Some good - some bad - Principal Software Engineer Oracle Employee Review

3.0
May 26, 2022
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

I have learned a lot at Oracle - both about the software I support as well as how to research problems with that software effectively and how to better solve problems. Immediate managers are good and they do try to work with you on schedules and other things. They are also a go-between - between you and upper management. They are somewhat ineffectual as they don't have any real control over anything. (For example, when a bunch of employees were laid off during Covid, my immediate manager told our group that he was not informed that there were going to be layoffs until the day it happened - in other words - upper management made the decision on which people were being let go - not the immediate managers.) Work/Life balance is great. As an engineer when you leave work - you don't get called about work, or asked to work over time (they don't like to give over time and as an engineer you are paid hourly not salary.) Occasionally you are on call - but you get paid a flat rate for being on call (even if you don't get called) and then if you actually have to work you get paid for the time you had to work on top of the flat rate. Oracle is AWESOME for having a diverse culture (people come from all over to work at Oracle). They support LGBTQ initiatives as well as veterans. I love working there because of the people I meet and work with from all over the world. They are very liberal in these kinds of policies - which is great. Oracle has great health benefits and there is no max sick leave. (Though they do monitor how much sick leave you take.) For managers there is no max on vacation leave. Oracle provides free drinks (coffee, sodas, tea (hot/cold and soda water). And when we were in the office (pre-covid) they did periodically provide lunches and other food. Though this wasn't very often.

Cons

I have worked for Oracle for 6 years and I got a raise for the first time about a year ago. Oracle DOES NOT give yearly raises to offset the cost of living. They give something called Focals and you have to prove to your manager as well as upper management that you deserve to get a focal. You prove this by going above and beyond your job description. In other words, you have to be seen and known by upper management for the things you do at Oracle that are outside of your job description. Focals are also not given each year as they are dependent on the stock market. Job security is also not something Oracle offers. During Covid, Oracle laid off a number of people. You would think that they would lay off the people who had been hired most recently - but a large percentage of the people laid off during covid were long time employees who had worked there for 10+ years. Oracle also has way too many meetings that just waste your time. The biggest offenders of this are the 'all hands' meetings that are required attendance. 401K matching is not as high as I have had it at other companies. I currently work 12 noon to 8PM and get a 10% shift differential on top of my base pay for working those hours. However, Oracle recently announced that they are moving this shift to Mexico (where it is cheaper) and all of us working this shift will have to move to the 7 AM shift - which DOES NOT come with a 10% shift differential and Oracle has told us that we will have to work this earlier shift AND lose the 10% pay at the same time. Oracle does not care about it's employees - they are only out for the all mighty dollar.

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5.0
Jun 8, 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

Work life balance, AI focus

Cons

RIF's, Long processes and approvals

4.0
Oct 21, 2014
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

Every group/division can be different in how they treat their employees, but I'd say overall there is very good atmosphere of trust and fairness. There is a strong focus on education, and they reimburse for outside classes taken (Up to 5k/year I think). Benefits are good, and I'd say quite competitive in the market. Good 401K matching (they'll contribute a max of 3% of your 6% or greater). Free drinks in the breakroom. Flexibility to work from home at times. (If you live 50+ miles away from an office you can work full-time from home...policy).

Cons

They don't try to make the workplace anything special (maybe a pool table and arcade game are cliche or gimmicky?). In the 10 years I've worked there, they've given 2 measly %1 cost of living raises (this is the same with most everyone I've spoken to, some don't get any raises). You will not get a substantial raise ever, unless you leave then get rehired on (they will not match offers, better to leave). New employees that you train will make 10 - 20K more than you several years after you hire on (not just me, they do this to all tenured employees). They will give these untrained, less experienced people higher titles (again this is done to everyone not just me). You learn pretty quickly that you're dispensable. The company has billions in cash and they don't re-invest in their employees, just in acquiring new companies and hiring new people that know nothing that you get to train.

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