Exploring Professional Identity Formation Among Engineers Working in Multidisciplinary Environments
Keywords:
Professional identity formation, engineers, multidisciplinary teams, qualitative research, thematic analysis, Tehran, boundary crossingAbstract
This study aimed to explore how engineers working in multidisciplinary organizational environments construct, negotiate, and sustain their professional identity through daily interactions with diverse occupational groups. A qualitative research design was used to examine engineers’ lived and interpreted experiences of professional identity formation. The participants were 24 engineers working in multidisciplinary project environments in Tehran, Iran. Participants were selected through purposive sampling based on their direct involvement in projects requiring collaboration with professionals from different disciplinary backgrounds, including management, architecture, finance, information technology, environmental science, and regulatory affairs. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews lasting 45 to 75 minutes. Interviews continued until theoretical saturation was achieved. All interviews were audio-recorded with participants’ consent, transcribed verbatim, and analyzed using thematic analysis. NVivo software was used to organize transcripts, assign codes, compare categories, and develop final themes. The analysis generated five main categories: negotiating technical expertise within collaborative work, translating engineering knowledge across disciplinary boundaries, seeking recognition and legitimacy in multidisciplinary teams, integrating ethical and social responsibility into engineering identity, and developing a hybrid professional self. Participants described professional identity formation as a dynamic process shaped not only by technical competence but also by communication, boundary work, organizational recognition, and the ability to align engineering judgment with broader social, economic, and environmental expectations. The findings suggest that engineers in multidisciplinary settings form their professional identities through continuous negotiation between disciplinary expertise and collaborative adaptability. Professional identity was strengthened when engineers experienced recognition, meaningful participation, ethical agency, and opportunities to translate technical knowledge for non-engineering stakeholders. Organizations should support identity development by creating inclusive project cultures, clarifying professional roles, and valuing both technical and relational dimensions of engineering practice.
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