Poor management and bureaucratic. - Anonymous employee Jacobs Employee Review

1.0
May 21, 2016
Anonymous employee
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

Jacobs is a very large company with a global reach and a diverse platform of service offerings. Decent medical benefits.

Cons

The company is concerned with procedure at the expense of efficiency and common sense. The organization has layers upon layers of excess middle management and procedures that get in the way of doing business. Management doesn't know what they're doing. There are virtually no leadership skills across the platform. Legal department is onerous, making it very challenging to do business. Many of the employees are dissatisfied with the company, making for a difficult working environment. Not a fun place to be. Many of the employees executing work do not feel a sense of security because the company is focused on winning only large projects. If another project isn't lined up at the end of another, the employee may not have a project to work on, resulting in termination. There is a major lack of diversity from top to bottom - and besides marketing materials, there is no evidence that this is important to the company.

Explore other reviews about Jacobs

5.0
Apr 3, 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

Strong learning environment for entry-level engineers Great exposure to large-scale transportation and infrastructure projects with experienced mentors and structured onboarding. Reputable global firm Jacobs’ strong brand name adds credibility to your résumé and opens doors for future opportunities in both public and private sectors. Good career growth and mobility Clear pathways to move into roles like Project Engineer, Assistant Resident Engineer, or Construction Management with internal postings encouraged. Supportive team culture (project-dependent) Most teams are collaborative, and senior staff are willing to guide junior engineers, especially in inspection and CM roles. Competitive benefits and job stability Solid health benefits, 401(k), PTO, and steadier work compared to smaller consulting firms—especially on long-term public agency contracts.

Cons

Growth pace depends on manager and project Advancement and role expansion can vary widely based on leadership and available opportunities.

1
4.0
Jul 2, 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

Exposure to large scale projects

Cons

Lack of recognition, demanding work load

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