Stuck in CDOT, Stopped Innovating, Doesn't understand Cloud - Senior Software Engineer NetApp Employee Review

3.0
Aug 19, 2015
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

Existing culture is still OK. That's the people culture - not the corporate Culture.

Cons

Corporate wants the "Best Place To Work" and touts the culture. But it used to promote that first knowing that the company performance followed. Now that the company has lost it's way every other sentence in All Hands seems to be about Culture - but there's no corporate backing for it. Corporate wants it all - but is sacking people like EMC - numbers. Netapp USED to have one layoff for an entire recession, re-strategize the products, and come out running with good products - and no fear of further layoffs. This is the third layoff in a row - the 1st was "the one for the recession" - but it showed they no longer understood the market (hint - it's NOT CDOT - too myopic on that one). Last years they sacked most of the few cloud projects while saying "we don't understand cloud" and it was obvious by who got laid off they "gave up" on a fiscal deadline for re-slotting people. So for most, last year in particular was a wake up call for employees. This years - including appropriate corporate sacking - showed no further understanding of market or vision. Sure they patched up a hybrid-cloud strategy - that's good for NOW - but what's the strategy? CDOT is, what 90% of revenue, and they've not acquisitions on sight either way. Kurian is a bean counter and his main advice at all hands was "execute faster" Execute a market indicated failed strategy faster?

Explore other reviews about NetApp

5.0
Jun 18, 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

Good work life balance (in my team)

Cons

Leadership is bad, stay away!

3.0
Jun 9, 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

- Not the worst pay around - Opportunity for advancement if you get the right management - Good financial benefits (ESPP, 401k options, mega backdoor Roth) - The one thing GK is good at is driving up the company stock price. Hope you got yourself some RSUs

Cons

- NetApp hasn't made a new product in 10 years, so you'll be hard pressed to find development work that isn't directly tied to supporting what was built before then. - Very little innovation other than weekend-project-level AI tools - Health and dental benefits are not great - Upper management is completely detached from reality

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