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Life as an Engineer?
What is the typical day in the life of an engineer?
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7 answers
Updated
Vamshee’s Answer
Your question is very broad. As there many engineering disciplines and many different roles in each discipline.
Not all jobs are same and some are more fun than other..some are more complex ..some are not the hard ..
I work in Wireless Communications Industry, my role is to design wireless network solutions, prioritize the projects, get the funding, do presentations, testing the wireless network, provide wireless coverage to new communities/areas, improve the customer experience, solve the wireless customer issues (drop calls, no coverage, low speeds etc.), use different Sofware tools/systems that are specific to wireless network or my job function.
Engineer role in general involves solving problems, providing solutions, designing a product, maintaining the system, supporting the sales and marketing, programming, building a new system/project etc., researching.
If you are interested in specific engineering discipline & role, then we can tailor the answer to that discipline or role.
Not all jobs are same and some are more fun than other..some are more complex ..some are not the hard ..
I work in Wireless Communications Industry, my role is to design wireless network solutions, prioritize the projects, get the funding, do presentations, testing the wireless network, provide wireless coverage to new communities/areas, improve the customer experience, solve the wireless customer issues (drop calls, no coverage, low speeds etc.), use different Sofware tools/systems that are specific to wireless network or my job function.
Engineer role in general involves solving problems, providing solutions, designing a product, maintaining the system, supporting the sales and marketing, programming, building a new system/project etc., researching.
If you are interested in specific engineering discipline & role, then we can tailor the answer to that discipline or role.
Thank you for taking the time to help.
Updated
Melody’s Answer
Hey, Chris,
Engineer is a catch all term, similar to "manager", so it is very hard to give you the insight you are looking for without knowing what type of engineer you are looking for.
Electrical engineer, civil engineer, mechanical engineer, aerospace engineer, chemical engineer, biomedical engineer, structural engineer, computer engineer, railroad engineer, nuclear engineer, etc. Generally, all types of engineers can be broke down into one of four categories: chemical, civil, electrical and mechanical.
In very general terms, I can tell you that an engineer is going to be an "over-thinker", not only are they responsible in making sure a design works, but they need to be thinking ahead of potential issues and corrective actions necessary for each of those. Engineers require a government monitored license, and their work is "stamped" which legally makes them responsible for whatever it is they have designed.
I work in the construction field, and the simplest way I can think to differentiate between an architect and engineer is to describe the architect as making it pretty and the engineer insuring it is functional, and will stand the test of time. Most municipalities require both architect and engineer drawings.
An engineer is generally going to work "banker's hours" as we like to call it (9-5) but that is not always the case. Certain circumstances could see them working longer hours and weekends, when time is of the essence. They will spend most of their time in an office, and usually they have inspectors on staff that go out and insure the work is being built the way the engineer designed it. Again, this varies. Majority of engineers are highly educated and continue to expand their knowledge of techniques and technology as they change daily, making sure what they have designed is always on par with current code and requirements.
If you need more information, feel free to ask a different question, specifying what type of engineering you are interested in.
Good Luck!
Engineer is a catch all term, similar to "manager", so it is very hard to give you the insight you are looking for without knowing what type of engineer you are looking for.
Electrical engineer, civil engineer, mechanical engineer, aerospace engineer, chemical engineer, biomedical engineer, structural engineer, computer engineer, railroad engineer, nuclear engineer, etc. Generally, all types of engineers can be broke down into one of four categories: chemical, civil, electrical and mechanical.
In very general terms, I can tell you that an engineer is going to be an "over-thinker", not only are they responsible in making sure a design works, but they need to be thinking ahead of potential issues and corrective actions necessary for each of those. Engineers require a government monitored license, and their work is "stamped" which legally makes them responsible for whatever it is they have designed.
I work in the construction field, and the simplest way I can think to differentiate between an architect and engineer is to describe the architect as making it pretty and the engineer insuring it is functional, and will stand the test of time. Most municipalities require both architect and engineer drawings.
An engineer is generally going to work "banker's hours" as we like to call it (9-5) but that is not always the case. Certain circumstances could see them working longer hours and weekends, when time is of the essence. They will spend most of their time in an office, and usually they have inspectors on staff that go out and insure the work is being built the way the engineer designed it. Again, this varies. Majority of engineers are highly educated and continue to expand their knowledge of techniques and technology as they change daily, making sure what they have designed is always on par with current code and requirements.
If you need more information, feel free to ask a different question, specifying what type of engineering you are interested in.
Good Luck!
Updated
Archived’s Answer
As some of the other responders have noted, this is a very broad question. I would add that there are different levels of detail for almost all types of engineering, and it would be helpful for you to get some ideas on the various levels. Let me take an attempt at this (going from high-level engineers to very detailed):
- New product originator: an engineer that conceives of new products, e.g., the concept for a new model of car.
- Architect (using the term very generally) or Concept Developer: someone who takes new product concepts to the next level of detail
- Systems Engineer: an engineer that writes detailed requirements for products (this might include electronic interface specifications)
- Developer or Manufacturing engineer: an engineer that actually builds things or at least builds prototypes to be used to guide actually product manufacturing.
- Quality Control Tester: engineer that test samples of product instances, and perhaps makes suggestions to reduce errors in the manufacturing process
I've probably missed a few levels but hopefully, I have given you an idea of the wide range of levels of detail involved in engineering. Again, these levels apply to most types of engineers (chemical, telecommunications, automotive, electrical, ...).
Some people like to do very hands-on, detailed work, and other (like me) like more of the concept and design phases of engineering.
- New product originator: an engineer that conceives of new products, e.g., the concept for a new model of car.
- Architect (using the term very generally) or Concept Developer: someone who takes new product concepts to the next level of detail
- Systems Engineer: an engineer that writes detailed requirements for products (this might include electronic interface specifications)
- Developer or Manufacturing engineer: an engineer that actually builds things or at least builds prototypes to be used to guide actually product manufacturing.
- Quality Control Tester: engineer that test samples of product instances, and perhaps makes suggestions to reduce errors in the manufacturing process
I've probably missed a few levels but hopefully, I have given you an idea of the wide range of levels of detail involved in engineering. Again, these levels apply to most types of engineers (chemical, telecommunications, automotive, electrical, ...).
Some people like to do very hands-on, detailed work, and other (like me) like more of the concept and design phases of engineering.
Updated
Farhan’s Answer
Hi Chris,
Life of an engineer is continuously looking for improvements in your current job, and keep thinking how to make things better. Engineers should not relax or think that they have achieved the best. The result you achieve today is only good for today, tomorrow brings the next challenge.
Thriving for the next level makes the job of engineers exciting and challenging at the same time.
regards
Farhan
Life of an engineer is continuously looking for improvements in your current job, and keep thinking how to make things better. Engineers should not relax or think that they have achieved the best. The result you achieve today is only good for today, tomorrow brings the next challenge.
Thriving for the next level makes the job of engineers exciting and challenging at the same time.
regards
Farhan
Updated
Aaron’s Answer
Hello Chris,
The engineering profession requires solving of complex problems and mathematical equations. According to indeed.com a day in the life of an engineer involves manufacturing various types of equipment, tooling, computers etc. "For example, if they're at the beginning of working on a new project, they may spend most of their day researching ideas and drawing sketches. Mechanical engineers may start their days by reviewing the tasks they need to complete that day, then creating an itinerary for the rest of the day." Engineers meet with various stakeholders in the design of a project prior to the development of the actual project. The typical day involves research, designing of equipment, and or solutions, and the implementation of those ideas. Time management is very important as many projects have a deadline or date on when they are expected to be completed.
Good luck to you.
Visit site such as:
https://www.indeed.com/career-advice/finding-a-job/day-in-the-life-of-mechanical-engineer
The engineering profession requires solving of complex problems and mathematical equations. According to indeed.com a day in the life of an engineer involves manufacturing various types of equipment, tooling, computers etc. "For example, if they're at the beginning of working on a new project, they may spend most of their day researching ideas and drawing sketches. Mechanical engineers may start their days by reviewing the tasks they need to complete that day, then creating an itinerary for the rest of the day." Engineers meet with various stakeholders in the design of a project prior to the development of the actual project. The typical day involves research, designing of equipment, and or solutions, and the implementation of those ideas. Time management is very important as many projects have a deadline or date on when they are expected to be completed.
Good luck to you.
Aaron recommends the following next steps:
Updated
Ram’s Answer
hi Chris - Life of an engineer is exciting, challenging and rewarding. Exciting because we get to combine math, science and critical thinking. Challenging because we are trying and failing or figuring out solutions to complex problems regardless of what field we are in. Rewarding because we get to have a huge impact on the world, make good money and lead a comfortable life.
Updated
Mike’s Answer
Chris, what I love about my job is that there is not a typical day. I get to do many things. Examples of what I might do are:
Write/update specifications so a manufacturer knows what we want a product to do that they build for us.
Review proposed designs. This might be looking at the circuit design or where the components fit in relation to where we want them.
Review test plans for our test team.
Give our software developers input if the device has new features they need to add code for.
Give feedback to our Industrial Design team so what they want the device to look like is actually possible and practical.
Perform my own tests to be sure I know how the product works better than others.
Take a device apart to be sure it can be repaired quickly.
Just now I did some soldering to build a little test fixture to help me measure power usage on a new device we are building.
Address problems from older devices if they start to misbehave.
And these are just the projects I work on. I also have some people working for me so I keep up with the projects they are working on (or get them to help me on my projects).
Write/update specifications so a manufacturer knows what we want a product to do that they build for us.
Review proposed designs. This might be looking at the circuit design or where the components fit in relation to where we want them.
Review test plans for our test team.
Give our software developers input if the device has new features they need to add code for.
Give feedback to our Industrial Design team so what they want the device to look like is actually possible and practical.
Perform my own tests to be sure I know how the product works better than others.
Take a device apart to be sure it can be repaired quickly.
Just now I did some soldering to build a little test fixture to help me measure power usage on a new device we are building.
Address problems from older devices if they start to misbehave.
And these are just the projects I work on. I also have some people working for me so I keep up with the projects they are working on (or get them to help me on my projects).