Good staff, but self-destructive middle and line management. - Principal Software Engineer FICO Employee Review

1.0
Apr 20, 2020
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

Company is very well positioned for both good times and bad, with a steady revenue stream. Good working level people that support each other. Upper management has provided several great initiatives for the company.

Cons

Lower and middle management is focused on turf, nepotistic, mired in 20 year old business models and unwilling to improve, and actively hostile to their staff. Middle management is focused on keeping upper management from finding out how far behind and overbudget projects are -- and fighting to avoid upper management initiatives. Long work hours are expected. It is management policy to cut costs by using uncompensated weekends and evenings for making delivery dates. There is no real career advancement path unless you are buddies with middle management. FICO will keep you in your narrow job, refusing lateral assignments until they no longer need the position. In-service raises are minimal.

Explore other reviews about FICO

5.0
Mar 6, 2026
Anonymous employee
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

Salary, work life balance, people

Cons

Nothing much to say, all good

4.0
Jan 24, 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

FICO is a great place to work as a software engineer. I had a very positive experience collaborating with smart, thoughtful teammates on technically interesting problems that have real-world impact at scale. The engineering culture values code quality, thoughtful design, and pragmatic decision-making over hype. Leadership was supportive, expectations were clear, and there was a strong emphasis on ownership and accountability. Overall, it’s an excellent environment for engineers who enjoy working on meaningful systems in a stable, well-run organization.

Cons

Slower pace of change compared to startups or high-growth tech companies, which can feel restrictive if you prefer rapid experimentation. Legacy systems and tech debt in parts of the organization that require patience and careful refactoring. Process-heavy at times, with multiple reviews or approvals slowing delivery. Less emphasis on cutting-edge frameworks—the focus is more on stability and correctness than chasing the newest tools.

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