Morels, Jaipur, and Patchwork all fit that bill. If you want a little more meat in the game 13 Days and Eminent Domain Microcosm are a bit more thinky while still being small and lighter.

My wife and I like Dairyman. It is a light push-your-luck dice game with a drop of engine building.

I think Splendor Duel and and Seven Wonders Duel fit that description for me. Both really well thought out and specifically two players designed card based engine building games.