Boeing Satellite Systems International Reviews in El Segundo, CA

Pros

Lots of interesting work, lots of intelligent people, great benefits if you're young and don't mind a highly hierarchical corporate structure.

Cons

If you're over forty, be prepared for a sudden departure whenever another project takes a hit; this is a company ruled by "we don't need older engineers" as a philosophy.

Advice to Senior Management

Lean to value to worth of older engineers who are still able to do the work. We shouldn't be turfed out just because of our age.

Pros

Company is doing well overall in a challenging economic environment.
Company is well known.

Cons

Incompetent management, poor organization, no methods or defined processes, no tools, poor work environment, disrespectful staff, poor prospects for career growth, very poor diversity, no employee engagement and morale activities, poor work/life balance, overly stressed staff.

Advice to Senior Management

I have had the opportunity to work at many companies prior to working here at Boeing and I have never seen a more dysfunctional organization. I am very worried about the long term prospects at Boeing Satellite Systems International (SSI). With other competitors such as Loral, Orbital and EADS operating a much smoother operation with excellent employee morale, Boeing SSI will not be able to attract and retain smart engineers and will not competitive in the coming years.

Pros

Long history of a company, solid engineering processes

Cons

Limited job growth potential. Coworkers don't have much experience outside of engineering, limited ability to grow outside your narrow field of competence.

Advice to Senior Management

The commercial satellite industry has over capacity that is why it is difficult to make a profit in the space. Your focus should be to reduce fixed costs and build a flexible labor force. Consider integrating more with the rest of Boeing and taking on more work project from other Boeing divisions (this will help you spread your fixed costs over more revenue and give your employees a more interesting career)

Pros

Hard to criticize a company that sees it's not competitive and makes the necessary changes! Ever since Craig Cooning came on board we have won lots of new business, delivered more satellites than any other manufacturer, and we appear to be safe from massive layoffs. I have seen other posts about the "gray beard" employees, but I'd submit that when I have engaged these experienced pros I have actually learned a thing or two, which helps me to do my job better. I have no issue at all with "seasoned" employees being on the payroll. Whenever we face a technical challenge it's the experience of the group that gets us back on track. They listen to me, and I listen to them. But let me correct something: Boeing Satellite Systems International is a small part of the main unit under Craig Cooing. He runs Boeing Space and Intelligence Systems, not Jim McNerney. McNerney is Boeing's CEO, i.e. Top Corporate Dog. In 18 months or so this satellite unit has brought in at least $3B in new business. If you want stability and the chance to learn from the masters, this is the place to work. Is it Dreamworks? No. It's a defense company. But we hear often from our military customers about the differences our products make in saving lives and I for one am proud of the work I do.

Cons

I think sometimes we'd like to hear more from management, and of course this is a unit of a huge Corporation, so there are standard processes and procedures that have to be followed, but just like the flu shot, it's for our own good. If management wants to devote the majority of its time to talking to customers -- current, past, and future -- I am all in! Hard to argue with $3B in new awards in such a short time from a commercial satellite market that everyone assumes is still in decline. I wish we weren't so busy....but that's a good problem, right?

Advice to Senior Management

Keep making the tough choices that bring in new business, and keep talking to us.

Pros

- great pay
- good health care package
- generous 401K matching
- flexible work schedule (telecommuting, time-flexing)
- learning together program pays for aerospace-related education
- formal and informal mentoring
- great career advancement opportunities (for middle management)

Cons

if you are excited about developing new technology, if you are more interested in engineering than paperwork, if you are young and passionate, this place is not for you. BSS used to be Hughes, which was a non-profit and once produced high-quality, cutting edge technology, where no expense was spared, and engineers were deeply invested in the product. now under the boeing model, BSS outsources everything, leaving only integration activities at the site. cost reduction, lean manufacturing (terrible for custom-built spacecraft), and meeting scheduled milestones are now the most important metrics. innovation is killed because 1) outsourcing has lead to the gradual loss of technical expertise, where activities shifted from in-house knowledge to managing subcontractors, 2) the employees are on average old "grey beards" who protect what knowledge they have to retain employment and command ever-higher salaries, 3) programs are so desperate to produce value in the form of profit that old, proven designs are propagated and new designs are ignored because of their poor short-term investment return, 4) it is impossible to fire anyone, meaning that lazy, incompetent engineers remain, creating a culture that embraces the path of least resistance, i.e. "if it ain't' broke, don't fix it."

in addition, boeing has too much management. it is the opposite of a flat management model. i have never seen so many levels of management. everyone in charge of anything is so busy protecting their own "turf" that the bigger picture -- actually making awesome satellites -- is ignored. the organization is too big, too slow to react, too afraid to be daring, too old, too focused on the wrong set of goals.

Advice to Senior Management

- abandon the boeing outsourcing model. you are gradually losing technical expertise as well as control over how your satellites are made.
- short-sighted focus on immediate returns is misguided. it is not sustainable, particularly in terms of quality.
- adopt more flexible employment practices. union workers (technicians) are here to stay. salaried engineers, however, should be expected to work hard and prove their worth. ineffective engineers should be purged and replaced.
- invest in R&D.

Pros

Challenging work; co-workers are helpful; Good benefits

Cons

Good old boys network; Management looking out for themselves: Lack of unified processes.

Advice to Senior Management

Respect your employees; Reward those who produce.

Pros

Working on cool satellite systems that will be sent to the space.

Cons

Not enough new things to learn

Advice to Senior Management

N/A

Pros

The work is extremely challenging and has a global impact by bringing people together and protecting our country. Very satisfying work....
Never a dull moment.
The leadership cares about its employees and values diversity and innovation.
Very focused on process improvement and making the environment better for all.
People are well compensated and recognized for good work.

Cons

Unfortuntately , due to economy and the DOD budget, we have had layoffs and continue to do so, however, the company goes out of its way to help people find jobs and get through the tough times.

Advice to Senior Management

Craig Cooning is an excellent leader. He has the technical experience and is very people focused. He holds his people accountable and is trying to bring in new work.

Pros

Challenging Technology, Producing top of the line Product.

Cons

The company seems to have no direction. The future looks gloomy and uncertain. Management not investing in the future.

Advice to Senior Management

Pay attention and invest in future technology. Encourage and reward outstanding employees.

Pros

The benefits are extremely good. Good health care, disability plans and life insurance. The disability plans don't cost you a dime. There is plenty of potential to be had at BSS but serious reorganizing and restructuring would be required first.

Cons

Your best chance on being promoted relies on your gender. Females are treated much better and those that sleep with their bosses are promoted faster than anyone. Males are a dime a dozen in an industry such as this one so maybe this pattern is the norm within all engineering companies, but I certainly hope not.

Work also does not flow down from management as it should and schedules and worker assignments are not allocated correctly. People sit around a good portion of the day waiting for information they need to do their work, or waiting for an assignment from management. This is a serious problem on DOD programs.

Advice to Senior Management

I don't even know how to restructure things, I'm not a manager, but there are definitely too many levels of management with managers managers single managers below them. This waste time and money, and prevents work assignments from reaching someone that will do the work. One thing above all is to practice ethics and decency, stop looking at genders and look at productivity, knowledge, and usefullness... And stop sleeping with the females working under you.