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Good W/L balance, but lack of direction

Senior Software Engineering Manager
Former Employee
Worked at PayPal for 4 years
August 1, 2024
Los Angeles, California
3.0
Doesn't RecommendNegative OutlookNo CEO Opinion
Pros

PayPal had good diversity, a good team, and easy people to work with. The environment was friendly, with good remote flexibility and competitive pay scales. As a "diverse" person myself, I will say I felt very supported and accepted.

Cons

PayPal's internal technology has badly ossified, and changing things is nearly impossible. Movement is slow and extremely non-agile.

I was part of a team acquired in a merger with a startup. In that acquisition, we went from fast, exciting work with a clear direction to months and even years of stagnation with almost no progress on anything. PayPal clearly didn't know what to do with either our technology or our talent.

Also, I hate to say it, but management became much less product- and goal-driven and much more political, nepotistic, and focused entirely on short-term investment returns. Promotions and raises depended very heavily on who had personal relationships and past history with higher management. Layoffs, the same.

Advice to Management

Management of personnel needs to focus on merit and the goals of the business, not personal relationships. But that can't change until management admits they have a problem, which seems unlikely.

As for the tech and the business goals -- honestly, I don't know. How does a company that large break free of 20 years of ossified technology and process to start getting things done again? That's what PayPal needs to do, somehow, but I don't have an easy answer for the approach.

Additional Ratings

Work/Life Balance
5.0
Culture and Values
4.0
Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
5.0
Career Opportunities
1.0
Compensation and Benefits
5.0
Senior Management
1.0

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