More toxic than a nuclear test site - Software Engineer Portside (US) Employee Review

1.0
25 July 2025
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

The actual devs I worked with were cool, smart, helpful, and friendly people. I wish I could have met them under different circumstances. Flexible remote hours. Salary wasn't too shabby. The interview process was quite pleasant in the moment (even if it was all a facade, and completely different from actually working there).

Cons

Management is more toxic than a nuclear test site. Tickets are assigned and progress evaluated at breakneck rate by people who don't code and don't know the technical blockers, yet expect a continuous high volume of delivery from everyone all the time. On a small dev team, the turnover rate in one year was 50%, between people not getting through probation, being fired for performance, and having had enough and quitting. This is an absurdly high number and should tell you all you need to know. How'd my exit go? I booked one day off for a family member's health issue, and the director wanted to talk about it. A normal human would start this conversation with "Is everything okay with your loved one?". This guy leads with "What is impact of family emergency on performance?", aggressively goes into a guilty-until-proven-innocent shoot-first-ask-questions-later inquisition on what I've accomplished, makes vague accusations that he can't quantify or qualify, and demands "100% time and focus on work from now on". This 10 minute absolutely unhinged interaction was without exaggeration the most insulted and disrespected I have ever been in my adult life, and is not something any person with a modicum of self-respect would find acceptable, so I quit with zero regrets. Even returning the laptop was bonkers, and was an entire extra unpaid day of back-and-forth with HR figuring out the logistics and having one problem after another. Every other company makes this part easy and frictionless because they just want their stuff back and understand the exiting employee has no more stake in the matter. Unless you like being burned out, gaslighted, abused, straight up threatened, told to abandon everything in your life for the sake of pErFoRmAnCe, and then continue to have your time wasted even after you quit, do yourself a solid and stay far away.

Explore other reviews about Portside (US)

5.0
13 May 2026
Anonymous employee
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

One of the best remote work cultures I have experienced. Leadership is approachable, supportive, and genuinely values work life balance. Managers trust employees to do their jobs without micromanaging, and meetings are typically efficient and respectful of everyone’s time. The company has a very collaborative environment. Coworkers are knowledgeable, responsive, and easy to work with. Training and onboarding resources were well organized, and there is a strong focus on continuous improvement and technology. Flexibility is another major plus. There is a high level of trust between management and employees, which creates a positive and professional work environment.

Cons

Like many growing companies, there have been some recent leadership changes that naturally created a period of adjustment. Communication during transitions can always continue to improve, but overall the company has handled changes professionally.

5.0
22 Apr 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

From my very first day, I have felt incredibly welcomed into this fantastic working environment. The organization is highly receptive to new ideas and proactive about modernizing our tools, which pairs perfectly with the autonomy I am given to lead my department and improve both internal and external processes. I consistently have access to the resources I need to innovate. What truly stands out is our dedicated staff. Everyone deeply understands our mission and shows genuine passion for our clients, a commitment I have clearly witnessed at company events. The vast expertise across the team gives me absolute confidence in the product we sell and the overall trajectory of the company. On top of all this, the benefits are excellent, and I have already learned an incredible amount during my short time here.

Cons

While I am truly happy here, our rapid growth naturally brings a few minor growing pains. Due to several recent acquisitions, some departments can occasionally feel disconnected. Fortunately, the organization is taking a highly proactive approach to unite everyone under a cohesive "One Portside" culture. In just my short time here, I have already witnessed positive changes that have noticeably improved collaboration and helped us work better together. Additionally, because the company is moving at such a fast pace, there could occasionally be a bit more organization on the product side, particularly when it comes to internally educating the broader team about upcoming updates.

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