Good, with some drawbacks - Project Management Specialist RTI International Employee Review

3.0
Apr 5, 2016
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

Great colleagues who are truly experts in their fields; many exciting opportunities for travel; highly innovative work environment - RTI is willing to invest in good/profitable ideas. Many staff are truly dedicated to RTI's goal of improving the human condition.

Cons

Very top heavy with little advancement or appreciation of junior and midlevel staff - promotions aren't common and career pathways aren't clear. Many must leave the company, work elsewhere, and then return before they can expect any real change in compensation or responsibility. Work life balance is also non-existent for many employees, especially in the International Development Group (IDG). Those working in IDG may also find that the corporate approach to development is generally more profit-driven rather than human driven.

Explore other reviews about RTI International

5.0
Jun 8, 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

RTI has a good mission

Cons

Adaptation to sudden federal funding loss.

3.0
Jun 15, 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

Remote work and reasonable working hours

Cons

If you're a PhD who enjoys research and hopes to use empirical research skills at a research institute, you'll likely be disappointed as I was. Projects in my business unit were largely implementation projects that required very little creativity or data analysis. I was told by my manager that empirical-research projects are harder to come by and when those opportunities do arise, everyone wants them. Even then, project directors are very unwilling (in my experience) to let you branch out to other projects. Using any overhead time to work on your own research is also discouraged, so I ended up working on manuscripts in my personal time. And there's no funding to attend conferences either. On top of all of this, constant layoffs create an aura of uncertainty and the feeling that you're lucky to even be there even when compensation for similar roles in private sector is far better.

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