From the introduction:
An artificer is a master crafter, creator, and manipulator of both the most current developments of engineering and forgotten techniques lost in the fall of ancient civilizations. Many artificers explore how magic and engineering mix, developing complex powers of item imbuement and mastering crafting- and mechanicsrelated spells. Others eschew magic as a cheap trick that ignores the brilliance of pure engineering and crafting, or focus on alchemy and spagyric devices, or train to get more out of their tools and magical or powered devices, or kitbash and jury-rig what they need when they need it. Of course whatever direction an artificer takes when they first start, most branch out into a few different fields of crafting as they grow, learn, and experiment.