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Mainstream Engineering

Engaged Employer

Mainstream Engineering reviews

3.7

66% would recommend to a friend

(8 total reviews)

Michael Rizzo

67% approve of CEO

57% positive business outlook

Reviews by job title

8 reviews

Reviews about "Compensation"

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2.0
Feb 23, 2019
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

Young engineers, especially right of school, have the opportunity to lead projects and gain experience. Pay for young engineers is above average. There is the opportunity for comp time and pay incentives for winning contracts. There are many different technologies you will be exposed to. Provides lots of learning opportunities/experience for your next job.

Cons

There is zero opportunity for advancement. The management consists of a small executive team and six technology leaders below that. Then there is every one else. Even when the technologies leave, they do not promote but instead spread responsibility over the remaining leaders. Management and technology leaders are largely winging it. No one has management training or project management training. If you are not an engineer, you are treated as second class. There is a very rigid pecking order that is set from the executive team on down. Pay structure is such that technology leaders will receive 6-10% raise yearly. Everyone else will get the scraps after management gets theirs. Company culture has gotten toxic as employees become disillusioned by the lack of mobility and false promises from management. Diversity is a dirty word there. It is a good ole boys club. You can count on one hand the number of female or minority engineers. Management will openly joke about current events and lament how boys can't be boys anymore. The company will chase any funding sources no matter how obscure. Everything from hand gun automated test stands to cleaning dish water to refrigerated caskets. It means that there is no core experience or focus. Anything and everything is fair game. The company operates largely as an SBIR farm with no intention to grow the business or change. Winning Phase II contracts is the goal. The research needed to fulfill the contract is given a half hearted effort. No one in management cares since there is usually not continued funding after Phase II. Company made an effort to improve online profile in 2017. They packed this website with positive reviews instead of solving culture and management issues.

5.0
Nov 27, 2017
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

- If sufficiently motivated, you define your own job description in R&D - The ability to collaborate with the best and brightest in diverse engineering fields - Excellent pay with no glass ceiling on salary increases - Develop cutting edge science, engineer them into products & see technology from the idea phase to implementation - Very family-first oriented business from the top down - Excellent continuing education opportunities that are highly supported, funded, and encouraged as a company - Excellent facilities & internal investment in their improvement - Absolutely on the cutting edge of energy research - Well known and respected R&D company

Cons

- Flat management structure with little positions for upward movement. While it doesn't impact continual salary increases, you need to love and want to do R&D day in and out, and not be "in it for the title". - Very fast paced. You need to be agile and able to adapt/change quickly! - Very cutting edge. You need to be well educated, smart and have a creative mindset. - There is very little daily oversight but as much support as needed on request. You need to be very self-driven and motivated through truly enjoying what you do....R&D. - Be prepared to go out of your comfort zone as most projects are very interdisciplinary and require continually learning new concepts.

Viewing 7 - 8 of 8 Reviews

Glassdoor has 37 Mainstream Engineering reviews submitted anonymously by Mainstream Engineering employees. Read employee reviews and ratings on Glassdoor to decide if Mainstream Engineering is right for you.