SAIC Reviews

Pros

Health insurance is cheap and OK. Client site is ok when the need arises to go out and see the light of day.

Cons

I've never worked for a company so bent into tormeting employees into submission and compliance than SAIC. Like other Beltway Bandits it is a company deeply mired in a government/military mindset (of operation and profit taking) that just doesn't fit in the twenty first century. You're reminded constantly about ethics not for your sake but for theirs. Immediate supervisors and managers are very removed from you; if you have not been here for more than three years you are an outsider. Time keeping policies are stiffling, obsesive-cumpulsive and oppresive (in the last month I've had mine rejected four times for little things). It quickly becomes a dead-end job and you dread waking up each morning to face your commute, spend eight gruelling hours at your desk and pray for time to go fast so you can leave.

You're basically a cog in the machine. Period. Heck, there aren't even supplies in the kitchen or the work area I was in (i.e., basics like napkins, spoons, cups, pencils, pens). I bought my own pens, pencils and cups from the CVS down the street. What does this remind you of? The word you're thinking of starts with a 'P'. You have to use client computers, which are boarded up ('secured') so much, you can't even use SAICs own document management systems correctly.

And let's not get started on the quality of the projects you do. If you've been in a government project before you've seen it: milk the government for all the time you can, while you can. No quality, no real management of the issues that the government has, outdated ideas, you get the point.

If you get a call from an SAIC recruiter, just politely tell them to go away. The guys at HQ have it good. If you have TS/SCI clearance and I guess if you work at a really exotic location (e.g., research) you're good too. Otherwise, it is hell. Stay away.

Advice to Senior Management

My advice for SAIC leadership? SAIC is too big and has its fingers on way too many pots for its own good. Apparently this once was an employee-owned company; there is no evidence now of that ever happening. Maybe other SAIC projects are great and employees over there are happy about the work they do. But I don't think that is the case everywhere you go.

Loosen up on the bureaucracy. Be nimble and flexible. As younger people join SAIC, and quicly become dissilussioned you will start suffering and leave, again, causing no instituional growth and gaps in knowledge. Be better with technology: the web 2.0 revolution is happening right outside your door and you're holed up in your closet, crying and praying for it to go away.

Or better yet, please go away an be extinct. Like the dinosaurs you and the other Beltway Bandits are. By doing so perhaps you will save us, the taxpayers, some money.

Pros

Benefits are some of the best offered.

Cons

Manager was very competent as a project manager, but a very poor manager of people. Was not a people person at all.

Advice to Senior Management

Managers need more communications training and need to know the true meaning of an "open door policy" and the word "approachable."

Pros

The company gave me every opportunity to advance. I had a great time, particularly in the early days when we were still employee-owned. I loved the entrepreneurial spirit of the company and really felt like if you did a good job, you were rewarded.

Cons

The company changed a lot after Dr. Beyster stepped down. When SAIC went public, it changed the company's focus. Senior management was not interested in innovation and interesting work. They became focused completely on profit and revenue. We had a lot of senior management turnover and good managers left. I left when my Group President retired and new management was not strong.

Pros

Other than benefits there are no really great reasons to work there. This is my opinion in the matter of which I have been asked.

Cons

Well when you have employees who leave the company because the recruiters look outside before looking inside you have a problem.

Advice to Senior Management

Well when you have employees who leave the company because the recruiters look outside before looking inside you have a problem.

Pros

Great benefits, Flexibility to move within company, big on ethics

Cons

Long work hours occasionally, managers are sometimes to busy when trying to communicate with them

Advice to Senior Management

Obtain a MBA, Work hard and exceed manager expectations

Pros

The benefits are good but might be a little pricey.

Cons

The company is laser focused on government contracting and it appears to be unwilling to branch out of this niche.

Advice to Senior Management

Provide leadership and direction to the employees and make them feel as if they are apart of a much larger team.

Pros

Very good benefits and ability to make decisions at lower management levels. Corporate culture encourages employees to work hard and be responsible. The culture also allows for a lot of independence in how work is done and what work schedule you adhere to. If you are getting the work done, no one questions where or when you work. Customer ratings drive the length of leash you have.

Cons

Company mainly provides engineering services with a marginal market share of hardware production (better profit margin). Promotion opportunities can be limiting depending on the organization you are in. Some organizations have a lot of longtime employees and upward movement can be slow if they are given preference due to seniority.

Advice to Senior Management

Find way to build hardware to increase profit margins.

Pros

laid back atmosphere; casual dress attair, flexible work schedule

Cons

lack of communication between mid to senior management.

Advice to Senior Management

cross training throughout organization may be a good start so that every level of management understands the working dynamics of other departments responsibilities.

Pros

Very interesting work of National importance, good salaries and bonuses, excellent benefits package, promotions available. Very ethical company. Very involved in community.

Cons

SAIC is still struggling with finding a way to share information across Business Units and to present to the customer One SAIC. Hinders SAIC in winning new business.

Pros

Good work life balance
flexibility to move within the company

Cons

Except employees to jump right in and hit the ground running without alot of training

Advice to Senior Management

not sure