Product engineering is the process of creating an object, device, article, assembly, or system. This definition applies to physical as well as software digital products, the entire lifecycle of an item must be negotiated by a product engineer. The production manufacturing process relies heavily upon product engineering. Product engineering involves overseeing many aspects of the commodity including but not limited to the quality, performance, cost, usability, reliability, lifespan, and serviceability. 

The role of a product engineer is critical to the creation of commodities, devices, and systems. Without product engineering, a product would just remain as an idea or non-functioning, non-reproducible model. The role of the product engineer is to connect the development and production teams with technical expertise and processes that are critical for bringing the object to life. A product engineer ensures the entity will reliably function and can be produced in a cost-effective manner.