Working with brilliant people, but getting paid in experience. Difficult to grow. - Anonymous employee Hatch Employee Review

4.0
Aug 2, 2014
Anonymous employee
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

Hatch is a company that strongly values technical excellence and has all sorts of interesting client and development projects on the go. Management is extremely competent and friendly, and is often seen "doing" rather than "managing". Colleagues will always help you. There is no dog-eat-dog mentality. Travel all over the world. Excellent work-life balance while in the office. This is an excellent place to grow from a new graduate into a competent and well-trained engineer. If you have an idea and want to pursue it the culture is very open to this, provided it aligns with the long-term goals of the board. In most cases you are highly valued by your clients and are treated as a partner rather than a vendor or contractor. There many good things happening at Hatch.

Cons

The pay is two-tiered and not all that good if you're on the first tier (compared to other industry opportunities). You get paid in very good experience until by some black art you are offered shares in the company, which typically pay very large dividends. You never know if or when you will be awarded shares, so it makes sticking around difficult as it poses a large risk (how long can you stick around waiting before you miss out on other opportunities?). Also, the financial compensation for travelling and working on site is not worth it, but the experience is worth it, without a doubt. You don't get much of a field bonus when on longer term projects, especially when compared to FIFO contractors in the same industry. There is almost no hierarchy, which is both a strength and a weakness. The company exploded in growth over the last decade and it appears now there are few prospects for those who are ambitious. Many colleagues with lofty ambitions who started in the company have left because of this. If you want to be a technical specialist you are definitely in the right company, but if you are looking for a different mix of experience, it's very difficult to achieve internally.

Explore other reviews about Hatch

5.0
May 1, 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

great work environment, very communicative and collaborative. Easy and open communication with PMs and upper leadership.

Cons

need to be proactive to get work, especially if you're new. lot of travel, pro or con depending on your outlook.

1
3.0
May 18, 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

Exceptional project exposure across major U.S. transit, infrastructure, and energy pursuits — the portfolio and client roster are genuinely impressive and great for your professional brand The LTK Engineering Services acquisition brought in a strong, collaborative office culture that is noticeably more grounded and people-focused than the broader Hatch Ltd (Canadian entity) culture Strong brand recognition in the A/E/C space that opens doors with major public agencies

Cons

Hired under the Client Action Team structure, which led to significant instability — multiple management changes in a short period with little transparency or consistency Overlapping time zones and regional boundaries create constant coordination friction; the flat hierarchy sounds good on paper but breaks down quickly when accountability is unclear and no one owns decisions Zero flexibility on in-office requirements — no hybrid accommodation even when the nature of the work doesn't require it Promotions are not merit-based. Advancement appears tied to visibility metrics like road safety observations and office attendance rather than the quality or impact of your work — deeply frustrating for high performers

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