Setup for failure - Lead Software Development Engineer Capital One Employee Review

1.0
Aug 24, 2023
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

Pay is ok for the job title, but they'll take every second of your time on or off the clock so it's lousy pay-per-hour. Switching companies, I got almost the same base pay as a Senior Engineer as I was getting at Capital One as a Lead Engineer.

Cons

Race to the bottom culture. There are turnover targets that range from 10% to 20% per year throughout the company, and I was told in no uncertain terms that "If you just fulfill the responsibilities of your role, you won't last long." In addition to your regular job, you'll be expected to spend your personal time volunteering to run groups/events at the company, and to study for and earn certifications so that higher ups can brag about having the highest percentage of associates with X-certification. If you don't distinguish yourself, you're at risk for being used to fill a turnover quota. Obviously security needs to be a concern for banks, but they've taken it to an extreme where it's difficult to perform basic job related tasks. You need to get personal approval from a VP for anything. Other members of my team were using Excel to work with csv files, so I applied for permission to install Excel on my machine as well, but I was repeatedly told by my VP that I didn't need it. Be prepared to beg to be allowed to get your work done, and then make up the time spent begging and waiting for approval. If you plan to work remotely, make sure you live VERY far from the nearest office. At the moment, Capital One requires anyone within 50 miles of an office to commute to that office, even if none of your team members are at that office. This was the breaking point for me: when they wanted me to spend 4 to 6 hours per day in traffic in order to join virtual meetings with my distributed team. I joked that it'd be cheaper to hire background actors to pretend to work at their office every day. The current threshold for being required to commute is 50 miles from any office, but that could change and I wouldn't trust any distance under 100 miles. I've worked at some notorious companies like Amazon, but Capital One was the first job where I felt like I was fighting against the company trying to get me to fail. They really are looking to meet their turnover quotas and will keep looking for excuses to fail you until their meet that quota.

Explore other reviews about Capital One

5.0
Jul 4, 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

Culture, WLB, Free Stuff, Building

Cons

Slow work environment, parking situation

1.0
Jun 30, 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

Environment was good, food was decent, free food at my location (dont know if it was allowed but it was good)

Cons

The rittenhouse location is managed by a tyrant, he is an incredibly toxic man and upper management make it the most unbearable place to work. Andy will ask you to come in on days you're not scheduled, and then hold it over your head if you don't. Talks about employees behind their backs constantly. No respect enforced employees talked about each other all the time and there was even name calling in meetings, management did nothing. Worst place I've ever worked in my life frankly and affected my mental health in the worst way. Glad to be out out of there. The place itself has potential but the management at the Rittenhouse branch and above them is absolutely terrible in every regard.

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