Lindsey
What kind of hours would you work as an engineer?
#engineering
4 answers
James Constantine Frangos
James Constantine’s Answer
Hope you're doing well!
As an engineer, the clock doesn't always follow the standard nine-to-five. The hours can shift based on the industry you're in, the company you work for, and the project you're tackling. Generally, engineers work full-time, which is usually around 40 hours a week. But sometimes, when deadlines are looming or unexpected problems pop up, engineers might need to put in some extra time. And in certain fields like construction or manufacturing, engineers might even find themselves working at odd hours, including evenings and weekends, to keep everything running smoothly.
Let's take a closer look at what influences an engineer's work hours:
1. Industry: The sector you're in can play a big role. For instance, if you're an engineer in the manufacturing industry, you might find yourself working longer hours during production times or when equipment needs fixing.
2. Project Deadlines: Tight deadlines can mean putting in some overtime to make sure everything gets done on time.
3. Field of Engineering: Different types of engineering can have different demands. Civil engineers working on construction projects, for example, might need to work irregular hours to keep an eye on progress and sort out any issues that come up.
4. Company Culture: The vibe of your workplace can also affect your hours. Some companies are more flexible, while others stick to a strict schedule.
5. Client Requirements: If you're in a client-facing role, you might need to sync your hours with your clients', which could mean working outside the usual office hours.
But don't worry, it's not all work and no play. Many companies understand the importance of a work-life balance and offer their engineers some flexibility. This could mean options for working from home, flexible scheduling, and paid time off. Plus, some companies actively encourage their employees to make sure they're not all work and no play.
So, in a nutshell, an engineer's work hours can change based on the industry, project needs, and company culture. Full-time work is the norm, but the exact hours can change based on a variety of factors.
I used the following top-notch resources to make sure this information is accurate:
1. Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET): A respected organization that offers insights into the world of engineering.
2. National Society of Professional Engineers (NSPE): A great source of information about engineering practices and standards.
3. American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE): A reliable source for info on civil engineering practices and industry trends.
Take care and God bless!
James
Pravish Kappakadavath
Pravish’s Answer
Great question. Usually it is 8 hours a day and 5 days a week, but sometimes depending on project we work extra hours and on weekends if the company requires something to be turned around very quickly or if some existing process breaks and a fix is needed immediately as it could be causing loss of service to customers or a loss of reputation to the company. Hope this helps.
Enzo Biasillo
Enzo’s Answer
It really depends on the company and industry you are working for and what project you may be assigned to. You could be working for a major defense contractor that are trying to meet a certain deadlines that would result in greater profitability for the company should they deliver early. This could result in an all hands on deck scenario where the entire team works 10 or even 12 hours a day for an extended period of time. The semiconductor industry is another where their engineers work and alternate work schedule with 12 hour shifts around the clock.
In general many employers have an eight hour day but to be a top performer and move up the ranks in the company it is not unrealistic to work 10 hour days.
Greg Roelofs
Greg’s Answer
Are you asking about duration-hours or hours of the day?
Duration-wise, it seems to work out to 8-10 hours a day in established companies where one is salaried (as opposed to paid by the hour). In startups it might be considerably more; they're frequently in a kind of desperation mode, trying to get a product (or a feature) out, writing press releases, hiring, trying to close on additional rounds of funding, etc. Engineers aren't necessarily directly involved in all of those aspects, but the smaller the company, the broader the range of tasks handled by any one person.
Hours of the day also varies widely and depends on the type of company. Startups might have super-flexible hours initially, but at some point they have to interact with investors or supply-chain companies or whatever, and that means having somewhat compatible hours. Companies with branches in other timezones may try to align the hours in each location for maximal overlap--or just the opposite, if they require 24x7 support. (It's much easier on everyone if the US engineers handle half the day and the India folks handle the other half; it's daytime for all involved.) I've worked in a fairly conservative semiconductor company, where almost everyone showed up between 7:30 and 9:30 and left about 9 hours later; I've also worked in a number of software companies, and they tend to be much more flexible. Currently I show up around 11:15 and knock off anywhere from 8:30 to 10:30pm, depending on how my project is going and how tired I am toward the end of the day. (I commute by bike, so avoiding traffic is a key goal for me.) I try to average 8 hours of actual work per day, but that can dip as low as 6.5 or go as high as 10.5 depending on various factors.