Complete dissillusionment in disguise - Software Engineer II Northrop Grumman Employee Review

2.0
Apr 21, 2016
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

One of the well-known organisations in the defence sector in the western world. Each sector of the corporation operates with many projects that offer plentiful development opportunity for those that stay long enough and endure the hardship of living with minuscule pay in high-cost areas. A lot of development resources are available to anyone with the equipments and time to access them.

Cons

Each sector of the corporation operates independently with seemingly zero synergy. The legacy Information System sector was the cheapest sector of the corporation that offered woeful compensation package. IS was the only sector that stopped pension and other retirement programme to supplement 401K. Therefore any legacy IS employees in the current corporate structure will have to make do with working with colleagues that collect much more handsome salaries and retirement package. Transfer between projects is a simple change of job locations and description because salary raise is never a possibility. Work-life balance is non-existent for ground-level employees. Managers cannot be bothered to say 'thank you' when one works through the night to deliver something to make deadline and overtime work is never paid. Anyone foolish enough to demonstrate loyalty and dedication is rewarded with an universally given 3 for average for annual performance rating. As with annual salary raises, anything above 2.5% should be considered a gift from God. There is hope however because favouritism is rampant. Anyone lucky enough to secure a senior manager's affection or has connection with high-level leadership can walk the easy paths paved with rose petals. The company spends a lot of money on employee development but only if employee has a company computer to access the resources. For everyone else that uses only project computers hopes and dreams is the only available option. For anyone that hopes to join because Northrop Grumman was the maker of the F-14 Tomcat and the B-2 Spirit, look elsewhere. Those glory days are long gone and never again.

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5.0
May 29, 2026
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Pros

Flexible work arrangement, 9/80 schedule, job security

Cons

Low pay, full time on site required for career growth

3.0
May 20, 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

Job security, nearly impossible to get laid off, Hours for most people are consistent, generally a good benefits package. You are able to jump around laterally within the company very easily. Once you get to T3 and above the salary becomes decent for prime standards. Easy, almost non-existent interviews.

Cons

Not moving fast enough in the current defense market. Lots of red-tape. Turnover at specific sites are insanely high. Promotions take forever and the increase in salary is minimal. They don't care about retention. They will let you walk and give your replacement a sign-on bonus and a higher salary. There are a lot of slackers and old timers riding it out till retirement. Only about a 1/3 of this site is actually productive. Yes-men get into management and ignore technical experts. Agile hiring is a huge issue where people are just thrown onto random teams. Easy, almost non-existent interviews allow people without relevant backgrounds to join teams. Every site operates completely differently.

3
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