Engineering is “non core” right up to the time when it isn’t. However by then the executives responsible will have taken their bonuses, shares and superannuation and retired.
I was offered this “bargain “ - think short term and be handsomely rewarded for it, by my first employer, Exxon. I quit when I realised that I was the patsy if there was an accident on my watch.
If the proverbial hits the fan, we have no engineering capacity in this country, just like 1939.