Engineering at risk from centralisation - Senior Software Engineer SolarWinds Employee Review

3.0
23 Jan 2019
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

There are a lot of great people at SolarWinds, some interesting and varied projects to work on, and an increasingly varied technology stack, which is bringing in a lot of cutting edge technology and system architecture. This makes it a good (and increasingly better still) place to work from a technology perspective. Career progression opportunities in Engineering are good for those that are high performers. There is also a lot of attention paid to supervision, mentoring, career progression etc. Engineering leadership within the UK is very good, and has improved greatly in recent years so there is good support and direction for matters within their jurisdiction.

Cons

Since the former LogicNow was acquired by SolarWinds, the way Engineering projects are managed has gradually changed. Decision making all too often becoming centred on the Ottawa office which has a very different (and not particularly enlightened or agile) management style. Teams in the UK increasingly need to collaborate with teams in Ottawa (and elsewhere) which means more time in meetings and less autonomy to get stuff done as they see fit. Skilled and high performing teams and individuals have therefore been disempowered and managed remotely from Ottawa, which has led to some good people leaving. This is unfortunate given the good UK engineering leadership, which seem powerless to influence this - it seems like decisions are being taken over their heads.

Explore other reviews about SolarWinds

5.0
19 May 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

Stimulating work, great people, nice office space with good amenities, good work life balance and flexibility on in-office time, competitive compensation

Cons

siloed org which is very standard for this industry

4.0
10 June 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

Amazing office space in Charlotte with a strong emphasis on work-life balance. There are plenty of social events and networking opportunities that help employees stay engaged and build relationships across different business units. The recent IT reorganization has created a unique opportunity to participate in system and process design initiatives. While this level of change and transformation may not appeal to everyone, it offers valuable experience for those who enjoy shaping new processes and driving organizational improvements. I am optimistic about the direction of the organization and confident in the vision and leadership of the new IT management team.

Cons

Career advancement opportunities can sometimes feel limited within a satellite office environment, and promotion paths are not always clearly defined. Employees seeking long-term growth may benefit from having proactive career development conversations with leadership. The recent IT reorganization has introduced a period of transition, resulting in some uncertainty and lower morale across parts of the organization. The department is currently in a rebuilding phase, and new employees should expect to contribute to the implementation of new processes, systems, and ways of working. Compensation appears to be somewhat below market rates for certain roles, which may be a consideration for candidates prioritizing salary growth.

See reviews by: Helpful|Rating|Date|All