How much time do you get to be with your family?

Hi,

The most important and rewarding part of my job is the ability to have an impact by setting the strategy and direction of our research and development program. Enabling world class scientists and engineers to solve the energy challenges of our nation and of our planet is truly inspiring.

The the amount of time you spend with family depends on the type of job. Many chemical engineering jobs have relatively fixed hours and recognize that family time is important so you can get home in time for dinner or to spend time with kids. It also depends on the specific company you work for- some have flex time, telework options and alternate work schedules. However, many science/engineering jobs do have certain periods (such as when a major project deliverable is due) that may require you to work longer hours for some period. As you climb up the career ladder, it is certainly true that juggling family and work is challenging. But as long as you have the right tools- stay organized and have a good team, it is definitely possible to make it work. I know many people with kids and a high powered science/engineering career- even if it means they had to take some time off during some periods. Another suggestion is to build a solid technical foundation and stay flexible. As I always say: you can’t build a treehouse without a tree- so focus on getting the right foundation and tools and don’t think that you won’t be able to keep up!  Good luck.