My professional career has been devoted to academic teaching and research in the field of Mechanical Engineering, specifically Computational Mechanics and Numerical Methods, and currently I am an Invited Auxiliary Professor at the Faculty of Engineering of the University of Porto. In 2008, I concluded my master thesis entitled Modelo Computacional para a Fractura baseado no Conceito de Elementos Finitos Generalizados, in which the Extended Finite Element Method (XFEM) is explored within the context of fracture problems with localized plasticity. This work was further extended during my PhD, were I developed a model for ductile fracture combining Continuum Damage Mechanics and XFEM. This model was able, not only to describe material stages of elasticity, plasticity and softening, but also to represent discrete fracture surfaces in locations not known a priori. It relied on several advanced numerical methods, such as the Finite Element Method in a finite strain formulation, non-local integral formulations, partition of unity methods and B-spline interpolation. More recently, I have been working with data-driven models, applied to fracture problems, casting problems and coupled thermo-mechanical problems. Thus, my research involves the development and application of new mathematical and numerical models, which requires high-level abstract thinking. Throughout the years, I have been reflecting upon my research activity and faced several philosophical questions, for instance: In which conditions do numerical simulations provide epistemic goods such as evidence and justification? How far can computer simulations replace experiments in theory validation? Do data-driven models have ontological implications? In order to help me to approach these questions, I decided to take some bachelor and master subjects in philosophy. However, while conducting philosophical research on data-driven models in the philosophy of science, I realized that these topics are seldom discussed in the available literature. Moreover, philosophy of engineering is a very recent topic but the strong role of engineering activities in science production, policy-making, and societal changes have fostered the need for an intensive conceptual and methodological understanding of the subject. Thus, based on my previous scientific experience and my philosophical research, I am confident that I can positively contribute to this debate by establishing a multidisciplinary project on philosophy and engineering.