>Sanitation Engineer – otherwise known as a Garbage man in the U.S.A. or a Dustman in the U.K. Sometimes this refers to a man who works in the sewer.

This is probably the driver of the "sanitation engine", i.e. the garbage truck.

>Computer Science Engineer – hacker, coder, and programmer are sometimes used to describe this career.

Well there is an engine in every computer - the fan. Now with more and more chips overheating, we run multiple engines at the same time - in my box, there are four fans. Come to think of it, my box has a whole fan club :).

>I do not see a requirement for any term related to “software engineer” listed as a professional engineer.

Because the companies would gladly hire amateur engineers, if they would do the job and agree to be paid less.

>Calling someone an “engineer” might be a matter of prestige or perhaps reality. First we have to define what in fact an “engineer” is! As for the term “computer science”, what does science have to do with computers? So if someone wants to be called a computer science engineer so be it!

I've heard of fancy names being given to quite menial jobs. Our local brewery back home had a "beer technology engineer" - whose job was to load the crates into a truck :). Another one was "floor transportation automatician" - who presses a button and the sack automatically lands on his shoulder, only has to carry it away.

Along the same lines, some funny jobs were invented... like "night locksmith" (works with locks, night shift only), or "standalone commisioner for reception and followup of visitors with special clearance" - the porter (who's got the key to the main gate!).

>Computer programmers and people that work with computers are looking for a sense of legitimacy. Look at how often the terms to define this discipline have changed within the last 20 years. MIS, IS, IT, and the list goes on! What profession do we work under? Who knows but next week the term might change! That is what management gives you in place of a pay rise! I feel the prestige but I would rather see it in my pay check! :)

That's exactly the reason for such proliferation of fancy job names. They give you one instead of increasing your pay.