASA. ❋ Unknown (2009)

And, since the engineer is young and probably non-exempt, if she says, «I did it on my own time», then alarm bells would go off, and the corporate IP police would start taking an interest. ❋ Unknown (2009)

[The engineer] was the cause of [the system] [meltdown] ❋ Scott Adams (2004)

Yea, the [clothes] wouldn’t have [fit] you [anyway] ❋ Perflubon (2004)

One day an engineer found himself at the pearly gates. [St. Peter] looked him up in the book, and found that he was destined for [the other place]. The engineer protested that this must be a mistake, and that he had lived a righteous life, going to church every week, being faithful to his wife etc. to no avail. About 6 weeks later God reviews the lists and realizes that the engineer has been sent to the wrong place. So he rings up Lucifer and demands that the engineer be sent up. Lucifer says NO WAY. This guy was the best thing to ever happen here. He’s got the AC working, we have running water and cable now too, and next week he thinks we will get internet access and an ice cream machine. God is pissed and yelling says «I’ll sue». Lucifer says [LOL where] are you going to get a lawyer and hangs up. ❋ Gunder (2007)

[Optimist]: «The glass is half full.»
[Pessimist]: «The glass is half empty.»
[Engineer]: «The glass is twice the size it needs to be.» ❋ Destillat (2006)

«[You know that] you’re an engineer if you can [prove it] [mathematically]» ❋ Douglas Weltman (2003)

What’s [the difference] between an engineer and a [scientist]? When engineers are wrong they get [sued]. ❋ Sigma Eta Aero (2007)

If [building] stuff isn’t solving problems then [the engineer] [don’t know] what is. ❋ Bmaster (2010)

The [aerospace engineer] is the guy in the plane who is [whimpering] quietly and looking [worried]. ❋ Victorhadin (2003)

You: Hey engineer, keep checking your back. There’s a [spy] around.
Me: Thanks, HEY, [SPY] [SAPPIN] MY SENTERY! ❋ LON Master 000 (2009)

My [iron ring] cost me $25+$[57],000 of [student debt]. ❋ Mr. Engineer (2005)

Table of Contents

  1. What is an engineer in simple words?
  2. Which is correct a engineer or an engineer?
  3. What is an example of engineering?
  4. Who can be called an engineer?
  5. Which type of engineer makes the most money?
  6. Which engineering is best for government jobs?
  7. Are engineering students smart?
  8. Who is the smartest engineer?
  9. Are engineers more intelligent than doctors?
  10. How stressful is being an engineer?
  11. Are biomedical engineers happy?
  12. Do bioengineers make a lot of money?
  13. Can a biomedical engineer become a doctor?
  14. Is Biomedical Engineering a good career?

: a person who has scientific training and who designs and builds complicated products, machines, systems, or structures : a person who specializes in a branch of engineering. : a person who runs or is in charge of an engine in an airplane, a ship, etc.

What is an engineer in simple words?

Engineering is the use of science and math to design or make things. People who do engineering are called engineers. They learn engineering at a college or university. Engineers usually design or build things. Some engineers also use their skills to solve technical problems.

Which is correct a engineer or an engineer?

‘An Engineer’ is thus grammatically correct.

What is an example of engineering?

Examples are, but not limited to, ships, submarines, oil rigs, structure, watercraft propulsion, on-board design and development, plants, harbors, and so on. It requires a combined knowledge in mechanical engineering, electrical engineering, civil engineering, and some programming abilities.

Who can be called an engineer?

An engineer is a person who operates an engine. “engineer” is not a protected title in the US. Classic disciplines like “Mechanical Engineer” will vary in protection from state to state, but not necessarily contingent upon degree, only various licensing thresholds (of which a degree may be one).

Which type of engineer makes the most money?

The 10 Highest-Paying Engineering Degrees

  • Petroleum Engineer. Engineers in the oil and gas sector routinely rank among the highest-paying engineering jobs.
  • Electrical Engineer.
  • Aerospace Engineer.
  • Civil Engineer.
  • Biomedical Engineer.
  • Mechanical Engineer.
  • Industrial Engineer.
  • Computer Science Engineer.

Which engineering is best for government jobs?

Engineering branches that will help one get Government job easily

  1. 1 Electrical Engineering. Electrical Engineering.
  2. 2 Mechanical Engineering. Mechanical Engineering.
  3. 3 Chemical Engineering.
  4. 4 Civil Engineering.
  5. 5 Electronics and Communications Engineering.
  6. 6 Biotechnology.
  7. 7 Petroleum Engineering.
  8. 8 Agricultural Engineering.

Are engineering students smart?

Engineers are statistically smarter than people in most non-STEM fields. The IQ required to earn a liberal arts degree from a good university has traditionally been 115. Today universities admit unqualified students for PC reasons and they often create easy courses so that they can earn a degree.

Who is the smartest engineer?

1. Archimedes was a legend. First and foremost the great Archimedes. Universally recognized as the greatest of all classical engineers, he has influenced the fields of mathematics, physics, engineering, and astronomy for millennia.

Are engineers more intelligent than doctors?

According to a randomized study (Hauser, R), on average, engineers IQ is 110 or 75 percentile, doctors IQ is 121 or 92 percentile.

How stressful is being an engineer?

Engineering graduates, unlike many others, can look forward to very good career prospects following completion of their undergraduate studies. But completing your studies is only the first hurdle. Engineering careers are some of the toughest, most stressful, yet rewarding ways to make a living out there.

Are biomedical engineers happy?

Biomedical engineers are about average in terms of happiness. As it turns out, biomedical engineers rate their career happiness 3.4 out of 5 stars which puts them in the top 40% of careers. …

Do bioengineers make a lot of money?

For their work, they are generously compensated. The U.S. Department of Labor studied biomedical engineer salaries in 2006, and set the average salary for biomedical engineers at $56,770. The survey indicated that the highest paid biomedical engineers brought home an average salary of $118,730.

Can a biomedical engineer become a doctor?

Many people with biomedical engineering backgrounds move on to medical school to become doctors. Doctors diagnose and treat illnesses.

Is Biomedical Engineering a good career?

Biomedical engineering is a booming career field as health and technology are coming together to revolutionize the field of medicine. With the growing health consciousness in India, biomedical engineering is becoming one of the most enviable and sought-after career.

Meaning engineer

What does engineer mean? Here you find 33 meanings of the word engineer. You can also add a definition of engineer yourself

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mid-14c., enginour, «constructor of military engines,» from Old French engigneor «engineer, architect, maker of war-engines; schemer» (12c.), from Late Latin ingeniare (see engine) [..]

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engineer

1818, «act as an engineer,» from engineer (n.). Figurative sense of «arrange, contrive, guide or manage (via ingenuity or tact)» is attested from 1864, originally in a political co [..]

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engineer

person who plans the building of things, such as structures (construction engineer) or substances (chemical engineer).

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engineer

A contract under which the contractor engineers, procures and constructs [EPC] the work, often a building or large-scale facility.  In practice, this is a form of outsourcing under which the client d [..]

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engineer

A contract under which the contractor engineers, procures, installs and commissions [EPIC] the work, often an engineering project.  In practice, this is a form of outsourcing most common to the oil a [..]

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engineer

A contract under which the contractor engineers, procures, installs, commissions, operates and maintains [EPICOM] the work.  For example a manufacturer of a piece of capital plant not only designs an [..]

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engineer

railroad engine-driver

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engineer

a person who uses scientific knowledge to solve practical problems design as an engineer; &amp;quot;He engineered the water supply project&amp;quot; mastermind: plan and direct (a complex unde [..]

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engineer

Someone who designs and builds mechanical or electrical devices. For example, an aeronautical engineer designs aircraft. To do this, an aeronautical engineer must study aeronautics and understand fluid dynamics and aerodynamics.

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engineer

someone who makes or looks after machines. The same word also means someone who plans and builds dams, roads, railways and bridges

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engineer

The person on a ship or train who runs and cares for the engines; also the person in the army who deals with ordnance (supplies such as ammunition, weapons, and tools). The term engineer also refers t [..]

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engineer

inzhenir

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engineer

To see an engineer, forebodes weary journeys but joyful reunions.   

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engineer

The person who operates the audio equipment during the voice-over session.

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engineer

person, usually from a technical or electronic background, who records or mixes the sound in a studio or at a live gig. The engineer is usually not responsible for the structure or arrangements of the songs, just the sound of the instruments that gets put on to the recording.

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engineer

North American term for a train driver.

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engineer

An engineer is a person who, by reason of his or her special knowledge of the mathematical and physical sciences and the principles and methods of engineering analysis and design, acquired by engineer [..]

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engineer

(n) a person who uses scientific knowledge to solve practical problems(n) the operator of a railway locomotive(v) design as an engineer(v) plan and direct (a complex undertaking)

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engineer

        A crew member of the engineering staff, who works in the engine room.

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engineer

n. ingeniero

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engineer

See fabricator

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engineer

A great Engineer is a composer’s best friend—really! They record and mix the music, and oversee all the technical aspects of the recording session. The great ones are also often musicians themselves, so have that creative ear as well as the technical prowess necessary for a successful session. Composers often have favorite Engineers and will re [..]

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engineer

Adds as additional insured an engineer, architect or surveyor not engaged by the insured, for premises or operations liability. To endorse this form to the policy the underwriter must acquire certificates of insurance from the additional insured on their professional and general liability policies. CONTROLLING INTEREST COVERAGE: Adds as an addition [..]

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engineer

Officer who is in charge of engines for the time being. Certificated officer competent to take charge of engines and to effect repairs and adjustments.

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engineer

anyone who works with the ship’s propulsion equipment, electrical equipment, or other mechanical devices. A snipe.

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engineer

The person or pilot who operates a train or locomotive.

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engineer

The train crew member who drives the train (engine or locomotive) and is the crew’s boss. Also see conductor.

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engineer

To plan and construct.

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engineer

Also commonly known as a software engineer, or a programmer. An engineer is a person on the development team who is responsible for programming the video game graphics, animation, or any other facet o [..]

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engineer

Short for character engineer.

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engineer

1) A technician in charge of a recording session; Also called Recording Engineer. 2) A person with an engineering degree. 3) A person with sufficient experience in the field to be equivalent to the ed [..]

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engineer

In English, the term is associated with engines, although this is a historical accident, the first engineers having been military engineers who were responsible for 'engines of war' su [..]

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engineer

A contentious issue, this one! A person who designs or makes or puts to use engines, machines, structures or public works such as canals, bridges and harbours etc. Some of them grumble about the term being used for mechanics who fix washing machines or the folk who unblock drains, however most engineers ought to help out if you ask politely. Despit [..]

Dictionary.university is a dictionary written by people like you and me.
Please help and add a word. All sort of words are welcome!

Add meaning

The profession of the engineer is very diverse, and the specialists-engineers are in demand in various fields. Let’s talk about who is an engineer and what he does.

The word «engineer» is derived from the Latiningenium, which means «ingenuity». In the old days, they were mostly called the inventors of weapons. Nowadays an engineer is a person with a higher technical education, creating automatic and mechanical structures that monitor the creation of a technical product.

The engineer’s job is to createtechnical devices, including their design, construction, preparation of documents for the device, the process itself, testing, use, repair and even subsequent disposal.

The essence of the engineer’s work

The main goal of any engineer’s activity is the development of new solutions and improvement of existing ones. And the optimization of old solutions occurs more often than the development of new ones.

It is important to note that the engineer himself does not produce the product, but controls production at all stages. The activities of an engineer include the following items:

  1. Setting the goal.
  2. Development of information about the product.
  3. Development of information on the methods of creating this product.
  4. Organization and control of the production of the product.

In which areas are engineers working?

The profession of an engineer is extremely important. Without this valuable specialist one can not imagine the activity of any industrial enterprise. Inside the profession of an engineer there are several directions. There are design engineers, welding engineers, chemical engineers, electrical engineers and even environmental engineers.

The duties of the engineer directly depend on the industry in which he works.

  • The engineer-designer is mainly engaged in the design of machine tools or their parts, and the civil engineer projects bridges, buildings and roads.
  • The environmental engineer uses computer technology to improve ways of protecting the environment.
  • An electrical engineer is engaged in the improvement, debugging and development of electrical equipment.

There is a large number of professional associations of engineers, created for information support of each other and professional development.

You may also be interested in the article How to become an engineer.

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