Early ingeniators together with guilds, craftsmen and artisans developed over the past 2500 years into the engineering team we know today:
- Engineering Researchers
- Engineers,
- Certified Engineers,
- Engineering Technologists,
- Engineering Technicians,
- Engineering Draftsmen,
- Supervisors,
- Inspectors and
- Artisans (read about the different types of engineering artisans)
Each of these team members has a specific role to fulfill in shaping the environment and improving the lives of people. The roles are differentiated by the level of fundamental and specialist knowledge as well as the level at which competencies such as problem solving is practised e.g.
- The Engineer is the science-based problem solver, developer of new technology and pioneer of innovative applications.
- The Engineering Technologist is responsible for applying established technologies when solving problems
- The Engineering Technician performs established procedures in the support of engineering applications
For more detail on the difference in work click here.
Although most engineering professionals engage in problem solving, a significant number are engineering scientists who perform basic and applied research. Another large number apply their competencies as entrepreneurs and business managers.
