Yep. Not all computer programmers are software engineers, but there definitely are software engineers. Building high-scale systems that also achieve high-availability with no maintenance windows yadda yadda is a challenging problem that requires navigating tradeoffs using scientific principles in the same way as other branches of engineering.

Related: the article "They Write the Right Stuff", about the software engineers who worked on the Space Shuttle [1].

In the United States, the National Council of Examiners for Engineering and Surveying (NCEES), which is the organization of engineering licensing boards in all states, recognizes Software Engineering as a discipline of Professional Engineering [2]. Our industry does not ordinarily require certification as a professional engineer, and it is not normally required by law; however, if you look at the topics that the certification exam covers [3] -- intended for people with 4 years minimum industry experience -- they are all ones that I'd expect senior software engineers to have down pat.

[1] https://www.fastcompany.com/28121/they-write-right-stuff

[2] https://ncees.org/engineering/pe/software/

[3] https://ncees.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/SWE-Apr-2013.pd...