No longer a good company - R&D Calix Employee Review

1.0
Nov 28, 2017
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

The only pro is that some really talented people in the trenches still get a paycheck. And I hate to say it but for a company that has never really been profitable and is currently losing money, the pay and benefits are pretty good.

Cons

Where to start... CEO seems to be on a different planet. If you listen to him speak it is almost inspirational but actually has nothing to do with the products or culture that actually exist. Executive management is horrible and for a company with a market cap of less than 400M there are a ton of them. R&D leadership values yes men (a positive attitude?) over talent. Productivity vs r&d dollars spent is terrible. The marketing SVP seems to think that capex decisions at service providers are made based on Tweets as opposed to their lab trials. And everybody seems to think that chasing Verizon, who is notorious for squeezing their vendors to death, is worth losing money for 4 consecutive quarters (or more). The only upside is the VPs will get to say they brought Calix a tier 1 on their resumes when they move on to the next "opportunity". Honestly, I think if you were to drill down into any of the positive reviews it would be from people in support organizations who don't really know the the products or even the customers and just believe the sound bites.

avatar
Calix Response
7y
Thank you for taking the time to provide us your feedback via Glassdoor. Please do also take the time to leverage our engagement survey to provide another deeper dive into Calix and continuing to build out our engagement with our people. From the CEO to one's paycheck, your input and everyone's input is valued. Please leverage our lunch and breakfast opportunities to ask questions with our CEO and leaders and our all-Calix team to provide additional insight and details into all aspects of the business. With thanks and gratitude.

Explore other reviews about Calix

5.0
Jun 2, 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

Strong collaborative culture, talented teams, flexible work environment, and opportunities to contribute across multiple functions. Leadership encourages innovation, continuous improvement, and cross-functional partnerships.

Cons

Some initiatives may take longer to implement because of multiple approval layers.

5.0
Apr 24, 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

Calix offers a highly collaborative, customer‑first environment where strong cross‑functional partnerships are genuinely valued. The culture encourages ownership, accountability, and proactive problem‑solving, especially when supporting high‑impact customers and complex initiatives. Leadership is accessible and supportive, and there’s a real emphasis on continuous improvement, process refinement, and professional growth. If you enjoy meaningful work, transparency, and being trusted to make decisions that positively impact both customers and the business, Calix is a great place to build and grow your career.

Cons

As with many fast‑growing, customer‑focused organizations, the pace at Calix can be demanding, particularly during peak periods or when managing complex, cross‑functional initiatives. Processes and tools are continuously evolving, which can occasionally create ambiguity and require adaptability. Aligning across multiple teams and priorities sometimes takes persistence, and success often depends on being proactive, detail‑oriented, and comfortable navigating change. That said, these challenges tend to come with opportunities for visibility, impact, and growth.

avatar
Calix Response
3w
Thank you for taking the time to share your feedback. We’re glad to hear that you’ve experienced Calix as a collaborative, customer‑first environment with strong cross-functional partnerships and a culture that values ownership, accountability, and continuous improvement. It’s especially meaningful to see recognition of our focus on transparency, professional growth, and empowering employees to make impactful decisions.We also hear your thoughtful feedback on the realities of a fast-growing, evolving organization. As we scale, ensuring clarity amid changing processes, maintaining strong alignment across teams, and supporting sustainable workloads are all critical priorities.Thank you again for your feedback.
See reviews by: Helpful|Rating|Date|All