KLA-Tencor – “Great place to work if you are prepared to sacrifice personal life”

Pros

Cutting-edge technology.
Exceptionally talented engineers.
Above average compensation and reasonable benefits.
Opportunity to travel to interesting places.
Very cosmopolitan work environment.

Cons

There is a culture and unwritten expectation to work long days, weekends and give up vacation time. Also expect to deal with emails and phone calls in the evenings and attend conference calls in the middle of the night.
Too many layers of management and too much red-tape.
Many senior managers are in redundant positions and often seem to create confusing and conflicting messages between execs and the teams doing the work.
Formal procedures and processes are taken too far beyond their intent and designed purpose.

Advice to Senior Management

Streamline the org at the top level manamement - not at the engineer or team lead level.
Get some fresh talent in before the upturn comes.