Microsoft

I worked in Azure Core Compute. I think Azure is one of the groups that does a really good job. They move at a great pace and have a great roadmap of features. I think for areas like open source, Windows, Linux, OS, and computer architecture, Microsoft is still the best company. They are the largest contributor in the world to open source and do a lot of good work. Plus, out of the big four, Microsoft has the least negative reputation; they are generally well-trusted and committed to good causes.

That said, Microsoft is an absolutely massive company with a lot of virtual employees. It can be hard to find a sense of community and support, especially as a new employee with many virtual teammates. There is bureaucracy. It is not the fastest-paced company, mainly because it takes a long time to understand company architecture, design, and teams before beginning any type of work. This, at times, can be frustrating, especially without strong support in place.

I think the new emphasis on remote work has its challenges. Employees can't feel as connected to their peers. I also think compensation/perks may not be as high as Google/Facebook.