Dude Solutions Reviews

Pros

Great benefits including unlimited PTO, work from anywhere, very competitive medical plans and 401k matching. From an Engineer's perspective, the problems that need to be solved are really neat and challenging. The business is in a unique position to really make some waves in the industry. The vast majority of the mid-level leadership within Engineering are very good mentors and are genuine in their daily management... of the teams. Ed (the CEO) is a straight shooter and communicates very well. He walks the talk every day.

Cons

Senior leadership within Engineering uses fear-based tactics to try and "keep their folks in line". This style does not promote the best kind of work environment where you feel like you have to walk on eggshells every day. If you're in disagreement with a decision that is made, and you make a public comment saying such (even if it's completely respectful and justified), you are often shown the door. If you're... looking for a pure Agile shop, this is not the place any longer. Changes have been made recently which have started to trend towards more of a "Scrum fall" methodology. The concept of self-organizing teams is out the window. Management dictates how things will go and you have no choice but to comply.

Advice to Management

It's really a shame that things have reached the point that they have. When I first arrived at the Dude, I viewed it as a "destination job" and thought I would never leave because of the awesome culture and perks that the company offered. The culture, within Engineering at least, has lost so much of its luster. Senior leadership should take a look in the mirror and ask themselves why their best folks keep walking... out the door. Stop with the fear-based leadership style and focus on being servant leaders. To Ed, keep doing what you're doing. Though we never met one on one, I always enjoyed reading your emails and attending your Town Halls; the fact that you're as transparent as you can be is commendable.

Pros

Lots of opportunities have come up in the last few years. Its been an exciting time and a great group of people that we work for and with!

Cons

The rate of change internally has outpaced our business systems. Things are always improving but you have to hang on for the ride!

Pros

Nice people on the engineering

Cons

The company doesn't know how to run an engineering team at all. Extremely high turn over and unable to keep consistent management.

Pros

The peers in the trenches daily and decent benefits.

Cons

Top heavy with reps on my team. Only a few are having a lot of success, the rest are not even close to hitting quota. This has been happening on this team for quite a while and there is a common denominator that will never be resolved. This sort of culture was created at the foundation of the leadership before CEO joined. Leadership has learned how to play the game and cover up the details. It isn’t rocket science... to figure out which team this is happening on.

Advice to Management

It is time to fix this. Multiple have left or been let go from this team, yet same story, different day.

Pros

Executives are doing their best to improve overall health of the company. Employees are working hard with mediocre management and with less benefits than before

Cons

The engineering management is not experienced in building software teams, and came from a waterfall background. One of the director talks idealistically, however, his main focus is to climb up the ladder. It is pitiful to watch engineering management standards fell to all time low at Dude. Engineers run away from this place!!!

Advice to Management

Take a close look at your engineering management team, and revamp the team!

Pros

Work life balance is awesome

Cons

Not any I can think of off top of my head

Pros

There is a lot of potential here. But I guess anyone could wreck a shiny good quality car when given the chance.

Cons

The mid level leadership is lacking in a major way. A good leader elevates his or her employees to do and be their best by giving them the tools necessary and walking along side them. With the right tools, education, and support, it’s up to the employees to succeed or fail. Fair, yes. But, when you keep loosing very valuable teammates, you start to realize the common denominator. The leaders at Dude suppress their... employees, and literally tell them they were hired to fulfill that particular position only, thus preventing any chance of growth (Even when offered a growth position on a different team.) Moving in the company is frowned upon or prevented. Bad form. The leadership program is now a joke. Especially when you allow people to go through it that no one on the team respects but don’t allow people to go through it who the rest of the team comes to for advice. Oh, wait, I think that falls under that favoritism category we seem hear so very much about in all these posts. Yup. That’s real people. Keep your mouth shut if you want to be happy. Outspoken people get punished. People with honest to goodness experience in the industry get suppressed and told to stay in their lane. Or end up fired....excuse me....optioned out. Yup. That’s right. You get paid to leave. (Read: leave quietly.) The culture here is poor at best. And seems to sink further down the drain with every passing day. Sure, once a month you cone together, crack a beer, and talk about the sales numbers....but that only goes so far. Look at your retention rate. And don’t give me some crap about the growth and retention rate being low due to all the new hires and new positions being created. Look at how many times your teams have turned over during the last few years. Whole dang teams!! (Minus the 1 or 2 people that stick it out)!!

Advice to Management

In reverence to July 1 review titled “this place has become a joke”....sorry HR is absolutely NOT a safe zone. What you talk about does leak! It happened to me as well as others. Ed, sorry man, you my friend are also not a safe zone. Details of at least 1 private HR conversation leaked out to team members of the non-leadership level. Details, man! Button it up and get serious about your employees feelings and... right to privacy and growth. Do right by people and they will do right by you.

Pros

Benefits weren't bad. Work from anywhere. High salaries for the area. Bonus programs for those lucky enough to get one.

Cons

Unrealistic expectations and delivery dates. Most people in Engineering are worried about being being put on PIPs or being asked to exit. The CEO asks everyone to come by for coffee and talk. Nothing has changed. We know it takes time, but the needle hasn't moved forward. The needle has moved backwards. Over and over. The leadership team is destroying what were solid agile processes, what was a solid engineering... organization for mediocrity. Don't ever give your opinion. Keep your mouth shut and pound out code.

Advice to Management

If the goal is to completely offshore Engineering, be transparent and let the team know.