Autodesk

Interesting, cool, 'do-good' domains: design, architecture, animation, fabrication, 3D printing.

Israeli office compensation and benefits are above industry average.

Products make a positive and constructive impact on the world.

Israeli office 'simple employees' are usually nice, friendly, and very devoted. There's weekly soccer, a choir, and some employees even go traveling abroad together annually.

These cons relate to the Israeli branch only.

• The Israeli office lost its startup spirit and intimate family company-like feel due to poor management (and not due to organic growth).
• It is not uncommon for promotions to be affected by nepotism and internal politics rather than merit.
• There is little care for the personal growth and career progression of existing employees.
• Managers often treat employees in a patronizing, antagonizing, and unappreciative manner.
• Poor management leads to cumbersome project progress, and project-related decisions are made based on internal politics rather than what's best for the project and the company. Cross-site projects are especially ineffective.
• While a couple of years ago the products developed at the Israeli office were at the forefront of technology and company strategy, most of the current work is focused on MAINTENANCE, without innovating much.
• The office location is difficult to access for employees residing outside central Tel Aviv.

The recent exodus of people leaving the Tel Aviv office is not due to attrition or natural organic growth and replenishment. It is due to poor mid-level management.

As someone who's been with Autodesk Israel in better times, I know it can be different. The low-level personnel are committed to that.

My best advice to the company's senior management is to put the Israeli office under close scrutiny, yet give it the autonomy level it needs in order to innovate and produce great software without being dragged down by the chains of corporate encumbrance.