Pillar Data Systems Reviews

Former Employee – worked at Pillar Data Systems as an intern for less than a year

Pros – Easy going co-workers, always willing to help

Cons – None that I can think of

Advice to Senior Management – none

Yes, I would recommend this company to a friend – I'm optimistic about the outlook for this company

Current Employee – been working at Pillar Data Systems

Pros – they pay you very well and less stressful management. as it's small company, it's family oriented work environment

Cons – Managements are conservative and not opened to new changes

Advice to Senior Management – Be brave to adopt the changes, well it's bought by oracle now.

No, I would not recommend this company to a friend

Current Employee – been working at Pillar Data Systems

Pros – Lot's of freedom to innovate - You have to earn the right though, and that's a good thing
You can work wherever you want to.
Lot's of chances to interact with customers - Important to me
Very approachable Management

Cons – At times, a lack of accountability when things go badly
Too much process for a company of Pillar's size

Advice to Senior Management – Better, and more frequent communication with rank and file employees on status of company

Yes, I would recommend this company to a friend

Former Employee – worked at Pillar Data Systems

Pros – Pleasant environment, some really good people. Funding for projects and infastructure was available. Product was relatively reliable and had some compelling technology behind it. Growing market with large available TAM. Good working hours, maybe too good.

Cons – There is a fraternity atmosphere within the C-Level ranks. This club like atmosphere breeds cronyism and discourages less popular, but more productive employees.

Goals are often unrealistic and there is little accountability when they are not met. . There is a level of Arrogance and Elitism within the R&D side that prevents the company from adequately addressing market needs.

They are still working on the "If you build it , they will come" business model but its been 10 years and the only people making money are the executives and the printers who crank out the latest marketing glossies. What was a cuting edge product is beginning to look like an Edsel.

Advice to Senior Management – Shrink your expectations. Stop pretending to be a Netapp or EMC and focus on profitability. It may mean retrenching with 75-100 good people but carve out a niche and nail it. Put our egos away and stop making excuses for your failures.

No, I would not recommend this company to a friend

Former Employee – worked at Pillar Data Systems

Pros – pay is ok...that's abt it.

Cons – Incompetent senior management who are so engrossed in technoligy that they do not understand mkt conditions.....nepotism is the way to go ...appntm promotions....though they think they are the comapany of the future...truth is futue is not very bright for em.

Advice to Senior Management – be realistic

Former Employee – worked at Pillar Data Systems

Pros – Nice group of people to work with.

Cons – People need to be held accountable regardless of tenure or position.

Advice to Senior Management – EVERYONE need to be held accountable!

No, I would not recommend this company to a friend

Former Employee – worked at Pillar Data Systems

Pros – I really met some wonderful people at Pillar.
Great place for junior/intermediate staff to learn about cutting edge storage tech
Being in a Larry Ellison owned company has upside

Cons – Good Old Boys runnin the show in many areas
This place is middle of the the road as far as places to work are concerned. In the early years, it was a much better environment than it became post 2K8.

Advice to Senior Management – keep improving/evolving the product and you never know! lets face it though, its a tough market.

No, I would not recommend this company to a friend

Former Employee – worked at Pillar Data Systems

Pros – Salary is competitive.
Funding is strong and consistent (almost too forgiving)
Benefits are good.

Cons – Do not promote from within. Management team brings in "buddies" without giving teams opportunity to interview.
Management and technical leadership are weak
Poor communication and working relationships amongst management, functional areas and geographic locations
Good people you want to work with and learn from usually leave

Advice to Senior Management – Start including your employees in company decisions
Invest in employee development
Don't call yourself a startup... it's been over 10 years of product development at this point

No, I would not recommend this company to a friend

Former Employee – worked at Pillar Data Systems

Pros – Solid Product, start up feel

Cons – Poor management, fire every quarter and rehire, Larry Ellison backs the company and its an experiment not a serious effort

Advice to Senior Management – Sell

No, I would not recommend this company to a friend

Former Employee – worked at Pillar Data Systems

Pros – Pillar was a good place to work. Over all senior management was very approachable.

Cons – It is a startup. They layed off 30% of the company in October of 2008. You alwyas have the funding issue hanging over your head.

Advice to Senior Management – I thought senior management was making the right choices.