Interesting work but frustrating bureaucracy - Research Engineer Thales Employee Review

4.0
Sep 6, 2012
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

Excellent work/life balance and healthcare. Excellent physical working environment. Very interesting technical job and lot of skillful people. Good job and salary (at least for a researcher). If your manager is good enough, everything is just fine. Salary evolution is easily predicable and depends more on seniority than on competencies.

Cons

Frustrating bureaucracy that values politics more than everything else. Informations are spreading only from people to people, it is really difficult to just work with other units. Technical strategy is laughable and changes every year, along with cosmetics changes of the heavy management structure. The information system is way more than a disaster. You must struggle a bit to do the job your paid for. Salary evolution is easily predicable and depends more on seniority than on competencies.

Explore other reviews about Thales

5.0
Feb 12, 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

Great company culture, good mix of rigor and relaxed

Cons

Could be more generous in order to keep talented employees

1.0
Apr 15, 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

*This only applies to the Montgomeryville location* None. Used to be a great place to work. I enjoyed the work I did and the various teams I worked with.

Cons

*This only applies to the Montgomeryville location* -Health benefits have gotten worse each year. -Constant layoffs. -Changed from an 8 hour 3 shift day, 5 days a week to a 10 hour 2 shift day, 4 days out of the week. The idea was to save money on overtime, then they started asking the employees to stay the 4 hours between shifts. Then they started asking the employees to work the extra 3 days. Then they made the employees sign a waiver, making the 3 days mandatory when needed. -Flat raises, everyone gets the same raise. -Lower management no longer cares -Upper management is too focused on vanity projects or no longer cares

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