A Day in the Life of a Freelance Software Engineer
A software engineer's day is highly variable, often beginning with urgent bug fixes—"waking up to a message...who found a bug"—before moving to planned tasks like researching technologies and coding new features. The freelance aspect allows for flexibility, including midday errands, but also requires additional responsibilities such as client communication, project planning, and collaboration with team members—"doing more than just the code".
Coding, Problem-Solving, Communication, Project Management, Freelancing
Advizer Information
Name
Job Title
Company
Undergrad
Grad Programs
Majors
Industries
Job Functions
Traits
Ryan Yost
Software Engineer
Freelance/Contractor
University of Michigan
None
Spanish & Other Languages, Economics
Technology
Product / Service / Software Development and Management
Honors Student, Greek Life Member
Video Highlights
1. The day-to-day tasks of a software engineer are varied and can include resolving unexpected bugs, researching and implementing new technologies, and collaborating with clients and team members.
2. Freelance work allows for flexibility in scheduling, enabling engineers to integrate personal tasks like exercise and errands into their workday.
3. Software engineers often wear multiple hats, engaging in project planning and client communication in addition to coding, particularly in freelance roles.
Transcript
What does a day in the life of a software engineer look like?
The order of tasks can vary a lot because you're often reacting to things. It's not uncommon to wake up to a message from someone in another country who found a bug that needs fixing that morning.
I'll try to fix that bug as quickly as possible, grab some coffee, and spend about an hour on it, including testing and pushing it to production. Then I'll move on to more typical tasks like researching new technologies for upcoming projects and evaluating different options.
A significant portion of my day is spent coding new features and developing the software. Since I'm freelance, I often exercise and run errands in the middle of the day to avoid crowds, which is really convenient.
I might also chat with clients about feedback on completed projects or gather requirements for new ones. This involves asking many questions to ensure I understand their needs.
I develop plans to execute projects, which in a company might be handled by a product manager. However, engineers, especially freelancers, sometimes have to do more than just code. It's actually nice to be able to handle everything from beginning to end.
Occasionally, I'll join calls with full-time employees of the client to ask questions, answer theirs, or collaborate on something. Most of the time, it involves coding.
Sometimes, there are more meetings and collaboration than not. You might be on your own at times, and other times you're deeply involved with other people.