It doesn't matter whether you call yourself a programmer or an engineer. In the software industry there is no standard for titles. They have misused this right

It doesn't matter whether you call yourself a programmer or an engineer. In the software industry there is no standard for titles. They have misused this right from the beginning. I am more upset that technical people are always seen as resources. You might feel you are building a great product and contributing to the great good. In reality, you are just a tool for someone to make money. You are an expendable resource who can be replaced in no time. The management does fear attrition and key people leaving, just because it is a problem for them and a risk for the business if key supporting people leave. It might give them a setback. But in reality the management in every company thinks that they can find some other guy with equivalent/better knowledge, experience and he can replace you. I sometimes fear that when I turn 60 and look back and realize that so many X no. of nights I spent was only to realize that I was eventually replace by someone and the top management people made a hell lot of money by selling the company.