Writing has become a key professional skill for engineers. Accordingly, the requirements profile for engineering professions has also changed. But what specific competencies does this new professional image demand? More detailed knowledge about the specifics of professional writing for engineers is necessary to create a workplace-related communication profile. The author addresses the following questions: How do engineers write in their profession? How and for what purpose are technical texts written, and in what professional context are they used? Results from writing research form the theoretical foundation for a qualitative investigation. Initial data were gathered through participant observation of three professionals. Based on the insights from this exploratory phase, a semi-standardized approach was developed.