Looking to coast? Boy, have I got a job for you. - Software Engineer Bombardier Employee Review

2.0
Jul 20, 2012
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

The projects that you are able to work on are quite interesting. If you find the right position, you can be a part of putting together trains that will be used in many different metropolitan areas. Also, because it's a very global company, there are usually opportunities to travel.

Cons

Bombardier doesn't seem to put a lot of investment into their employees. Meaningful training programs are limited. They will offer low to middle of the road wages and are quite stingy with offering vacation. Ability to advance within the company is limited. The culture here seems to be try and get projects done with the least number of engineers possible in the shortest time possible. As a result, superhuman effort is required by engineers on a project to get working solutions out the door on time. However, because of the mediocre pay/advancement opportunities, the only engineers competent enough to perform this kind of work eventually leave the company. Because management doesn't really grow talent in-house, this leads to a huge amount of brain-drain. Most of the people who stick around don't desire to be high performers (and why would they, when it doesn't get you anything?) If you're looking for a company where you can pretend to care from 9-5 that won't punish laziness or ignorance but also won't reward diligence or hard work, this is the place for you.

Explore other reviews about Bombardier

5.0
Jan 1, 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

Good benefits, healthy corporate culture and good work life balance.

Cons

Large corporation with decisions taken centrally makes it difficult for employees in satellite to feel supported sometimes. Career opportunities may be limited in the satellites particularly for non French speaking employees.

1.0
Jun 20, 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

They give a good pay thats it

Cons

I worked as a contractor at Bombardier in Tucson and came in with over 15 years of military and aerospace experience, including work on F-16s, A-10s, AC-130s, and large-cabin business jets. I had high expectations for Bombardier because of the company’s reputation, but my experience was disappointing. From a technical standpoint, the work itself was solid and the aircraft are impressive. However, my concerns were with leadership, training culture, and overall workplace environment. In my experience, new technicians were often expected to figure things out on their own with minimal support. There was limited mentorship, and the environment could feel more focused on hierarchy than actual team development. Strong technical leadership should build people up, not make learning harder than it needs to be. I also observed inconsistent treatment and workplace dynamics that raised serious concerns for me regarding fairness and professionalism. Respect matters in any high-performance environment, especially in aviation where teamwork and communication are critical. As a contractor, I also saw a significant gap between contractor pay and internal conversion offers. While benefits were presented as part of the value, the compensation structure did not feel competitive enough to justify the difference for experienced technicians. My biggest takeaway is this: Bombardier has great equipment and strong potential, but talent retention will continue to be a challenge if leadership, culture, and technician development are not improved. This review is based solely on my personal experience in Tucson.

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