Since there is no standard definition of "engineering" in software, it is mostly driven by individual employers. If a potential employer wants to see you consta

Since there is no standard definition of "engineering" in software, it is mostly driven by individual employers. If a potential employer wants to see you constantly programming in your spare time and have a GitHub account than that's how they view their "engineering" practice. You don't necessarily have to agree. But put yourself in an employer's shoes for a minute. If you, as a candidate, are not a certified engineer who practices what essentially amounts to a form of pseudo-engineering and works in a field where a large number of people don't even have a relevant degree yet claim to be "engineers" how else is one supposed to make a decision about your technical chops?