You start with a handful of Tier 1 engineers who ask only that you meet a simple condition and hand in one item. Climbing each of them to grade 3–4 unlocks referrals to Tier 2, and Tier 2 referrals open Tier 3; permits and rank grinds gate the deepest tier. There are 38 engineers in all — 25 ship-side modifying hulls and modules, and 13 Odyssey engineers modifying suits and handheld weapons. This manual catalogues every one, grouped by tier, with the meeting requirement, unlock hand-in, referral chain and full blueprint list for each.
38
Engineers total
25
Ship-side
13
Odyssey / on-foot
8
In Colonia (22 kly)
01
What the Engineers Are
Primer
The Engineers are secretive, eccentric specialists who modify your ship's weapons and modules — and, in Odyssey, your suits and handheld weapons — to exceed their baseline performance. Each works out of a Workshop on a planetary surface (you need a Planetary Approach Suite to land); turn up without an invitation and the site treats you as trespassing and opens fire.
Engineering is how a stock ship becomes a capable one — a longer-jumping FSD, harder-hitting weapons, tougher armour, cooler-running power. You don't buy a finished upgrade: you spend materials (scavenged from wrecks, missions, scans, mining and planetary sites) to roll a blueprint onto a module at a chosen grade. Every engineer offers their own blueprints and is unlocked and ranked separately.
How an engineer works
Unlock — meet the invite requirement and hand in the unlock item to gain access. The five Tier-1 ship engineers need only a simple condition; Tier 2 and Tier 3 are reached by referrals from engineers you've already climbed — the tree this manual maps.
Reputation, grades 1–5 — each ship engineer levels through five grades as you craft with them, and the stronger rolls unlock at the higher grades. Buying modifications builds reputation; some engineers also take commodities, exploration data or bounty vouchers.
Roll a blueprint — spend materials to apply a modification. A roll's downside is fixed for its grade; the upside improves the more materials you invest.
Experimental effects — at the Workshop you can spend extra materials to add one experimental effect on top of a modification for a further edge.
Pin for remote use — pin one blueprint per engineer and re-roll it later at any station with a Remote Workshop, no return trip needed.
Odyssey is different — the 13 on-foot engineers modify suits and handheld weapons and grant their mods immediately on meeting the requirement — no grade grind.
Unlock them in the right order
Because Tier 2/3 access is gated behind referrals, permits and rank, the order you tackle engineers in matters. The Unlock Run checklist sequences all 38 into one dependency-correct trip — the ideal way to unlock the whole roster without backtracking. This manual is the reference for who's who; the Unlock Run is the route.
02
How to read this manual
Legend
Engineers are grouped by tier and side (ship vs on-foot). A coloured left edge marks each one's side, with permit-locked engineers flagged separately. Referral names are clickable — they jump straight to that engineer's entry.
Left-edge colour
Ship-side — hull & module engineering
Odyssey — suit & weapon engineering
Permit-locked — needs a system permit first
Tiers
Tier 1 — entry; no referral needed
Tier 2 — reached by a Tier 1 referral
Tier 3 — deep tier; referral + often a permit
Colonia — 22,000 ly out, on the expedition
Card fields
Meeting req — the condition to get the invite
Unlock hand-in — what you turn in to open them
Refers you to — who climbing them unlocks
Mods offered — the blueprints they grant
03
Ship Engineers — Tier 1
SHIP-SIDE · 5
The entry tier. No referral or permit gates — meet a simple requirement, hand in one item, and you are in. These five open every downstream chain.
1× Meta Alloy (buy at Darnielle's Progress, Maia, ~80k CR).
Notes
A natural home base — Deciat sits close to the core systems and you'll return here constantly. Pin Increased Range to re-roll FSDs remotely at any workshop.
In-Game Description
She is a well-known explorer, although she is rumoured to have once been a deadly assassin before heading out into the black. Some claim she needed to 'cool off' after a high-profile case, so went exploring, but Elvira denies it. She is fascinated by all things alien and has become expert at spotting human fakes. She believes in being self-sufficient, and her tight-knit group grows all their own food.
3× Soontill Relics (sold only at Garry's Reclamations, Cheranovsky City, Ngurii).
Notes
Don't over-invest materials here — she is a stepping stone, not a destination.
In-Game Description
She is a legendary explorer who engineered her own improvements to her Asp Explorer early in her career. She is willing to share some of that knowledge with fellow explorers and also operates an extensive training programme for technicians and mechanics heading out into the black. She based herself at her father's mining and refinery facility, though in fact her operation is separate.
If you lack the 5-black-market prereq, buy 1t of anything in any Anarchy system and dump it on that station's black market, five times.
In-Game Description
A mysterious contact in the Aganippe underworld. No-one knows his background, and he and his small group of like-minded individuals closely guard his identity and that of their best customers. He is renowned for custom modifications for local criminal elements, and is known to help outsiders who have the right contacts.
100,000 CR worth of bounty vouchers (any faction).
Notes
30 minutes of bounty hunting at any RES near a Nav Beacon clears both the meeting and unlock requirements at once.
In-Game Description
He earned his nickname from a successful season in the CQC Arena. Since then he's garnered further fame as a bounty hunter, flying a Fer-de-Lance with seriously overpowered multi-cannons. He's always happy to help fellow bounty hunters. For his current venture he's teamed up with some old CQC friends to form a custom modification enterprise.
200× Landmines (buy at Eurybia, Lave, or Diaguandri).
Notes
Run Blue Mafia missions out of Eurybia to reach Cordial reputation, then turn in the Engineer Invitation Contract.
In-Game Description
A demolitions expert who used to work for Devastator and Sons, but left to work for a crime syndicate known as the Blue Mafia. Some claim she had a personal relationship with a member of the syndicate and was forced to leave when the connection was discovered, starting Demolition Unlimited. The syndicate quickly saw the merits of her ability and helped grow her team into something much bigger.
04
Ship Engineers — Tier 2
SHIP-SIDE · 6
Reached by referral from a Tier 1 engineer once you climb them to grade 3–4. The bulk of the game's combat and shield workhorses live here.
100,000–1,000,000 CR worth of Federal Combat Bonds.
Notes
Combat Bonds come from Federal Conflict Zones, not bounties — bring a combat ship.
In-Game Description
An ambitious combat specialist whose father was a pilot in a mercenary wing. He followed in his father's footsteps operating with the wing, and believes in careful preparation before any combat. After retiring from combat he set up a base of operations to focus on his passion for engineering.
10× Painite (core-mine it; the Borann runs count toward the 500t).
Notes
Requires the Tod McQuinn referral first. The Type-11mining vessel is the natural ship for the 500t / Painite grind.
In-Game Description
A former miner, Selene has a talent for improving a ship's hull defence, although she only offers her services to fellow prospectors. She's rumoured to be the daughter of a rock hermit, but rarely talks about her childhood. As a counterpoint to her secluded upbringing she has gathered a robust, trusted team, mostly fellow ex-prospectors.
Overcharged needs Selenium at G3 — trade for it at a Raw trader (no direct farm; 6:1 from capped G4s). You already hold the Kamitra Cigars.
In-Game Description
Her talent with power-management systems was evident from an early age. She grew up with the Jet Rats gang, keeping in close communication with them, but will also help those friendly with the gang. In turn they assigned anyone with sufficient technical ability to work and learn from her. Since their demise she has found favour with a mysterious imperial benefactor.
200× Gold (buy from any high-tech / industrial market).
In-Game Description
He grew up in a trade clan of tramp traders, learning engineering on the job and discovering an affinity for shield technology. Even though he receives regular offers, he won't leave his family. He is willing to help fellow traders and has built a large operation over the years, with other family members running a scrapping and rebuilding business on the same site.
25× Modular Terminals (mission rewards only — not buyable).
Notes
Get Allied with Sirius Corp via missions, take the permit mission, then wait for the invite mission to spawn (try O'Brien Vision). Modular Terminals farm best from passenger missions in High-Tech / Boom systems. Note: courting Uma Laszlo later requires LOWERING Sirius rep, so don't over-invest.
In-Game Description
An ex Sirius Corp. tech guru. Such is his technical talent that he's allowed some latitude with what he works on and who he works with, as long as Sirius Corp receive the appropriate recognition. They support his efforts by maintaining a significant base for him to operate from.
Zacariah has been at the centre of a small cult-like commune for decades, the Nemo Cyber Party. Rumour has it he has a cyber-enhanced brain that can take vast information dumps directly to it. His skill with weapons manufacturing is made available to those favoured by the Party, and he has attracted a growing group of 'cyber-freaks' usually shunned in normal society.
05
Ship Engineers — Tier 3
SHIP-SIDE · 10
The deep tier — most sit behind a permit or a rank grind, and all need a Tier 2 referral. Includes Broo Tarquin, Professor Palin and Ram Tah.
50× Aberrant Shield Pattern Analysis (encoded — scan ships in combat, or trade up).
In-Game Description
No one knows The Sarge's real name and he won't reveal it, even to close friends. He's an ex-Federal Navy specialist who worked closely with the now-defunct Colonial Drones Corporation, and later with the drone division of Core Dynamics, tweaking drone controllers and long-range patrol support systems. His reputation has attracted followers who learn from him.
1–10M CR worth of Federal Combat Bonds (bank ~10M to be safe).
Notes
The Sol permit drops out of the Federal Navy Petty Officer rank grind.
In-Game Description
Colonel Bris Dekker retired with full honours a decade ago. He served as a Federal Navy officer in an elite recon squadron and has an almost natural affinity for frame shift technology. Even in retirement the navy call on him to evaluate changes or upgrades, and his facility has been vastly upgraded to support the training courses he provides.
50× Lavian Brandy (buy in the Lave system; illegal in some Federal space).
Notes
Merchant rank comes naturally from the old Robigo runs — you likely already have it.
In-Game Description
Didi's father died several decades ago as a result of a shield-booster malfunction. Since then she has dedicated her life to making shield boosters safer. In recent years her success has been such that she now lives in luxury, with a team of dedicated mechanics helping to implement her designs.
50× Bromellite (sub-surface mine it in icy rings).
In-Game Description
Bill Turner claims to be the son of the famous but elusive late Mic Turner, and despite his young age he's reputed to be a wizard with utilities and plasma accelerators.
Competent is ~3–4 hours of bounty hunting if you're not there yet — and it's on the way to the Corvette's combat rank.
In-Game Description
Broo Tarquin was the founder of Dead-Eye Defence Systems, now part of Thule Industries. Since retiring from his role as chief designer, he spends his days tinkering in his workshop and drinking exotic tea. Others have joined him in his work, and his workshop has expanded into a wider operation, making components from their own smelted alloys.
50× Decoded Emission Data (encoded — scan ship wakes, or trade up).
Notes
The Achenar permit drops out of the Imperial Navy Squire rank grind.
In-Game Description
An electronic-engineering genius rumoured to be the illegitimate child of an Imperial Guard officer. Her own military career was cut short when the circumstances of her birth were revealed, resulting in her expulsion from the guard. Many in her unit demonstrated their loyalty by joining her once they'd completed their service.
The Booster itself is a tech-broker module build at a Guardian site, not a graded blueprint.
In-Game Description
Ram Tah has travelled as far as it is possible to go in the galaxy. Over the years he has collected many strange and unusual items, and is always eager to acquire something new and unknown from the black. On his travels he learned the value of limpets and various defence mechanisms, and spent many years perfecting his craft in improving them.
The 5,000 ly meeting requirement is cleared trivially by the Colonia expedition.
In-Game Description
Professor Palin spent the early part of his career in the Federation, but in 3301 decided to establish an independent institute dedicated to studying the Thargoids. The following year he set up a research base focused on developing new defence technologies. He continues to research the Thargoids in Arque, and is considered one of the galaxy's foremost experts on Thargoid technology.
One of the great-granddaughters of John Jameson, the most famous Pilots Federation member ever. She is an accomplished explorer in her own right and has developed various techniques for improved automated systems. Her facility is popular with those preparing ships for extended deep-space operations, and she ensures pleasant surroundings while they await their upgrades.
Effectively a duplicate of Professor Palin — the same grade-5 Thrusters (Dirty Drive) line. Reached via a Marco Qwent referral; generally skipped unless a second thruster engineer is wanted.
In-Game Description
Chloe Sedesi served a number of artificer apprenticeships before joining Professor Ishmael Palin's staff as a mechanic. She swiftly became a vital team member, displaying remarkable aptitude across technical disciplines. When the Witch Head enclave was established, she resigned from Palin's team and, with his blessing, travelled to Cinder Dock to offer the techniques she had learned at the Palin Research Institute.
06
Ship Engineers — Colonia
SHIP-SIDE · 4
22,000 ly from the bubble. Niche grade-5 specialists reached on the Colonia expedition. Mel Brandon is a nine-module one-stop worth the trip.
Petra Olmanova was a specialist combat technician believed killed in an explosion at Consolidated Plasma Corp's primary research facility. She survived relatively unscathed and resurfaced some time later as a freelancer. Her base has since become a sanctuary, and she spurns social interaction unless business is involved.
A specialist in laser-based weaponry, shields, frame shift drives and engines. He was dishonourably discharged from the Federal Defence Force for disobeying a senior officer who ordered a combat strike on a labour protest, but he was popular in the service and retains useful contacts. Many of his comrades-in-arms have since joined him in his business.
25× Occupied Escape Pods (illegal salvage — hand in at a Colonia anarchy).
In-Game Description
Etienne Dorn used to be the lead shield engineer for Kraken Shield Specialists, but these days he's mostly self-employed. He still shares developments with his former employers, but usually offers products to private clients first — for the right price. His success has let him develop state-of-the-art facilities, but he prefers to work with robots to maintain his seclusion.
10× mined Osmium (laser-mine in any metallic ring).
In-Game Description
Marsha Hicks has been in and out of more penitentiaries than she can count. She decided to go straight and move out to Colonia after the death of her daughter, when the Thargoids attacked Bhal. She doesn't like dealing with people, but everyone has to make a living, and working as an engineer is better than going back to jail.
07
Odyssey Engineers — Tier 1
ON-FOOT / ODYSSEY · 3
On-foot (suit & handheld weapon) engineering. Three entry engineers, each opening one of the three Odyssey referral chains.
Orphaned at the age of seven, Domino was placed in a public-relations initiative by the Rockforth Corporation, which housed and educated her but expected her to work for Rockforth as an adult. While displaying a prodigious talent for technology, she also lacked discipline and proved highly irreverent. She was dismissed as a poor investment and now operates a workshop established with her family inheritance.
Little is known of Hero's history, and it is widely believed she operates under a pseudonym. She is skilled with weapons modification and demonstrates a keen knowledge of military-grade technology, but appears comfortable in the relatively sedate world of engineering. When not upgrading equipment, Hero practises traditional calligraphy and watercolour techniques.
The son of a freedom fighter killed defending his home system, Jude entered military service as soon as he was able, to continue his family's struggle. Years of resistance in an under-equipped militia wore on him until injuries forced him to retire. Jude now puts his engineering talents to use for private clients, but is rumoured to send much of it to family and former comrades.
08
Odyssey Engineers — Tier 2
ON-FOOT / ODYSSEY · 3
Reached by referral from an Odyssey Tier 1. Mid-grade suit and weapon modifications.
Politically conscientious from adolescence, Kit has a reputation for indulging fringe ideologies and conspiracy. An aptitude for engineering makes it easy for him to find work; this income funds an independent broadcast called 'End Times' that serves as a platform for his paranoid rants and apocalyptic predictions.
From an early age Beck demonstrated a prodigious talent for the sciences, flourishing at the prestigious Dormu Academy and earning several advanced degrees. He briefly worked for the Sirius Corporation, but the relationship did not last, due to a reported difficulty working as part of a team. Using the credits earned from Sirius, Beck established an independent workshop to pursue more personal projects.
As the only daughter of a prosperous entrepreneur, Terra was born into extraordinary wealth, but a rebellious streak led her to reject the expectations placed upon her. She fled home, falling in with an antiauthoritarian group that engaged in a string of daring robberies. One failed heist and a decade of incarceration later, Terra operates an independent workshop and claims to have left her criminal past behind.
09
Odyssey Engineers — Tier 3
ON-FOOT / ODYSSEY · 3
Top-tier on-foot mods. Note Uma Laszlo requires you to LOWER Sirius rep — which conflicts with the Li Yong-Rui pledge often used for the Marco Qwent shortcut.
Hailing from a nation where technology is considered a gateway to spiritual fulfillment, Baltanos serves his church in spreading its transhumanist creed. Many cybernetic implants have altered — or 'blessed' — his ability to manipulate components, facilitating a successful engineering career. Eager to complete a long pilgrimage to humanity's furthest reaches, he now functions as a missionary from his Colonia workshop.
Born and raised in a starport within a feudalist system, Rosa had few obvious skills in her youth, but had a passion for mechanical things, fascinated by the constant stream of ships outside her apartment window. With donated, swapped and refurbished tools she began to tinker and reverse-engineer the gadgets at home. Her natural talent blossomed into patching up suits and equipment for neighbours, friends, and eventually the whole station.
Complete the referral tasks for Baltanos, Bresa and Dayette.
Modifications offered
Audio Masking
Headshot Damage
Quieter Footsteps
Night Vision
Refers you to
— none —
Unlock hand-in
Referrals from all three Colonia on-foot engineers.
In-Game Description
No biographical record available in-game.
11
Sources
Figures on this page are verified against the sources below.
Inara — EngineersEngineer unlock requirements, meeting prerequisites, hand-in items, locations, and referral chains for all 38.inara.cz/elite/engineers
EDCD coriolis-dataEngineer roster cross-referenced against the open data set; blueprint and modification grades each engineer offers.coriolis-data/modifications/blueprints.json
Elite Dangerous Fandom WikiEngineer biographies, lore, in-game descriptions, unlock-mechanics cross-checks, and the engineer portrait images used on this page.elite-dangerous.fandom.com/wiki/Engineers
EDSMEngineer base systems & workshop bodies — Deciat, Khun, Wyrd and the rest of the location coordinates.edsm.net/en/engineers
YouTube — Mile 13 GamingEngineering tutorial: unlocking engineers, planning module upgrades, and using the ED Engineer app to map grinds.youtube.com/watch?v=rpDnVdgqPhs
YouTube — Down to Earth AstronomyLivestream walkthrough of unlocking the Odyssey on-foot engineers, covering invite conditions and unlock steps.youtube.com/watch?v=wIwoH_1LlsM
YouTube — Down to Earth AstronomyLivestream walkthrough of unlocking the Colonia-region engineers, covering invite requirements and the trek out to Colonia.youtube.com/watch?v=8mGi8W5mnXw
