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    Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory Reviews

    Updated March 18, 2019
    474 reviews

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    4.5
    StarStarStarStarStar
    Rating TrendsRating Trends
    Recommend to a friend
    Approve of CEO
    Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory Director Bill Goldstein
    Bill Goldstein
    212 Ratings

    Employee Reviews

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    Pros

    • "Work life balance is the biggest advantage" (in 116 reviews)

    • "The Lab cares about your career growth Love working for such a great place" (in 35 reviews)

    Cons

    • "Being a government contractor does mean there is a lot of red tape" (in 40 reviews)

    • "Of course, the cost of living in the Bay Area makes the 'good' salaries not reach as far" (in 16 reviews)

    More Pros and Cons
    1. Featured Review

      Helpful (3)

      "Very nice place to work"

      StarStarStarStarStar
      • Work/Life Balance
      • Culture & Values
      • Career Opportunities
      • Comp & Benefits
      • Senior Management
      Current Employee - Writer/Editor in Livermore, CA
      Current Employee - Writer/Editor in Livermore, CA
      Recommends

      I have been working at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory full-time (More than a year)

      Pros

      Good salary and perks, friendly people excellent work/life balance. They do not run you into the ground. They allow you to explore where you're happiest and may pay for additional education needed.

      Cons

      Doesn't have the sexiness of Silicon Valley, but real work is done here.

      Advice to Management

      Focus on the value of the work. Don't try to compete with Silicon Valley on the holy grail du jour, whether "diversity" or other.

      Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory Response

      Oct 11, 2018 – Recruiting Group Leader

      Thank you for your review. LLNL has very good perks/benefits and also offers education assistance for eligible employees. We hope you are able to take advantage of these benefits!

    2. "Great place to put down roots"

      StarStarStarStarStar
      • Work/Life Balance
      • Culture & Values
      • Career Opportunities
      • Comp & Benefits
      • Senior Management
      Current Employee - Public Information Officer in Livermore, CA
      Current Employee - Public Information Officer in Livermore, CA
      Recommends
      Positive Outlook
      Approves of CEO

      I have been working at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory full-time (Less than a year)

      Pros

      I feel like I am valued as a person. Great work/life balance. Competitive pay.

      Cons

      It's quasi-government so processes are slow and long.

      3. Join the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory team
      See Our Latest Jobs

    3. "Great place to be!"

      StarStarStarStarStar
      • Work/Life Balance
      • Culture & Values
      • Career Opportunities
      • Comp & Benefits
      • Senior Management
      Current Employee - Hydrogeologist
      Current Employee - Hydrogeologist
      Recommends
      Positive Outlook
      Approves of CEO

      I have been working at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory full-time (More than a year)

      Pros

      Compensation is good for the (generally) lower stress working environment. Decent health benefits. Great 401k matching. Great seminars to help you in finance, social, health. Decent on-site cafeterias. Fantastic interest groups, including cheap fitness classes, drama club, music groups, speech help, cycling clubs, Ham Radio clubs...

      Management is generally accessible and communications is open.

      Great safety culture. You know you will never be put into a position to compromise safety.

      Cons

      Hiring process is painfully slow. Expensive to live in area.

    4. "Improve Please"

      StarStarStarStarStar
      • Work/Life Balance
      • Culture & Values
      • Career Opportunities
      • Comp & Benefits
      • Senior Management
      Current Employee - Contract Analyst in Livermore, CA
      Current Employee - Contract Analyst in Livermore, CA
      Doesn't Recommend
      Negative Outlook
      Disapproves of CEO

      I have been working at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory full-time (More than 3 years)

      Pros

      Great benefits and great workers!

      Cons

      The salary is ok, but could for certain improve. The vast majority of managers do not know what it means to be a manager. They are almost only there if something you did goes wrong, or to micromanage every little move you make. They do not listen to ideas of any kind, and act as though they are the gate keepers, those with all of the knowledge above all else, other than those above them. Very counter-intuitive to the Operational Excellence campaign implemented sometime ago. It will lead to a revolving door once all the pension vested employees retire.

      Advice to Management

      Start to listen to the people doing all the work, they actually know what they are talking about. Spend more time going around and talking to your people, see how they are doing, see if they have any ideas. Stop being the status quo type leader, stuck in your institutionalized mind set. Promote more of the people already working here as well. I have heard more than once that they do not promote internally because it causes more work. If they promote the internal person now they have to go and fill their old position as well, too much work.

    5. "Proud to be a contributor to the mission of the National Laboratory"

      StarStarStarStarStar
      • Work/Life Balance
      • Culture & Values
      • Career Opportunities
      • Comp & Benefits
      • Senior Management
      Current Employee - Business Operations Specialist
      Current Employee - Business Operations Specialist
      Recommends
      Positive Outlook
      Approves of CEO

      I have been working at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory full-time (More than 10 years)

      Pros

      Incredibly interesting work; opportunities for career growth; job stability; work-life balance; great location.

      Cons

      Cost of living/location; some internal process are outdated and we are slow to come up to speed.

    6. "A Great Place To Work"

      StarStarStarStarStar
      • Work/Life Balance
      • Culture & Values
      • Career Opportunities
      • Comp & Benefits
      • Senior Management
      Current Employee - Administrative Specialist
      Current Employee - Administrative Specialist
      Recommends
      Positive Outlook
      Approves of CEO

      I have been working at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory full-time (Less than a year)

      Pros

      Compensation, Benefits, Co-Workers, Work Environment, Great Management Staff, a lot of advancement opportunities.

      Cons

      Commute can be sluggish at times.

      Advice to Management

      None. Keep up the great work!

      Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory Response

      Feb 25, 2019 – Recruiting Group Leader

      Thank you for your review. We are glad you are happy in your work environment and also understand the challenges of commuting. There are other resources available to help with the commute, such as... More

    7. "A great workplace for a scientist"

      StarStarStarStarStar
      • Work/Life Balance
      • Culture & Values
      • Career Opportunities
      • Comp & Benefits
      • Senior Management
      Current Employee - Postdoctoral Research Associate in Livermore, CA
      Current Employee - Postdoctoral Research Associate in Livermore, CA
      Recommends
      Positive Outlook
      Approves of CEO

      I have been working at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory full-time (More than a year)

      Pros

      Sizable employee benefit -- 401k, medical coverage including dental and vision etc, flexible culture.

      Cons

      Commute can take long time if you live east of the laboratory.

      Advice to Management

      Doing great!

      Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory Response

      Feb 25, 2019 – Recruiting Group Leader

      Thank you for your review. The Laboratory strives to offer competitive benefits for our employees to utilize. There are other resources available to help with the commute, such as taking public... More

    8. "Continuously learning, relaxed environment"

      StarStarStarStarStar
      • Work/Life Balance
      • Culture & Values
      • Career Opportunities
      • Comp & Benefits
      • Senior Management
      Current Employee - Mechanical Technologist
      Current Employee - Mechanical Technologist
      Recommends
      Positive Outlook
      No opinion of CEO

      I have been working at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory full-time (More than a year)

      Pros

      Very rewarding place to work. Work is constantly changing and different projects give you something new to learn. Job stability, not as many lay offs if at all as compared to the tech industry.

      Cons

      starting pay is great, but it takes a long time to see a noticeable increase in your salary.

    9. "Great place to work"

      StarStarStarStarStar
      • Work/Life Balance
      • Culture & Values
      • Career Opportunities
      • Comp & Benefits
      • Senior Management
      Current Employee - Human Resource
      Current Employee - Human Resource

      I have been working at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory full-time

      Pros

      Great benefits and amenities while at work

      Cons

      behind the times with current trends in employment, (ie, telecommuting options)

    10. "Great place to work"

      StarStarStarStarStar
      • Work/Life Balance
      • Culture & Values
      • Career Opportunities
      • Comp & Benefits
      • Senior Management
      Current Employee - Physicsit in San Francisco, CA
      Current Employee - Physicsit in San Francisco, CA
      Recommends

      I have been working at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory full-time (More than 5 years)

      Pros

      Lot of opportunities, inclusion, great projects

      Cons

      salary, work on too many projects