Abstract: In order to provide effective suggestions for the future development of engineering education, the paper studies the basic problems of engineering education by following the idea that “theoretical exploration goes before practical analysis”. The study finds that engineering is closely related to science and technology, and the similarities and differences between them should be clarified to make the cultivation of engineering talents more targeted. And it is necessary to pay attention to the constraints of many factors on engineering education, such as political and economic environment and systems, concepts of talents, disciplinarity and engineering ethics. Based on the current problems of engineering education in China, and combined with the requirements of the new round of industrial revolution for engineering talents, this paper puts forward suggestions at different levels for the future development of engineering education and cultivation of engineering talents in China: on the macro level, we should attach importance to the close cooperation between the government, industry and enterprises, and universities, and on the micro level, we should emphasize the construction of teaching staff and curriculum reform.