Dysfunctional work environment - Anonymous employee Jacobs Employee Review

1.0
Mar 7, 2018
Anonymous employee
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

I'm a former CH2M employee, and I have great memories of my time there. When Jacobs acquired us, I did my best to wait and see what would happen and how I would feel about the company. The pro of the acquisition is that Jacobs paid long-time CH2M employees and retirees well for their stock.

Cons

--We went from having a woman CEO who cared about diversity to nearly all-male leadership. --There is/was no communication about what is happening. People are anxious, demoralized, and unhappy. --Some of the people put into very high-level positions are horrible leaders. Dysfunctional, dictatorial, and uncollaborative. They are not creating a positive, fun workplace at all. --In recent years, the things CH2M HILl cared about in the past--sustainability, diversity, positive morale, creating a fun and motivating workplace--were dumped because of poor management and lack of investment in these values. Jacobs supposedly acquired CH2M because they thought we were a culture fit, but I've seen no genuine investment in these attributes...in fact, they are being further eroded. --CH2M had a big emphasis on "selling the company store." Jacobs, being so big, is like 3-4 smaller companies. The silos are hard and impenetrable. It is not one company--instead it's 3 separate companies, and everyone does their own thing.

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5.0
Apr 3, 2026
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CEO approval
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Pros

Strong learning environment for entry-level engineers Great exposure to large-scale transportation and infrastructure projects with experienced mentors and structured onboarding. Reputable global firm Jacobs’ strong brand name adds credibility to your résumé and opens doors for future opportunities in both public and private sectors. Good career growth and mobility Clear pathways to move into roles like Project Engineer, Assistant Resident Engineer, or Construction Management with internal postings encouraged. Supportive team culture (project-dependent) Most teams are collaborative, and senior staff are willing to guide junior engineers, especially in inspection and CM roles. Competitive benefits and job stability Solid health benefits, 401(k), PTO, and steadier work compared to smaller consulting firms—especially on long-term public agency contracts.

Cons

Growth pace depends on manager and project Advancement and role expansion can vary widely based on leadership and available opportunities.

1
5.0
Jun 11, 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

Great people and culture, internal mobility if you’re networked

Cons

Lots of internal process/procedure but to be expected at a large firm

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