[wondringaloud]

She developed a prototype based on a hunch and a whim. Great work, no doubt, but engineering isn't based on intuition and some experience. Real engineering has a goal or specification in mind, and then proves through modeling, analysis, and _finally_ testing that it meets those specs.

Whipping something up and then seeing what it's capable of doesn't qualify.

[kragen]

"Whipping something up and then seeing what it's capable of" in simulation or prototype is also known as "modeling and analysis". Prototypes and testing are definitely a valid, even central, part of engineering.