Pros
Really nice coworkers, usually interesting problem.
Cons
Messy direction and a blame-focused culture have become increasingly noticeable. Management and strategic priorities seem to shift constantly, and senior leadership often holds unrealistic expectations about AI. System stability is not valued because it isn’t flashy enough to showcase to customers. The culture has definitely taken a downturn, with people being held accountable for issues beyond their control. Taking extended leave feels risky due to perceived lack of impact during that time, which can reflect poorly in performance reviews. Engineering teams appear capable of becoming more efficient, but mid to high-level management struggles to provide clear direction on how to use this additional capacity. At the same time, there has been increased hiring at very senior management levels, and the rationale or their value behind this is unclear. Overall the environment feels stressful on a daily basis, and not for the right reasons.