Pros: Challenging work in a difficult problem space. Some smart, hardworking colleagues. Competent leadership up to the level that affects my daily work.

Cons: I've worked very hard and have delivered solid results with real business impact. I've mostly gotten "meets expectations" ratings, lackluster raises, and little in extra RSUs. In other words, my pay is falling behind. From my experience, this company does not value hard work and dedication. If you want to "rest and vest," it might be a good option. It's also a mess with inconsistent RTO messaging, remote teams that can only hire at HQ, and generally declining efficiency due to across-the-board RTO requirements.

Pros: One of the best companies to work for.

Cons: I was working as a Senior Software Engineer contractor and received a direct offer from Palo Alto. The background check team reopened my case and requested documents, but after I submitted everything, they completely ignored my follow-ups. They created false hope without realizing how stressful this is for candidates. In my case, there was a mismatch in my background college details. With over 10 years of experience, I honestly don’t understand how such an educational detail can overshadow my career at this stage. A simple, timely response—whether positive or negative—would have been far more respectful and professional. My rating is only for the background check team; apart from this, I had the privilege of working with one of the best teams and an excellent manager.

Pros: Good compensation. Good perks. Good hybrid work-from-home policy. Good growth.

Cons: Not a great work culture. Decent work-life balance.