Frequent lay-offs, outdated equipment, incompetent upper management - Design Engineer Leonardo DRS Employee Review

2.0
Mar 15, 2013
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

Decent work/life balance (unless you work in the fab. In the fab, work/life balance is terrible), decent salary

Cons

DRS has mass lay-offs nearly every year. Work is very unstable and stressful. Do not work in the defense industry if you are looking for a stable career. The equipment was also outdated and it broke frequently. DRS management invests as little money as possible in equipment, and it is difficult to do your job with out dated equipment. Upper level management is full of people who have MBAs but no technical experience. They know nothing about how the products work, and they frequently have unrealistic expectations.

Explore other reviews about Leonardo DRS

5.0
Jul 14, 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

Well managed all around. Used to be a really good place to work, but since they went public, it's just a good place to work.

Cons

Defence industry, typical feast or famine. Either working over time to tight schedules or nothing to do.

2.0
Jun 29, 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

The only Pro with this company was having every other Friday off.

Cons

Poor leadership and management culture. In my experience, management positions are often filled from a small, long-tenured group, resulting in limited diversity of thought and few opportunities for outside perspectives. Many leaders lacked the skills needed to effectively develop, mentor, and support their teams. Rather than addressing organizational issues, accountability often seemed to flow downward, with lower-level employees bearing the consequences of management decisions. I also observed talented Program Managers leaving or being terminated under circumstances that suggested they were being held responsible for broader organizational problems rather than receiving appropriate leadership support. Overall, the culture discouraged transparency, accountability, and professional growth.

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