Engineer

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Template:Wiktionarypar An engineer is someone who practices the profession of engineering – a person who uses scientific knowledge to solve practical problems using technology. The title "engineer" is normally used only by individuals who have an academic degree (or equivalent work experience) in one of the engineering disciplines. In some countries of Continental Europe the title is limited by law to people with an engineering degree, and the use of the title by others (even persons with equivalent work experience) is illegal. Similar laws exist in most if not all American states and Canadian provinces; they usually dictate that only those who have passed the Professional Engineer examination may call themselves engineers. However, the reach of such laws is often limited to cover only situations involving intentional deceit or fraud. In Britain, an engineer can also mean a technician or a person that mends machinery.

The word "technologist" is sometimes used synonymously as it derives from the prefix Techno- and the suffix -ologist, hence, someone who studies technology. This applies particularly to those European countries with laws regulating the use of the title engineer, since the term technologist is not regulated. However in some Latin countries, "technologist" is a somewhat lower certification at a level between technician and engineer.

A scientist explores nature in order to discover general principles, but an engineer uses general principles in order to design practical things.

In the US, the term "engineer" is also used to denote an operator of a steam engine of some sort, e.g., a railroad engineer denotes the operator of a (steam) locomotive, a ship's engineer denotes the operator of the steam engine on a steamship, and a stationary engineer is normally responsible for a stationary steam engine.

1 Working as an engineer
2 See also
- 2.1 Lists of engineers by discipline
- 2.2 Other related lists
3 External links

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Working as an engineer

Engineers apply the principles of science and mathematics to develop economical solutions to technical problems. Their work is the link between perceived social needs and commercial applications. Engineers consider many factors when developing a new product. For example, in developing an industrial robot, engineers precisely specify the functional requirements; design and test the robot’s components; integrate the components to produce the final design; and evaluate the design’s overall effectiveness, cost, reliability, and safety. This process applies to the development of many different products, such as chemicals, computers, gas turbines, helicopters, and toys.

In addition to design and development, many engineers work in testing, production, or maintenance. These engineers supervise production in factories, determine the causes of component failure, and test manufactured products to maintain quality. They also estimate the time and cost to complete projects. Some move into engineering management or into sales. In sales, an engineering background enables them to discuss technical aspects and assist in product planning, installation, and use. Supervisory engineers are responsible for major components or entire projects.

Engineers use computers extensively to produce and analyze designs; to simulate and test how a machine, structure, or system operates; and to generate specifications for parts. Many engineers also use computers to monitor product quality and control process efficiency. The field of nanotechnology, which involves the creation of high-performance materials and components by integrating atoms and molecules, also is introducing entirely new principles to the design process.

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