Lacks direction, lacks leadership capability, untrained & inexperienced managers manage via intimidation
Pros
First I just want to say, I am not writing this as an embittered ex-employee or someone with an axe to grind. I am a current employee considering a company change. I want to put comments in here that set the scene for potential new recruits so they can get an overall view along with other people's comments. Good to get a first job here either engineering or project management as you will be exposed to a lot (somewhat double edged sword). It is sink or swim so if you thrive in that environment then great. If you show aptitude and assertiveness you can gain a lot of experience in a short timeframe. If your first job then you will learn about office politics quickly. Good holiday entitlement but the trick is being able to take it.
Cons
In brief it is known in the space industry as a sweat shop. 60-80 hours a week for sustained periods can be the norm. Especially if you show aptitude. ie you are relied upon to cover for the more shall we say 'less able' staff. This means there is no buffer from a resource perspective when extra support is really needed. You work til you drop essentially. There is a reluctance / fear to deal with poor performers ultimately resulting in lacklustre project delivery performance from project to project. Poor performers in engineering and project management in equal measure. Very much a clique atmosphere, with senior managers in the business outwardly showing favouritism and displaying very poor behaviour. Project/programme managers and engineering still purport an 'us and them' and 'pass the buck' mentality. Generally to hide their own lack of responsibility or poor capability and performance. Senior managers, programme managers, engineering managers all show a lack of emotional intelligence and a lack of personnel management skills. The company kids itself in maintaining 'the old family SSTL way' it has over 500 people! The company structure seems to change every year. This time career paths have essentially been cut off for engineering and project management, driving moral down. Communication on topics that count is very poor. Ever decreasing Times 100 scores indicate a downward spiral with the senior management right in the bullseye. Lack of timely (or any!) decision making is endemic from the top down. Taking personal responsibility seems to be taboo. The leadership is disparate and not a good example to follow. Real leaders and change agents seemed to have left the company over the last year; the people who make positive things happen seem to have gone. Eventually I think the company will be absorbed into the parent company. I suspect that date is approaching fast.