Northrop Grumman Reviews

Pros

Transfer opportunities within the company. Good benefits for education (100% with some monetary annual caps for the different sectors - ES is the best sector for those benefits by far). Comprehensive health plans with a few options to choose from.

Cons

They are laying people off left and right. I have been there two years so far and they have had 4 layoff with a possibility of two more to come this year (2012).

Advice to Senior Management

Listen to your employees and invest in a younger, more dynamic and cultural diverse work force.

Pros

Lots of support from peers. Great talent and knowledge available.

Cons

Victim of business decisions of parent company in Baltimore.

Advice to Senior Management

Become independent of Baltimore. No power to do so.

Pros

Good place to work. Lots of challenging and interesting programs.

Cons

Company is very large, and management seems disconnected from everyone else.

Advice to Senior Management

Connect more with your employees

Pros

Excellent 401k, Credit Union, and Medical plans. Decent retirement/separation packages. Onsite fitness center and fitness classes. Excellent tuition assistance.

Cons

Incompetent and undeserving middle and upper management. Poor strategy planning that causes unnecessary time constraints and inefficient use of resources. Onsite HR is worthless. Promotions are only given to those that are in the right circle. It's hard to get recognized for hard work and talent unless you know the right person.

Advice to Senior Management

Take a good look at your upper & middle management, a lot of them are very incompetent and lack management skills. You will lose some of the most talented and smartest employees, if you 1) work them to death, 2) don't recognize and compensate their achievements, 3) challenge them, and 4) continue promoting undeserving people to management roles.

Pros

There are great benefits and flexible schedule. Most of the employees are friendly and willing to share their knowledge with new engineers.

Cons

The dynamic nature of upper management doesn't seem to trickle down to lower management or engineers. Lots of stagnant employees.

Advice to Senior Management

When bringing in new talent, have a plan for them that extends past a couple of months. Young people get bored quickly.

Pros

Straight forward expectations from middle management regarding daily work. You are left alone as long as metrics meet expectations. You can set your own schedule, within guidelines. The training for the job is incredibly specific and comprehensive.

Cons

Benefits are typically poor and vary widely from year to year. Middle management really doesn't want to hear what you have to say. Senior management will then send out a manditory poll about how engaged you are in the company. Having a contract job that is renewed year to year gets old after awhile.

Advice to Senior Management

Have fun! While I will cheerfully comply with any policy you set, I will just as cheerfully work for any other company.

Pros

Depending on your manager, work life will be balanced.
Flexible hours depending on which location you are employed.
Great health benefits.

Cons

- Not cutting edge technology. When there are cut-backs and you are laid-off, you will not have the skill sets to apply in the commercial industry.

- A LOT of bureaucratic red tape and favoritism.

- Too many former old military people that become incompetent managers.

Pros

Good Coworkers, Management that cares, Competitive Salary.

Cons

Worst Time-Off in Top 10 Firms, Difficult Prescription Drug Plan, Extremely Poor HR.

Advice to Senior Management

Increase vacation time - at present it is not competitive, and there is nothing that compensates for it. Fix the dysfunctional relationship with HR and Accounting - at the present it is losing you money and discouraging employees.

Pros

Challanging work and smart co-workers make for an in vigorating environment. When times are good there is money for software and hardware

Cons

When the defense industry cuts back there are whole sale layoffs as in all defense related companies. You have to be in the right circles to survive

Advice to Senior Management

Learn to accept responsibilities, A good manager always works themselves out of a job instead of saving thier own jobs at the expense of others.

Pros

Above average salary
Pretty flexible schedule. I am able to make my own schedule most of the time.
Good employees to work with
Good Management
Fun

Cons

No room to promote in the job I am in
Inappropriate hiring techniques
Not always fair promotions
Sometimes late hours/overtime