Don't work at FICO - Director FICO Employee Review

1.0
Mar 14, 2011
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

Some interesting people, mostly peers Reputation (somehow) is still good in industry Good IT operations

Cons

Extremely weak senior management Unethical and morally repugnant executives, especially in Scoring division Unrealistic expectations are the norm, company-wide Employee "motivation" is achieved via threats ("If you can't do it, we'll find somebody who can...") No upward career progression possible if you are a Senior Manager or Director Recently laid-off 200 long-term, senior contributors... FICO does not value previous accomplishments or exemplary performance Widespread executive arrogance - only they have the answers Poor compensation practices - tiny or no salary increases year-after-year, even where performance ratings are High/Very High and bonus pool is fictitious Board of Directors asleep at the wheel, so nothing is going to change soon

Explore other reviews about FICO

5.0
Mar 6, 2026
Anonymous employee
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

Salary, work life balance, people

Cons

Nothing much to say, all good

4.0
Jan 24, 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

FICO is a great place to work as a software engineer. I had a very positive experience collaborating with smart, thoughtful teammates on technically interesting problems that have real-world impact at scale. The engineering culture values code quality, thoughtful design, and pragmatic decision-making over hype. Leadership was supportive, expectations were clear, and there was a strong emphasis on ownership and accountability. Overall, it’s an excellent environment for engineers who enjoy working on meaningful systems in a stable, well-run organization.

Cons

Slower pace of change compared to startups or high-growth tech companies, which can feel restrictive if you prefer rapid experimentation. Legacy systems and tech debt in parts of the organization that require patience and careful refactoring. Process-heavy at times, with multiple reviews or approvals slowing delivery. Less emphasis on cutting-edge frameworks—the focus is more on stability and correctness than chasing the newest tools.

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