Interviews with faculty, administrators, staff, and students at four engineering programs reveal the role of undergraduate student employment on retention and timely degree completion among engineering students. Dueling narratives reveal how student approaches to earning an engineering degree differ greatly from faculty, administrator, and staff expectations. Faculty, administrators, and staff advise students on proper time management and are frustrated that student employment reflects a lack of commitment to engineering. Students acknowledge the challenges of balancing school and work yet consider employment important to student life. Some students adjust their course schedules to meet work demands, thus increasing time to degree. Faculty describe a seamless pathway to an engineering career through coursework, scholarships, undergraduate research opportunities, and internships. Students remain employed because scholarships do not sufficiently meet their financial needs and internships are not convenient for all students.