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Charles River Analytics

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The ultimate "Choose Your Own Adventure" - Senior Software Engineer Charles River Analytics Employee Review

5.0
Sep 6, 2020
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

There are many companies where you're told what to do and you just do it. This is not that company for most engineering and scientist roles. What matters here is doing a great job at figuring out how to use research ideas to solve practical user needs. There is much more greenfield software development than at many other companies, but also well-crafted core libraries to support your work. If you're a developer, you're not starting from a requirements document - you'll help shape the solution. Ideas from all levels of employee are listened to and considered. The company's focus is on applied research as opposed to basic research, but they frequently partner with US universities to advance and apply cutting-edge research. ALL new projects and ALL new R&D areas are a function of the people involved, and you have a direct impact on your success and that of your team/project. This company is well-respected in its industry and generous to its employees.

Cons

There's a "valley of death" that all entrepreneurial organizations experience that is also real here. At this company, the challenge to turn a successful applied research effort into something that can benefit thousands or millions is a huge hurdle that isn't often directly funded. If you have the wherewithal to navigate the valley, your efforts will be worthwhile, but people who expect that research prototypes will instantly turn into marketable products will need to manage their expectations.

Explore other reviews about Charles River Analytics

5.0
May 20, 2025
Anonymous employee
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

CRA is a great company to work with. The flexibility, and overall company culture is hard to find these days.

Cons

Management should reach check in with employees more often.

4.0
Jun 28, 2025
Anonymous employee
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

R&D environment with many small projects and ‘all hands on deck’ culture is good for gaining exposure to new technologies, building up a diverse skillset and learning about the business side of R&D. Opportunities for self-direction and ownership for enthusiastic proposal writers. Excellent opportunity for early career engineers/scientists hoping to build up a technical foundation.

Cons

As the company’s bread & butter, R&D proposal wins are King, and technical excellence is valued only insofar as it enables these wins. Funding opportunities are typically small and fragmented, rarely offering room for achieving the critical mass needed to truly create something of lasting value/impact. Good for research and learning, poor for developing products. The company has made unusual decisions regarding the administration of its IT infrastructure in a bid to mimic their expectation of how larger defense primes would operate, sacrificing development speed and thereby one of the few advantages a small business has over larger established players. The company has become highly adverse to taking on risk, and which is a major hurdle to growth.

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