Butts in seats and shell game personnel movements - Systems Engineer III SAIC Employee Review

2.0
Sep 29, 2015
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

Big defense contractor with opportunities throughout the federal and local governments. They can also boast having extreme engineering talent and work. For the federal side, if you are actively harboring relationships with the upstream management, they will always find an opportunity for you.

Cons

Being in the Florida / federal side of the house - it is unfortunate to say that most people are viewed as "butts-in-seats". Some folks belong to a "pocket-of-excellence", but that is by happenstance. Profits are derived by paying the employee the least amount of money possible and producing as much "busy" work as possible. (e.g. create a process under the banner of ITIL that requires twice as many people, or find reasons to increase the number of independent systems/networks under the banner of 'security')

Explore other reviews about SAIC

5.0
Jul 1, 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

-Love the contract -People are great to work with -Very flexible with times -If had a very long day, can lessen time to work less later in week

Cons

-Sometimes you gotta work a long freaking day -Have to be ready to get called to go to base at like 1 am

2.0
Jun 30, 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

Decent learning and development opportunities. Some really passionate and hard working people on your teams. Performance management is relaxed and flexible.

Cons

Benefits are wildly expensive for a company of their size. Was laid off with 1.5 months notice right before Christmas. Months prior to layoff was forced to use my PTO due to gov shutdown, but was still getting my full paycheck during shutdown. I believe this was so that they could diminish our PTO banks so they would have to pay out less when they laid us off. Laid off with zero severance despite being at company for almost 4 years and being in good standing. No efforts from management to make connections for a new internal role despite being strongly encouraged to search internally. New CEO Jim is not personable at all. Gives heavy corporate and cog in a machine vibes. Rumor has it that in the defense contracting industry, SAIC will be faring rather poorly within next 1-4 years.

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