Development and use of an engineer profile

Abstract

Engineering educators, students, and practitioners possess "understandings" of what constitutes quality performance by the engineering professional. Misguided or mismatched understandings can lead to inappropriate career decisions, ineffective curriculum, and poor performance evaluations. This paper describes a process and defines the profile of an engineer performing well in professional practice. Developed with input from both academic and non-academic engineers, the profile presents technical, interpersonal, and professional skills or behaviors that align with key roles performed by the engineer. The profile is a valuable resource for educators and for students aspiring to become high performing professionals in the field of engineering.