This place is just a pay check - Anonymous employee Jacobs Employee Review

2.0
Jun 12, 2011
Anonymous employee
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

JE is a good place to get some experience from college. They are constantly looking for entry-level to mid-level engineers (mainly transport/construction, electrical, oil/gas) for their various engagements. So there are a good number of opportunities... if you meet the criteria. I would imaging that the work structure is very similar to those of its other competitors: HNTB, URS, Atkins, etc.

Cons

Let me start by saying that this has been my first experience working in an engineering type company.. 'am a non-engineer (IT). so what 'am about to describe could hold true for this entire sector of companies. What I've come to realize is that my sole purpose here is to be 100% billable, so I (and the rest of the project) can feed the corporate masters. The company is structure along Mercantilism thinking. In this example, the the colonies are the various projects (long or sort term) and the mother country is Pasadena. As such, the only concern of the Program Manager is to maximize billable hours and minimize cost (there goes training). It sort of reminds me of the Ben-Hur movie... When the Charlton Heston is told that he lived to row the ship... "You are all condemned men. We keep you alive to serve this ship. So row well, and live." Indeed! Stay billable of you or lose your job. If your project is lost. not renewed, ect. be prepared to start walking. This is a very practical business model... to maximize profits and keep the top guys employed. But I don't see how this works for the common guy. Let me wrap it up, I'm sure you are getting the picture. This place.. is just a job... this is just a straight-up staff aug place (like Kelly girl). Could you make it in here? Sure, some have... you could find yourself in a long-term project and be there for 20+ years. You could hop from project to project (if your skills can deliver that and you don't mind move to any state). If you want to build a career and be valued for something other than billable hours, then this is not a place for you.

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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
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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