Skip to contentSkip to footer
      employer cover photo
      employer logo
      employer logo

      MITRE

      Engaged Employer

      MITRE Principal Systems Engineer/Program Manager reviews

      2.7

      25% would recommend to a friend

      (149 total reviews)
      avatar

      Mark Peters

      75% approve of CEO

      9% positive business outlook

      Ratings by demographic groups

      Principal Systems Engineer/Program Manager employees have rated MITRE with 2.7 out of 5 stars, based on 149 company reviews on Glassdoor. This indicates that most Principal Systems Engineer/Program Manager professionals have an average working experience there. MITRE is rated 26% below average by Principal Systems Engineer/Program Manager professionals compared to other employers within the Government & Public Administration industry (3.6 stars).

      Reviews by job title

      149 reviews
      4.0
      Feb 4, 2009

      Great work, outstanding benefits, a few issues.

      Principal engineer
      Recommend
      CEO approval
      Business Outlook

      Pros

      In general, MITRE has challenging and interesting work. The work program is also relevant to our nation's many problems. These factors can lead to a very satisfying technical career at MITRE. The members of the staff have great technical depth and breadth, and can be a tremendous resource for a young engineer. Benefits are outstanding. Most of the first and second level managers provide strong support to work-life balance and flexible work arrangements.

      Cons

      Senior Managers seem disengaged from the workers; we rarely see managers at the Director Level or above. The company has recently developed very clear guidelines and rules for indirect charges, but consistently underfunds a indirect accounts at the department and division levels. This continues to contribute to time reporting issues. Some parts of the work program involve purely programmatic support that could easily be handled by a SETA.

      2.0
      Jan 18, 2009

      Interesting work but a poorly managed organization

      Principal engineer
      Recommend
      CEO approval
      Business Outlook

      Pros

      The best reason to work for MITRE is the opportunity to work on very interesting and important government issues. The work offers an inside view of government operations that few others have, including traditional consulting firms. The employees are well-educated and highly competent for the most part. The company encourages matrix management in order to get the right skills for each project and aims to highly collaborative in its approach. The company seems to truly encourage a work-life balance (in contrast to other organizations where management talks about balance but does everything in its power to discourage employees from pursuing any of the flexibilities offered). The retirement program is very good with generous matching and the funds are vested immediately. Vacation time is also generous--about 23 days of PTO per year. Staff can work at any time, at any location.

      Cons

      Unfortunately, of the all the talk of "working in the public interest" and offering objective opinions, MITRE staff are firmly in the pocket of agency management. There seems to be a genuine fear that failure to agree with agency managers will put the company's future in jeopardy. (And, admittedly, this may be true--however, honesty in the company's mission is desireable.) The organization is supposed to be flat and there appears to be little promotion opportunities for many people. (although I am told that annual increases are "generous") Many managers have gigantic egos and are unafraid of what they don't know. In addition, project management skills are lacking in many quarters. Upper management is invisible; the lack of a clearly articulated vision is extremely evident. The peer review process is a free-for-all which produces questionable benefits.

      4.0
      Sep 13, 2008

      A unique public-service mission, ideal for talented technical entrepreneurs with little need for management support

      Principal scientist
      Recommend
      CEO approval
      Business Outlook

      Pros

      MITRE's public-interest mission is unique and makes one feel proud to work for the company. One feels that one is playing an important (sometimes critical) role in improving US Government programs and activities. MITRE work offers opportunities to have impact that one simply cannot get anywhere else. The company is very family-friendly, and it's not hard to have a satisfying career that allows one to maintain a work/life balance. The company is a not-for-profit, so one isn't constantly fighting to get the next version of the product out the door. The retirement benefits are excellent--a company matching program that exceeds 12% of salary. One is rarely stuck in an unsatisfying job--projects typically change at least one a year, so if your current assignment doesn't make you happy, just work with your manager to look for something different. You might not get something you like right away, but new opportunities do arise on a regular basis. The information technology support is top notch, excellent internal networking infrastructure, excellent support services. Primary work computers are regularly turned over (2-3 yr lifecycle). The facilities, particularly in the Washington DC area, are attractive and well maintained. The culture tends to favors those who are entrepreneurial--in many ways one can make one's own career at MITRE. The company is in many ways a small marketplace of skills, so if you have and continue to develop your skills, and invest time regularly in finding and connecting with your "market", you can have years of steady, diverse work.

      Cons

      Promotion opportunities in purely technical roles end at about the Applied Capability 4 level, after which time one must become a manager in order to advance further. Managers typically have no budget or strong incentive to really manage, as all the engineering staff is assessed based on technical performance. You get what you pay for. The mid-level managers do their management "on the side" so they can focus on technical deliverables. Work opportunities in the Bedford area are becoming harder to find, as the vast majority of MITRE sponsors are located in the DC area. Most of the "plumb jobs" are in DC, as they typically require on-site working relations with US Government officials. The company used to have a strong internal research program, but it has recently transformed into a collection of short term projects with little appetite for sustained focus on strategic problems.

      Viewing 145 - 147 of 149 Reviews
      Related searches: MITRE Principal Systems Engineer/Program Manager jobs | MITRE Principal Systems Engineer/Program Manager salaries | MITRE benefits | MITRE interviews | MITRE conversations
      MITRE reviewsMITRE Principal Systems Engineer/Program Manager reviews

      Glassdoor has 3,046 MITRE reviews submitted anonymously by MITRE employees. Read employee reviews and ratings on Glassdoor to decide if MITRE is right for you.