Underpaid, Understaffed, and Under Bahethi
Pros
If you are employed by SSAI you likely work at/for NASA. That's pretty cool, and there is value there. There is a lot of room for personal growth and expansion into new fields (SSAI has zero control or influence over this, but it is generally encouraged within NASA).
Cons
Underpaid: you will be underpaid. Find a private sector job and it will almost certainly pay more. The benefits are mediocre at best. Topline healthcare is 180/month for 1500 deductible and 50-100 copays on visits and prescriptions. 401k match is 3%. Furthermore, as of March 2025, a freeze on pay raises and promotions are also in place for the "indefinite future", so if you choose to work here make sure you negotiate well when you are hired. Understaffed: SSAI is effectively just a HR company for NASA/NOAA. All the research, development, maintenance you may do (if you have one of those roles) is for NASA/NOAA, and has nothing to do with SSAI. That said, SSAI is TERRIBLE at HR. I have met one competent person, and she does trip reimbursements. I was verbally berated during onboarding by two different people for asking for help figuring out my benefits (this is my first "real" job) - once because I asked the wrong person for help, and then again by the "correct" person, because I asked for help. Under Bahethi: SSAI was founded by Dr. Om Bahethi, who sadly passed away in late 2024. I never met him, but have only heard positive things about him. The definition of a self-made man, he seemed like someone who truly cared about people, not only because they were his employees, but also because they were fellow humans and simply deserved his respect. He stepped down some time ago, and last year his children took over the leadership roles of the company. They, quite simply, are lacking the compassion that their father apparently had in abundance. The the raise/promotion freeze, (very rare) emails filled with non-answers and legalese, and the general sense that they are unwilling to fight for their employees in this time of turmoil has given the sense that they care more about the survival of the company then the success/livelihoods of their employees.
