I don't disagree but I think it's sad to see the word "engineering" used in this context. What you describe I would call highly optimized bullshit artistry.
Maybe the watering down of the term started with "social engineering". Engineers build things that do things and/or are built to last.
But then you're just changing who gets disparaged from a technical expert to an emotional one. If you're offended by the term engineering, may I suggest scheming? I think that would better convey the nefarious aspect of the term.
It started happening a long time before that. There was a popular meme in the 1980s where housewives humorously referred to themselves as “domestic engineers.”
Maybe the watering down of the term started with "social engineering". Engineers build things that do things and/or are built to last.