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The best place to work in software engineering

Software Engineer
Former Employee
Worked at Google for 4 years
July 27, 2022
Cambridge, Massachusetts
5.0
RecommendsPositive OutlookApproves of CEO
Pros

People talk about FAANG or whatever, but in my experience Google should not be grouped with the others. It really is a cut above in terms of a well-functioning engineering environment.

The vast majority of managers are really wonderful people who care about the people reporting to them.

The perks are not as lavish as I hear they used to be, but I still felt a little uncomfortable with the degree to which I felt "taken care of" (and felt myself getting used to that).

Cons

Multiple percentage points of the workforce—probably 10% or more—are crazy far-lefties who devoted a huge amount of effort over the course of a couple of months to actively, intentionally sabotaging the US military, to give the most visible example. (I am a lifelong D voter, by the way).

The company has fortunately reined in the crazy political agitation, at least somewhat, but yeah, that sadly exists there.

Advice to Management

Disband that ridiculous AI Ethics thing before you get yet another lunatic causing problems. I know you want to, probably more than anything else. Just do it, you cowards! If anyone threatens to quit over it, good.

Additional Ratings

Work/Life Balance
5.0
Culture and Values
3.0
Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
5.0
Career Opportunities
5.0
Compensation and Benefits
5.0
Senior Management
5.0

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