A Day in the Life of Ernie Hawkins, Principal Consultant

Ever wondered what a day in the life of one of our software engineers was like? This series will give you all the details! Our “Day in the Life” subject is Ernie Hawkins, a Principal Consultant on the software engineering team located in Richmond, VA. Here’s what a typical day looks like for Ernie.

Morning 

The morning kicks off around 6:30-7 a.m. when my daughter’s monitor acts as my alarm clock. In concert with the sound of large flapping ears, that sound is my cue to start the day. With vital help from my wife, I drag myself out of bed to wrangle our dogs — a Boston terrier and a Yorkie. After the usual morning routine of showering, getting dressed, and checking in with the family, I head to work. I usually prefer the office to separate my home and work life, although my home office is just as great of an environment. Mornings are usually filled with daily stand-ups, follow-ups on the previous workday to-do’s, and touching base on internal projects – while crushing my critical cup of coffee. It’s when my mind is freshest, making it the perfect time for crafting those unopinionated emails.

Lunch 

Lunch is best served alone. Whether at home or the office, I indulge in some quality quiet time. While enjoying my meal prep of a lean protein, a grain, and a vegetable, I catch up on the latest YouTube nonsense and sports news. I’m the type who can happily eat the same thing day in and day out, so it’s far better for me to pack a lunch than give in to my burrito-based temptations.

Afternoon 

Post-lunch, my focus sharpens as I delve into the meat of my work. If I’ve managed to plant myself in our Richmond office before the admin tasks, chances are I won’t budge for the rest of the day. The afternoon is for diving deep into the tedious yet rewarding tasks, like coding or designing. Today, I’m fixated on designing components in Figma to enable better patient care for a concierge healthcare partner, a task that demands hyper-focus and attention to detail. When I need an extra boost, I might listen to a movie soundtrack – perhaps some dynamic scores from motion picture soundtracks like 007’s Skyfall or The Social Network. It’s amazing how music can enhance my productivity and creativity, especially during those long afternoons.

After Work

As the workday ends, I shift gears to family time. Typically, I get to share a meal with my wife and daughter, though occasionally, it’s a solo affair. Evenings are a whirlwind of quality time with my daughter, bathtime & bedtime routines, and chores. The night winds down with quiet moments spent with my wife and our furry companions, whether reading, gaming, catching up on shows, or simply enjoying each other’s company and syncing up on what happened during the day. Before bed, I jot down a list for the next day, especially anything that didn’t quite get my attention earlier in the day.