In the attempt to make tha highest QL items, it seems that engineers could use the help of trades armor (similar to med clothes).
This method of making them is as follows (Using body as an example, but is repeatable for other armor parts):
1. Hack Cyber Body Armor since I find it at every QL. -> Hacked Cyber Body Armor (Required 4.0 BE / QL and 4.0 CL / QL)
2. Hack a QFT Tutor -> Hacked QFT Tutor (Requires 4.25 BE/QL and 4.00 CL/QL to Hack)
3. Hack a MechEng Tutor -> Hacked ME Tutor (Requires 4.25 BE/QL and 4.00 CL/QL to Hack)
4. Hack a ElectEng Tutor -> Hacked ElectEng Tutor (Requires 4.25 BE/QL and 4.00 CL/QL to Hack)
5. Hack a WeapSmith Tutor -> Hacked WeapSmith Tutor (Requires 4.25 BE/QL and 4.00 CL/QL to Hack)
6. Hack a Pharma Tutor -> Hacked Pharma Tutor (Requires 4.25 BE/QL and 4.00 CL/QL to Hack)
7. Hack a CompLit Tutor -> Hacked CompLit Tutor (Requires 4.25 BE/QL and 4.00 CL/QL to Hack)
8. Hack a Chem Tutor -> Hacked Chem Tutor (Requires 4.25 BE/QL and 4.00 CL/QL to Hack)
9. Hack a NP Tutor -> Hacked NP Tutor (Requires 4.25 BE/QL and 4.00 CL/QL to Hack)
10. Add Hacked QFT Tutor to Hacked Cyber Body Armor -> Stage 1 Trade Body Armor (Requires 2 QFT / QL)
11. Add Hacked ME Tutor to Stage 1 Trade Body Armor -> Stage 2 Trade Body Armor (Requires 2 ME / QL)
12. Add Hacked EE Tutor to Stage 2 Trade Body Armor -> Stage 3 Trade Body Armor (Requires 2 EE / QL)
13. Add Hacked WS Tutor to Stage 3 Trade Body Armor -> Stage 4 Trade Body Armor (Requires 2 WS / QL)
14. Add Hacked Pharma Tutor to Stage 4 Trade Body Armor -> Stage 5 Trade Body Armor (Requires 2 Pharma / QL)
15. Add Hacked CL Tutor to Stage 5 Trade Body Armor -> Stage 6 Trade Body Armor (Requires 2 CL / QL)
16. Add Hacked Chem Tutor to Stage 6 Trade Body Armor -> Stage 7 Trade Body Armor (Requires 2 Chem / QL)
17. Add Hacked NP Tutor to Stage 7 Trade Body Armor -> Trade Body Armor (Requires 2 NP / QL)
Stats should be as follows:
Helm +10 to Trade Skills at QL200, +1 at QL1
Body +20 to Trade Skills at QL200, +1 at QL1
Gloves +8 to Trade Skills at QL200, +1 at QL1
Pants +16 to Trade Skills at QL200, +1 at QL1
Sleeves +8 to Trade Skills at QL200, +1 at QL1
Boots +10 to Trade Skills at QL200, +1 at QL1
Max total is +80 at QL 200.
Requirements are same as Cyber Armor, but level > 75% of Armor QL (and optionally, must be engineer)