Pretty Good - Bioinformatics Software Engineer III Genentech Employee Review

4.0
Jun 3, 2021
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

"The Mission" to create drugs that are helping society and keeping people alive is amazing to be a contributor on. It is nice to work with and learn about interesting things that the scientists are working on. Compensation and bonuses are great. Genenbus system makes it easy to get to work from anywhere in the area when COVID is over. Lots of opportunity to move laterally to join different teams and work on novel things, so boredom is rarely an issue.

Cons

Large amount of bureaucracy throughout the organization causes decisions that should take hours to take weeks or months. Most of the actual software engineering and development work is outsourced to contractors in countries around the world where labor is cheaper so if you want to actually write and develop software, this may not be the place for you. Internal politics and lack of communication between groups within the research organization are not great. The scientists and researchers that you collaborating with can be very headstrong and diva-like.

Explore other reviews about Genentech

5.0
Jul 8, 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

Great culture and work environment.

Cons

PhD is necessary oftentimes for advancement.

3.0
May 7, 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

Genentech's origin story and mission are genuinely inspiring — few companies can point to such a meaningful historical arc in medicine. Patient engagement is taken seriously and feels authentic, not performative. The campus is beautiful and the culture has real warmth.

Cons

DDA is operating with significant gaps. First, the foundational data infrastructure is not mature enough to support the ambitions being set for the team. Second, the measurement culture has gotten ahead of the methodology, and no one in a position of authority seems to be asking hard questions about whether the numbers actually mean what they're being presented as meaning. Third, some management feel disconnected from the work itself, lacking the knowledge, hands-on experience, or relevant credentials. Individually any one of these would be manageable. Together these create an environment where it's hard to do rigorous work, rather work is performative, and be recognized for it.

3
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