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General Atomics

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Senior leadership has taken a fall from grace - Director General Atomics Employee Review

2.0
18 Mar 2022
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

9/80 work week The working level relationships and people

Cons

The culture at this company has taken such a fall from grace to where it was four years ago. Senior leadership is completely out of touch and tone deaf to employees. A newer culture with recent senior leadership hires has fostered one of misogyny, nepotism, exclusivity, ageism to name a few. Senior leadership has abhorrently taken on a culture of exclusivity, closed door meetings to anyone but VPs, and a team that is obtusely white male over the age of 60. CEO is acutely aware of the latest attrition and culture changes but refuses to take on confrontation with subordinates to make any meaningful change. Senior leadership ignores employment attrition due to lack of remote flexibility and low pay. Even for those willing to stay with only an equitable market value are encouraged to leave with Internal processes through HR for meaningful and reasonable promotions taking godly acts that extend months long, creating a harder environment to retain talent. The name of the game with the senior staff is ego. All business decisions, actions, and meeting activities are at the behest of political agendas internally, regardless of the toll it takes on subordinates or good business practice. Working Weekends, holidays are the norm. Business these days has an air of desperation as such. Everything is a fire, emergency, and due now. No appreciation or respect for internally documented processes and procedures, and an unwillingness from senior leadership to utilize them. Commentary from current and previous employees is that the culture here is emotionally abusive, a very sad turn over the last several years.

Explore other reviews about General Atomics

5.0
8 June 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

Very good work life balance

Cons

9 hour shifts 4 days a week

3.0
11 June 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

Mostly good people and skilled engineers that are easy to work with and great to learn from across all groups/locations. There is opportunity to pursue technical areas of interest and to stand out by leading improvement efforts. The company is flexible and often facilitates changes according to interest. Sense of job security generally feels good and stable, the greater GA really backs the Space division. The greater company works on some really interesting and cool things, beyond just defense. Pay is pretty good. Experience with most middle management (of engineers) has been positive, they typically advocate and support their employees.

Cons

Unsure of division leadership and strategic direction. Overall impression is that engineers' perspectives are not adequately weighted in both proposals and certain decisions for active missions. Processes burden performance, though there is intention for constant improvement. Ignoring engineering concerns (i.e. with schedule) + process burdens often result in delays and increased pressure, and therefore a less than ideal working environment at times. Overtime pay is not guaranteed but can be approved. Working with teams in different locations can lead to tension and "silo-ing" (though not always). Space division is becoming mostly defense focused (an industry trend), but would be nice to continue work in the civil earth and space science arena. They also demo'd a nice cafeteria/gathering space for more work/equipment space.

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