Technical Excellence with Poor Leadership - Project Engineer Curtiss-Wright Employee Review

2.0
Apr 13, 2020
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

Flexible start time and 12 holidays provide a decent work life balance. Interesting work as an engineer as few companies make similar products. Very hands on work. Senior engineers are a wealth of knowledge. Overall decent coworkers. Project managers are personable and decent leaders.

Cons

Your quality of life at this company heavily depends on the interpersonal skills and disposition of your immediate supervisor. Some supervisors inspired growth, were great leaders, and kept you informed. Most do not and are poor leaders. I understand this "Con" could be present at most corporations, but this company was the worst I've encountered out of 3 companies with regards to lack of good leadership. Senior management seemed disconnected and disinterested with the ailings of the rank and file. I think the root of the leadership problem is that CW does not provide a clear and effective promotion path for technical experts, meaning in order to increase pay more than the inflation rate, engineers have to enter a management role. This creates a myriad of issues bc good engineers were promoted to be bad managers because there was no other way to advance their career. Other cons include a very lean workforce, which leads to a lot of unpaid OT to meet goals. Schedule and budget constraints permit few errors, of any cause, and put a lot of strain on project teams. Engineers take a lot of blame for legacy issues and project failings even tho no formal training is offered. Overall I found the starting pay to be average with below average increases. Have to talk about the cell phone. Once you get a company cell phone, prepare to be called at all hours of the day even after hours. You cannot bill or credit after hours calls. I found the work never leaves you if you are an engineer with a cell phone.

Explore other reviews about Curtiss-Wright

5.0
Jun 9, 2026
Anonymous employee
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

Staff appreciate the job stability, good pay/benefits relative to the Aerospace & Defense industry, and highly professional engineering teams. Many report a strong sense of purpose and trust in their immediate colleagues.

Cons

On the downside, some reviewers cite a top-heavy, process-oriented management structure, occasional disjointed communication across departments, and strict, high-pressure deadlines.

4.0
Jun 23, 2026
Anonymous employee
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

Good retirement program. Not so good medical benefits

Cons

The company has talented employees and strong potential, but one of the biggest concerns is that HR appears to operate more as an extension of senior management rather than as an independent resource for employees. Concerns and complaints are frequently raised, yet employees rarely see meaningful action or follow-up. This creates a perception that issues are acknowledged but not addressed, which can impact trust, morale, and overall workplace culture. Greater transparency, accountability, and employee advocacy from HR would significantly improve the work environment.

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