I'm not sure I follow the distinction you're making. I can make things work, but I don't know if that makes them a good product.. I guess that's your point?
Its a founder/CEO/Top brass job to figure out the product and whether its a good one. Its an engineers job to make the thing. If you think you can make the thing, then you can get a job as an engineer. If you think you can LEARN to make the thing, you can get a job as an engineer.
His definition is probably "someone who makes stuff work." Yours is probably "an expert in his field."