Changing for the worse - Staff Engineer Wisk Employee Review

This company was once an exceptional place to work; however, the pace and workload have increased dramatically, resulting in significant changes to the work environment. While unlimited PTO is offered, the current workload renders it impossible to take advantage of this benefit depending on which department you work in. Work-life balance has deteriorated substantially. Compounding the issue, the company is eliminating the 9/80 schedule due to falling behind on deliverables which was met with boos across the company all-hands. Leadership has established aggressive goals that are widely recognized by the engineering team as unattainable. The company's goals have already been revised twice and are now on the verge of being adjusted for a third time. With each revision, leadership continues to demand increased effort and longer hours without addressing the underlying issues or acknowledging the unrealistic nature of these expectations. The company's ambitious outlook stem from leadership's lack of experience and understanding of proper design cycles and production cycles. While this inexperience was previously obscured by a slower operational pace, the recent increase in work pace and workload has exposed their shortcomings. These flawed assumptions are reflected in the company's unrealistic timelines and goals. The engineering team has repeatedly escalated concerns about these issues, but it appears that someone in leadership is filtering this feedback before it reaches the CEO. Alternatively, it is possible that someone in leadership made unrealistic commitments to secure continued funding from Boeing. In addition to these systemic challenges, there is a specific director who has received numerous complaints from managers and other directors and has been the subject of multiple HR reports. Despite these issues and a lack of positive contributions, this individual remains in a leadership position without facing any repercussions. If this message reaches the CEO, it is strongly recommended that this matter be investigated further. Beyond organizational issues, cultural challenges also persist. One department, in particular, consistently avoids accountability. This department has repeatedly failed to meet expectations but manages to deflect attention by shifting blame onto others. Accountability and responsibility remain significant deficiencies within the company, extending from the departmental level to leadership level. In summary, while the company maintains ambitious goals, a lack of experienced leadership, unrealistic expectations, and accountability issues threaten its long-term success. Addressing these concerns is critical to restoring balance, improving morale, and ensuring sustainable growth.