What is an engineer?

Here is my definition:

An engineer is a person with an engineering degree.

One of my pet peeves (other than people who actually use the words pet peeve) is when a person tells me "I don't do real engineering" or "I'm not really an engineer". This absolutely drives me crazy. It is like there is this perception that to be a real engineer you have to be doing design work or something.

Here is the list that most books use to describe the functions of an engineer:

Design
Develop
Testing
Production
Operations
Management
Marketing
Consulting
Teaching
Research

Well I challenge you to find a job that isn't on this list! (Other than working at McDonalds or something similar). Just about every job falls into one of these categories...so if you happen to have an engineering degree and perform one of these functions you ARE an engineer.

To me, being an engineer is a mindset. It is using our creative abilities to do good things for people. Our education prepares us to do this. The way in which we go about it is our own choice. The broad spectrum of opportunities is incredible.

I've had many people say to me "you are not a real engineer, you are a teacher". Is that so? Teacher seems to be on the list above. The state of Minnesota let me use four years of teaching to qualify me to take the Professional Engineers exam. An exam I passed. So the community of professional engineers considers me to a licensed real engineer.

TBL: Earning an engineering degree is one of the most significant accomplishments you will have in life. Wear that badge proudly. Don't diminish what you do as being anything less than being an engineer.