Flexible schedule, poor leadership and no promotions
Pros
Ability to create and own my schedule, providing flexibility when needed. Marvin the Gecko. Interesting field/ work.
Cons
Inconsistent titles/ grades. When hired there was no Principle and Distinguished for Product and I was at the top of the range. Now I am stuck at a lower level when I meet all the criteria for the higher level and Dir. There are a ton of legacy employees who were allowed to transfer into these roles with NO Experience and are lacking basic SDLC/ Product Lifecycle knowhow among other basic things you'd find in tech companies, with people who have built software as their career. Senior leadership also lacks technical acumen (Directors/ Sr Directors) in certain areas and do not understand the importance of stable dedicated teams. They think everything can be done piece meal and thrown over the wall for engineering, Its so archaic, Lack of strong product leadership or product understanding. Minimal commitment to actually following the PDLC, claiming "it slows us down". I was told I would get a promotion to level set where I was and adjust for being at the top of the band of my salary only to find out "We didn't create promotional criteria so no promotions" (?!) So the team is punished and cannot be promoted because no one or our manager didn't bother to create this criteria, Great for morale right?! Then they give a 1.9% "Merit increase" that IS NOT A MERIT INCREASE. Esp if the excuse is I am already at the top of the band and thats why it is low. YOU REWARD HIGH PERFORMERS. I can't wait to leave this place. It's not where you want to be, The Developer experience is incredibly poor. You will be disappointed. There are ZERO consequences for people that do not perform or deliver anything, which again great for morale, right? It's actually unbelievable, this would have been fireable at any other legitimate tech company.