Pros

As a product engineer at Chrysler there are several benefits. Often times you engage in hands-on engineering, with the ability to work directly on or with cars and trucks. Many times this involves driving and evaluating vehicles, including road trips. You also have the chance to see new products years before they reach the market. If you like project management, most engineering jobs involve a degree of this to ensure parts are sourced, tested, and released on time. Engineers can also interface with various levels of management, something that may not be common at other large companies (i.e. engineers can present to vice presidents).

Cons

Currently the company is not making money, and as a result, there are limited or no salary increases. There is also limited career advancement at the moment. There seems to be too much tracking and reporting in all departments, which detracts from the core business and requires much time and effort from the employees with little realized benefit. As an engineer you are often a project manager, and the suppliers do the actual product design. This can be somewhat frustrating if you want to be more engaged in fundamental engineering. Interfacing with different groups can also be frustrating as there are defined "chimneys" within the organization, each with there own objectives.

Advice to Senior Management

The company should focus on the core business with a defined plan going forward. Continue to focus on the customer and their needs and wants in the products. Build cars and trucks the customers want to buy. Remove the amount of tracking and reporting as it detracts from the core job functions. Examine the working levels to improve efficiencies in order to have a smaller, more productive company,