Roku

The company is an established player and will not sink any time soon.

• This used to be a great place to work, with engineers enjoying a great degree of autonomy and freedom.
• This is no longer the case. Multiple layers of management have been introduced.
• Most managers will be external hires who will micromanage every aspect of your work.
• And when they get burdened, they will hire even more managers, also externally.
• In Roku, engineers typically need to shuffle multiple roles in order to get things done; they are the so-called DRI.
• Thus, you will end up effectively managing and/or leading without being given the designation or pay.
• Time and again, you will find yourself explaining Roku's processes to your new bosses, as they come from very different places and have no clue how to manage engineers in Roku.
• There is no vertical mobility. If you are an engineer, you will remain stuck as one for the rest of your tenure, regardless of the quality of your work and the responsibilities you assume.
• They will not increase your compensation after joining, claiming the stock price is too high.
• Refresh is laughable.
• Higher-level executives like Directors will get happily promoted.
• If you seek a career, avoid Roku like the plague.

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