Appendix

Professional Engineer:
General Description of Role
Professional Engineers are required to take responsibility for engineering projects and programs in the most far-reaching sense.
This includes the reliable functioning of all materials, components, sub-systems and technologies used; their integration to form a
complete, sustainable and self-consistent system; and all interactions between the technical system and the context within which
it functions. The latter includes understanding the requirements of clients, wide ranging stakeholders and of society as a whole;
working to optimise social, environmental and economic outcomes over the full lifetime of the engineering product or program;
interacting effectively with other disciplines, professions and people; and ensuring that the engineering contribution is properly
integrated into the totality of the undertaking. Professional Engineers are responsible for interpreting technological possibilities to
society, business and government; and for ensuring as far as possible that policy decisions are properly informed by such
possibilities and consequences, and that costs, risks and limitations are properly understood as the desirable outcomes.

Professional Engineers are responsible for bringing knowledge to bear from multiple sources to develop solutions to complex
problems and issues, for ensuring that technical and non-technical considerations are properly integrated, and for managing risk
as well as sustainability issues. While the outcomes of engineering have physical forms, the work of Professional Engineers is
predominantly intellectual in nature. In a technical sense, Professional Engineers are primarily concerned with the advancement
of technologies and with the development of new technologies and their applications through innovation, creativity and change.
Professional Engineers may conduct research concerned with advancing the science of engineering and with developing new
principles and technologies within a broad engineering discipline. Alternatively, they may contribute to continual improvement in
the practice of engineering, and in devising and updating the codes and standards that govern it.

Professional Engineers have a particular responsibility for ensuring that all aspects of a project are soundly based in theory and
fundamental principle, and for understanding clearly how new developments relate to established practice and experience and to
other disciplines with which they may interact. One hallmark of a professional is the capacity to break new ground in an informed,
responsible and sustainable fashion.

Professional Engineers may lead or manage teams appropriate to these activities, and may establish their own companies or
move into senior management roles in engineering and related enterprises.

See Summary Statement in Section C

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Units and Elements of

Competency

PE1: Knowledge and Skill Base PE 1.5 Knowledge of contextual factors impacting the
engineering discipline.
PE 1.1 Comprehensive, theory based understanding of
the underpinning natural and physical sciences and the a) Identifies and understands the interactions between

engineering fundamentals applicable to the engineering engineering systems and people in the social,

discipline. cultural, environmental, commercial, legal and

political contexts in which they operate, including both
a) Engages with the engineering discipline at a the positive role of engineering in sustainable
phenomenological level, applying sciences and development and the potentially adverse impacts of
engineering fundamentals to systematic investigation, engineering activity in the engineering discipline.
interpretation, analysis and innovative solution of b) Is aware of the founding principles of human factors
complex problems and broader aspects of engineering relevant to the engineering discipline.
practice.
c) Is aware of the fundamentals of business and

PE 1.2 Conceptual understanding of the mathematics, enterprise management.

numerical analysis, statistics, and computer and d) Identifies the structure, roles and capabilities of the

information sciences which underpin the engineering engineering workforce.

discipline. e) Appreciates the issues associated with international
engineering practice and global operating contexts
a) Develops and fluently applies relevant investigation
analysis, interpretation, assessment, characterisation, PE 1.6 Understanding of the scope, principles, norms,
prediction, evaluation, modelling, decision making, accountabilities and bounds of contemporary
measurement, evaluation, knowledge management and engineering practice in the specific discipline.
communication tools and techniques pertinent to the
engineering discipline. a) Applies systematic principles of engineering design
relevant to the engineering discipline.
PE 1.3 In-depth understanding of specialist bodies of
b) Appreciates the basis and relevance of standards and
knowledge within the engineering discipline.
codes of practice, as well as legislative and statutory
requirements applicable to the engineering discipline.
a) Proficiently applies advanced technical knowledge and
skills in at least one specialist practice domain of the c) Appreciates the principles of safety engineering, risk

engineering discipline. management and the health and safety

responsibilities of the professional engineer,
PE 1.4 Discernment of knowledge development and including legislative requirements applicable to the
research directions within the engineering discipline. engineering discipline.
d) Appreciates the social, environmental and economic
a) Identifies and critically appraises current developments, principles of sustainable engineering practice.
advanced technologies, emerging issues and e) Understands the fundamental principles of
interdisciplinary linkages in at least one specialist practice engineering project management as a basis for
domain of the engineering discipline. planning, organising and managing resources.

b) Interprets and applies selected research literature to f) Appreciates the formal structures and methodologies

inform engineering application in at least one specialist of systems engineering as a holistic basis for
managing complexity and sustainability in
domain of the engineering discipline.
engineering practice.

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Notes: h) Interprets and ensures compliance with relevant

legislative and statutory requirements applicable to
a) ‘engineering discipline’ means the broad branch of
the engineering discipline.
engineering (civil, electrical, mechanical, etc.) as
typically represented by the Engineers Australia i) Investigates complex problems using research-based
Colleges. knowledge and research methods.

b) ‘specialist practice domain’ means the specific area of

knowledge and practice within an engineering discipline, PE 2.2 Fluent application of engineering techniques,
such as geotechnics, power systems, and tools and resources.
manufacturing.
a) Proficiently identifies, selects and applies the
materials, components, devices, systems, processes,
PE2: Engineering Application Ability
resources, plant and equipment relevant to the
PE 2.1 Application of established engineering methods engineering discipline.
to complex engineering problem solving. b) Constructs or selects and applies from a qualitative
description of a phenomenon, process, system,
a) Identifies, discerns and characterises salient issues,
component or device a mathematical, physical or
determines and analyses causes and effects, justifies
computational model based on fundamental scientific
and applies appropriate simplifying assumptions,
principles and justifiable simplifying assumptions.
predicts performance and behaviour, synthesises
c) Determines properties, performance, safe working
solution strategies and develops substantiated
limits, failure modes, and other inherent parameters
conclusions.
of materials, components and systems relevant to the
b) Ensures that all aspects of an engineering activity are
engineering discipline.
soundly based on fundamental principles - by
d) Applies a wide range of engineering tools for analysis,
diagnosing, and taking appropriate action with data,
simulation, visualisation, synthesis and design,
calculations, results, proposals, processes, including assessing the accuracy and limitations of
practices, and documented information that may be such tools, and validation of their results.
ill-founded, illogical, erroneous, unreliable or unrealistic.
e) Applies formal systems engineering methods to
c) Competently addresses engineering problems involving address the planning and execution of complex,
uncertainty, ambiguity, imprecise information and wide- problem solving and engineering projects.
ranging and sometimes conflicting technical and non-
f) Designs and conducts experiments, analyses and
technical factors. interprets result data and formulates reliable
d) Partitions problems, processes or systems into conclusions.
manageable elements for the purposes of analysis,
g) Analyses sources of error in applied models and
modelling or design and then re-combines to form a
experiments; eliminates, minimises or compensates
whole, with the integrity and performance of the overall
for such errors; quantifies significance of errors to any
system as the paramount consideration. conclusions drawn.
e) Conceptualises alternative engineering approaches and h) Safely applies laboratory, test and experimental
evaluates potential outcomes against appropriate procedures appropriate to the engineering discipline.
criteria to justify an optimal solution choice. i) Understands the need for systematic management of
f) Critically reviews and applies relevant standards and the acquisition, commissioning, operation, upgrade,
codes of practice underpinning the engineering monitoring and maintenance of engineering plant,

discipline and nominated specialisations. facilities, equipment and systems.

j) Understands the role of quality management systems,
g) Identifies, quantifies, mitigates and manages technical,
tools and processes within a culture of continuous
health, environmental, safety and other contextual risks
improvement.
associated with engineering application in the
designated engineering discipline.

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PE 2.3 Application of systematic engineering synthesis • checking the design solution for each element and
and design processes. the integrated system against the engineering

a) Proficiently applies technical knowledge and open specifications;

ended problem solving skills as well as appropriate • devising and documenting tests that will verify
tools and resources to design components, elements, performance of the elements and the integrated
systems, plant, facilities and/or processes to satisfy realisation;
user requirements. • prototyping/implementing the design solution and
b) Addresses broad contextual constraints such as social, verifying performance against specification;
cultural, environmental, commercial, legal political and • documenting, commissioning and reporting the
human factors, as well as health, safety and design outcome.
sustainability imperatives as an integral part of the d) Is aware of the accountabilities of the professional
design process. engineer in relation to the ‘design authority’ role.
c) Executes and leads a whole systems design cycle
approach including tasks such as: PE 2.4 Application of systematic approaches to the
conduct and management of engineering projects.
• determining client requirements and identifying the
impact of relevant contextual factors, including a) Contributes to and/or manages complex engineering
business planning and costing targets; project activity, as a member and/or as the leader of

• systematically addressing sustainability criteria; an engineering team.

• working within projected development, production b) Seeks out the requirements and associated resources
and implementation constraints; and realistically assesses the scope, dimensions,
scale of effort and indicative costs of a complex
• eliciting, scoping and documenting the required
engineering project.
outcomes of the design task and defining
c) Accommodates relevant contextual issues into all
acceptance criteria;
phases of engineering project work, including the
• identifying assessing and managing technical, fundamentals of business planning and financial
health and safety risks integral to the design management.
process; d) Proficiently applies basic systems engineering and/ or
• writing engineering specifications, that fully satisfy project management tools and processes to the
the formal requirements; planning and execution of project work, targeting the
• ensuring compliance with essential engineering delivery of a significant outcome to a professional
standards and codes of practice; standard.

• partitioning the design task into appropriate e) Is aware of the need to plan and quantify performance

modular, functional elements; that can be over the full life-cycle of a project, managing

separately addressed and subsequently integrated engineering performance within the overall

through defined interfaces; implementation context.

f) Demonstrates commitment to sustainable engineering
• identifying and analysing possible design
practices and the achievement of sustainable
approaches and justifying an optimal approach;
outcomes in all facets of engineering project work.
• developing and completing the design using
appropriate engineering principles, tools, and
PE3: Professional and Personal
processes; Attributes
• integrating functional elements to form a coherent
design solution; PE 3.1 Ethical conduct and professional
• quantifying the materials, components, systems, accountability.
equipment, facilities, engineering resources and
operating arrangements needed for implementation
of the solution;

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a) Demonstrates commitment to uphold the Engineers knowledge and systematic processes to evaluate and
Australia - Code of Ethics, and established norms of report potential.
professional conduct pertinent to the engineering c) Is aware of broader fields of science, engineering,
discipline. technology and commerce from which new ideas and
b) Understands the need for ‘due-diligence’ in certification, interfaces may be drawn and readily engages with
compliance and risk management processes. professionals from these fields to exchange ideas.
c) Understands the accountabilities of the professional
engineer and the broader engineering team for the PE 3.4 Professional use and management of
safety of other people and for protection of the information.
environment.
d) Is aware of the fundamental principles of intellectual a) Is proficient in locating and utilising information;
property rights and protection. including accessing, systematically searching,
analysing, evaluating and referencing relevant
PE 3.2 Effective oral and written communication in
published works and data; is proficient in the use of
professional and lay domains.
indexes, bibliographic databases and other search
a) Is proficient in listening, speaking, reading and writing facilities.
English, including: b) Critically assesses the accuracy, reliability and
authenticity of information.
• comprehending critically and fairly the viewpoints
c) Is aware of common document identification, tracking
of others;
and control procedures.
• expressing information effectively and succinctly,
issuing instruction, engaging in discussion,
PE 3.5 Orderly management of self and professional
presenting arguments and justification, debating and
conduct.
negotiating - to technical and non-technical
audiences and using textual, diagrammatic, pictorial
a) Demonstrates commitment to critical self-review and
and graphical media best suited to the context;
performance evaluation against appropriate criteria as
• representing an engineering position, or the
a primary means of tracking personal development
engineering profession at large to the broader
needs and achievements.
community;
• appreciating the impact of body language, personal b) Understands the importance of being a member of a

behavior and other non-verbal communication professional and intellectual community, learning from

processes, as well as the fundamentals of human its knowledge and standards, and contributing to their

social behavior and their cross-cultural differences. maintenance and advancement.

b) Prepares high quality engineering documents such as c) Demonstrates commitment to life-long learning and
progress and project reports, reports of investigations professional development.
and feasibility studies, proposals, specifications, design d) Manages time and processes effectively, prioritises
records, drawings, technical descriptions and competing demands to achieve personal, career and
presentations pertinent to the engineering discipline. organisational goals and objectives.
e) Thinks critically and applies an appropriate balance of
PE 3.3 Creative, innovative and pro-active demeanour.
logic and intellectual criteria to analysis, judgment and
a) Applies creative approaches to identify and develop decision making.
alternative concepts, solutions and procedures,
f) Presents a professional image in all circumstances,
appropriately challenges engineering practices from
including relations with clients, stakeholders, as well
technical and non-technical viewpoints; identifies new
as with professional and technical colleagues across
technological opportunities.
wide ranging disciplines.
b) Seeks out new developments in the engineering
discipline and specialisations and applies fundamental
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 Appendix

PE 3.6 Effective team membership and team leadership.

a) Understands the fundamentals of team dynamics and

leadership.
b) Functions as an effective member or leader of diverse
engineering teams, including those with multi-level,
multi-disciplinary and multi-cultural dimensions.
c) Earns the trust and confidence of colleagues through
competent and timely completion of tasks.
d) Recognises the value of alternative and diverse
viewpoints, scholarly advice and the importance of
professional networking.
e) Confidently pursues and discerns expert assistance and
professional advice.

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