Finally the Respect I Deserve - Senior Software Engineer Frontline Education Employee Review

I have genuinely enjoyed my experience at Frontline Education. The culture is collaborative, supportive, and focused on both professional growth and innovation. Leadership consistently invests in employees while also making meaningful investments in AI and technology that are clearly shaping the future of the company in a positive way. It is exciting to be part of an organization that is forward thinking and committed to evolving with the needs of education. The direction the company is headed feels strategic and purpose driven. Teams are encouraged to share ideas, embrace change, and contribute to impactful work that truly matters. What stands out most is the balance between innovation and people. Frontline continues to create an environment where employees feel valued while also pushing boundaries in ways that will keep the company competitive and innovative.

My experience has been very positive.

The team members I work with are amazing remnants of what the company used to be like just a short year ago. Unlimited PTO and remote work (unless you're close enough to an office for them to force attendance) are great for work-life balance.

Tiny annual raises, often lower than the rate of inflation. The company has made a clear shift away from having a "family" culture toward cutthroat productivity at all costs. Before I begin this section, I'll premise it by stating clearly: I am not anti-AI. It's an amazing tool that has helped me be far more productive in my work. BUT: Upper management, especially in Product, seems to have been taken over by people who, in my view, are AI grifters. More interested in bolstering their resume with "AI revolution" than working in a company alongside human beings. "AI First" has translated to upper management demanding the use of AI wherever possible, followed by a more recent scolding (and I use that word intentionally, as it was the clear tone of the meeting) in a Technology-wide meeting for using it "wrong" now that AI providers are hiking up fees, with no self-awareness or accountability for the fact that we were doing what was asked with a new technology we haven't yet received formal training on. "AI First" has also translated to employees with a decade+ tenure being demoted and shuffled around to make room for more pro-AI new-hires. What this has all led to is some of our best and most knowledgeable team members leaving the company over the past month or two, leaving us with huge knowledge gaps that will not be filled by AI tools.