How many with families to support have had to stand up in a meeting and declare that xxx piece of kit cannot go "out the door" unless it is fixed properly, and had to state why it is necessary to intervene in a rubber stamping regulatory process.
Engineers are usually very alone when placed in that situation. The usual suspects go to ground very quickly, not even their eyes show above the parapet. They can be recognized by the way they slink into a chair at the back of the meeting, where they start nodding like a dog while avoiding eye contact with their peers. The bean counters sit alongside the head honcho ready to state that the project cannot be stopped or it will "probably go belly up". Since one is then left holding the can, 20 hour days and sleeping under your desk becomes the norm.
"Listen up, your next move, punk" comes to mind.
