Fairly chaotically run at management level - Anonymous employee Jacobs Employee Review

2.0
May 13, 2010
Anonymous employee
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

The offices are clean and bright, in a great location. The staff are friendly and good to work with. Beyond zero does work in creating a culture of safety.

Cons

Management give the impression of chaos. Systems being used are overweight and completely in appropriate for the work being carried out. Morale in the office is very low. Staff who carry out the work are fired or are permanently kept under staffed in their department, whilst Managers are hired to keep checking what is going wrong with jobs ie billability rather than helping process the work. as mentioned in pros; Beyond zero does work to an extent, but it goes too far sometimes with ludicrous suggestions which are unworkable and devalue the basic concept. Staff benefits on paper seem good, but due to the long winded and bureaucratic systems, I with drew from all of them, even though money was still being withdrawn from my pay packet months later. Nepotism does appear to be a factor with siblings being hired by management. Management style (locally) appears to consist of 'shouty' emails and a blame culture of everything is the employees fault and not the systems. I'd like to add that my line manager has finally been replaced and my immediate manager is good. Higher up the managerial ladder appears a morass of conflicting interests triplicating of information and constant tinkering with forms which necessitate relearning what should be simple tasks over and over again. In whole it is quite demoralising.

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5.0
Apr 3, 2026
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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
5.0
Jun 11, 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

Great people and culture, internal mobility if you’re networked

Cons

Lots of internal process/procedure but to be expected at a large firm

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