How about making it so that when you have the blueprint, you don't have to go back to the engineer. That is the point of blueprint, any mechanic can use it with the right materials. Engineers develop things, not install them, that's a job for technician. How many people in the galaxy can these 15 people service anyway?
How about that you don't have to scavenge or cannibalize ships to acquire materials like some kind of savage but can buy them if you got the cash like civilized people instead? I mean some components can be only taken from particular ships which you can buy, but you are not allowed to buy the components themselves? What exactly is the problem with buying a chemical, alloy or mechanical component that is regularly used and can often be bought in another form anyway?
How about some logic? One of the reasons I bought the game was high level of realism, I could do with diablo style randomization if developers see a gameplay value in it, but the inability to use markets to get what you need in 34th century mostly capitalistic galaxy is pure arcade and brings nothing but discomfort and boredom you simply have to endure, not enjoy.
