Pros
- The applied technology of autonomous cars and trucks is a promising space and could be useful technology for our communities. - Basic benefits (healthcare, savings plan matches, childcare, paternity leave) are pretty good . - Salaries are okay but not tech-industry great, especially since equity refresh grants are not that generous for non-execs, and equity is not liquid now.
Cons
Company culture is poor. Leadership puts very little effort into building trust and loyalty among employees and management; it is also not a priority to make the employee work experience fun and fulfilling. Can't speak for the engineering group, but in non-engineering org there is not a lot of good, accountable people management. Favorite buddies get promoted and put in charge, and work is managed very top-down, don't question authority. It's tough to be heard and to bring in fresh ideas if not already a promoted from within insider. Many in leadership and people manager roles are decent people but less mature than in bigger companies and not broadly experienced, and so their own learning and growth curve plus a busy work load for near-term deliverables can override the manager's capability to manage employees well, to foster contribution and development, or to make priorities of important goals like true diversity and inclusion.