I understand entirely those of us, who will prefer strongly to have some reference-names for engine techs. That's space SF, that's cool! Moreover, I'd prefer to have ALL techs having some reference-names, not only branch-and-number names. But we have no such names for nigh-anything (except engines and laser wavelengths), and those we have - are artifacts, those does not correspond well with all other TN narrative.
The last of my VB campaigns, I had DB password and use it to change all tech names to smth like "*-Q smth" (tier numbers in the place of asterisk). Made quiet RP explanations of quantity of layers of some layered TN-composite materials, needed to build corresponding tech, and it was coherent enough to play and believe in it, to have a WORLD in my head. It was, really, a job of work to rename all those DB records coherently, having such a vague notion about game code and no game experience with late tiers mechanics, but it really was fun to play with this name scheme in the upshot.
So, I think it will be close to ideal to have basic branch-tier tech names, and to have reference-name schemes (and some default scheme with current power-and-propultion tech names), with some player interface to create your own name-scheme for techs, the same as for ships and ground units. It can be also a way co contribute in Aurora for us, uploading our schemes to compare and integrate at next release.
P.S. Sorry for my clumsy English, I hope it's still comprehensible in outline.