Engel has a background in private enterprise, having served as vice president of research and development for a small high-technology firm in Texas and as founder and president of CaaGE Industries. At MU, he has taught both graduate and undergraduate courses in circuits, systems, electrical machines, energy conversion, pulsed power engineering, high voltage engineering and advanced mathematics. His current research includes pulse power, energy conversion, electromagnetic launchers and electromechanics. Engel owns several U.S. patents, copyrights and disclosures and has consulted for academia, industry and federal agencies. His publication record includes more than 75 journal, conference and book publications.