A Day in the Life of a Software Engineer at Redemption Games
At Redemption Games, a small company with a small engineering team, a software engineer's day varies greatly; sometimes it involves "grinding" 12-hour days to meet tight deadlines, while other times it allows for more flexibility, such as midday gym trips, due to the task-based nature of the work. This variability, with "peaks and valleys," is characteristic of the work environment at this particular company.
Work-Life Balance, Fast-Paced Environment, Problem-Solving Skills, Teamwork, Flexible Work Arrangements
Advizer Information
Name
Job Title
Company
Undergrad
Grad Programs
Majors
Industries
Job Functions
Traits
Cameron Witz
Software Engineer
Redemption Games
Northwestern University
USC MS computer science
Engineering - Industrial
Technology
Product / Service / Software Development and Management
Video Highlights
1. Work environment significantly impacts daily tasks and workload. At smaller companies, the pace can be intense with long hours and tight deadlines, resembling a school project.
2. Smaller companies often necessitate juggling multiple tasks and quick turnaround times, while larger companies may offer more structured and flexible schedules.
3. The work is largely task-based, not time-based, offering flexibility in terms of when tasks are completed, even allowing for breaks like gym visits during the workday depending on deadlines and workflow
Transcript
What does a day in the life of a software engineer look like?
I think it depends a lot on where you work and the kind of environment you're in. I can more clearly say what a day in my life looks like.
We're at a very small company, less than a hundred employees. On the engineering side, it's way, way low. We probably have less than ten software engineers, and we all have a lot to do. We have a lot to juggle and tight deadlines.
There will be weeks where it's like, "Okay, we really need to get this stuff done and tested." I feel like sometimes I wake up at 8:15, start working at 8:45, and then I just keep working straight through the day for maybe 12 hours. This can go on for multiple days where you're just locked in.
Maybe that's a me thing, because when I start something, I don't really like to stop until I'm done. But I think that kind of pace, where you're getting stuff done really quickly, tends to happen more at smaller places. That's my understanding.
It's not always like that, though. Part of the cool thing is you'll have weeks where you're grinding, and it kind of feels like a school project you're all trying to finish. Then there will be weeks where it's much more relaxed. I can go to the gym in the middle of the day if I'm feeling it, and then come back and work after that.
There are times where my work is isolated and no one's depending on it right now, so I can do it at a different pace. That's when it's really nice to be able to work from home and be a software engineer because it's mostly about task-based deliverables rather than time-based. It's not about how long you're working.
It's got peaks and valleys, but the peaks can be pretty demanding depending on where you are.
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