Engineering, main engineering, or the engine room was the location from which the ship's main power systems were controlled. Engineering was the primary assignment of engineers and chief engineers.

Engineering's primary purpose was to be the central point for control of all engineering systems aboard a starship, especially those related to propulsion and power generation. The matter/antimatter reaction chamber (also known as the warp core) was usually located in engineering.

Engineering could also be used as a command-and-control center, overriding primary centers such as the bridge or auxiliary control.