Nice Coworkers but Look Elsewhere for Data Science - Data Scientist Caterpillar Employee Review

2.0
Sep 29, 2023
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

Many interesting problems to work on, especially if you can work with different business units. The people you work with are good people. The kinds of projects you work on are useful to show your data science ability. Work life balance is a huge plus, as people are flexible about when and where you work. However, this is dependent on division and not universal across the company.

Cons

Senior and general management knows next to nothing about data science. The management is toxic, arguing amongst themselves in front of employees for hours, trying to take over other team’s projects, and trying to market themselves to their VP while putting others down. The constant reorganizations (at least once per year) is incredibly exhausting. Teams are also not given what they need to actually perform projects - the IT securities are incredibly overreaching to the point that any new idea and new testing takes months to actually achieve even though you are using the exact same technology products that other internal teams are using. Promotions are based on length of time in the company instead of contribution and capabilities. Compensation is towards bottom quartile for the industry.

Explore other reviews about Caterpillar

5.0
Jun 7, 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

Great benefits Great WLB Great pay

Cons

Low mobility to move up within company

2.0
Jun 10, 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

Good health insurance and benefits, good yearly bonuses. The pay is good.

Cons

They are enforcing returning to office by any means necessary. They have lost many high-quality producers who have refused to relocate or refuse to come in. Here's the kicker - they are requiring in-person attendance at the Chicago office and there aren't even enough desks for everyone. It would be a literal fire hazard if we all came into the Chicago office at the same time, M-F, during business hours. No one knows how or if they are going to actually enforce this. Cost of gas is insane, Joe doesn't care about the workers. Or the work for that matter. It's obvious this is a soft layoff, they have made a bunch of people quit. Their internal design agency is falling apart, lots of people have quit, not only because of return to office but because of the toxic politics, favoritism, and lack of direction and accountability. Mediocre workers are allowed to keep their jobs ONLY because of their ability to put their bodies in a chair and work in-person. The other relocation option HR gave besides Chicago was Peoria. No one wants to live in Peoria for any reason whatsoever, be for real.

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