There are some restrictions on how and when you can use the term engineer in the US. I believe the way it works is that the are practice restrictions and title

There are some restrictions on how and when you can use the term engineer in the US. I believe the way it works is that the are practice restrictions and title restrictions. For instance, I wouldn't be allowed to call myself a Structural Engineer or practice as a Structural Engineer without the proper licensing. Industrial Engineering, on the other hand, is just a title restriction - you need to pass the Industrial Engineering PE to call yourself one, but there's no restriction on practice associated with it [1] But yeah, generally speaking, sticking the word "engineer" after something is allowed here. You can be a "special effects engineer" or a "sanitation engineer" or whatever. "Software Engineer" is actually controlled in a few states, though. One other thing to keep in mind is that in the US, elite universities like MIT, Stanford, Berkeley, and so forth typically offer a CS degree, but not a software engineering degree - though top CS programs are often ABET accredited. [1] http://www.bpelsg.ca.gov/applicants/appinstpe.shtml http://www.bpelsg.ca.gov/applicants/appinstpe.shtml