It's really not. Professional engineers in disciplines have to sign their name to their designs in fields such as electrical, mechanical, structural and civil

It's really not. Professional engineers in disciplines have to sign their name to their designs in fields such as electrical, mechanical, structural and civil engineering, and can be held personally liable, monetarily, losing their license, and perhaps at the extreme end, criminally liable. Software "engineers" are not. Licensed Professional Engineers are also bound by a code of ethics by the appropriate industrial organization. e.g. for electrical engineers, you're bound by the IEEE code of ethics, even if you dont practice in the field. I'm a licensed electrical engineering intern (I've been a licensed EE intern for 16 years now), but work entirely with software; I've never worked as an EE, nor have I met the professional requirements to take the PE exam. I'm still professionally bound by the IEEE code of ethics. I have objected to certain "projects" over the years because of potential violations. I almost quit one job because I was being pressured to violate the code, but my boss was fired and the pressure disappeared. Such a licensing and accountability doesn't exist in software "engineering". That said, I do refer to myself as an engineer and not a developer, because, well, I am an engineer. I follow different practices than web developers because I work in finance and theres billions of dollars on the line if I fuck up. I also work at a firm that requires disclosure of any professional licenses and an attestation that you are in good standing with the governing body (which I am). Professional Engineer (Intern) its not on the list of options, so I always have to type it in, they're mostly looking for CPA types.