Supportive colleagues but poor leadership and low morale - Anonymous employee AltaML Employee Review

Unfortunately, my overall experience was disappointing. The biggest issue is poor leadership and management. The company frequently changes its vision and priorities, making it difficult for teams to execute effectively. Employees often spend significant time adapting to shifting directions instead of building long-term solutions. Compensation is well below industry standards, especially considering the workload and expectations. Employees who have been with the company for several years receive little recognition for their contributions. Raises, promotions, and career growth opportunities are extremely limited, which leads to low morale and a lack of motivation. The company also experiences a high turnover rate. Many talented employees leave because they do not see a clear career path, feel undervalued, or become frustrated by the constant changes in direction. Work expectations are very demanding, but the rewards do not match the effort required. This creates an environment where employees feel overworked and underappreciated. There is very little focus on building company culture. There are few opportunities for employees across different teams and locations to connect through company-wide events or networking activities. Technology leadership also appears disconnected from engineering realities. Technical decisions and expectations often seem unrealistic, with an emphasis on rapid delivery rather than thoughtful engineering and long-term product development. Although the company frequently describes itself as an AI/ML-focused organization, recent hiring trends and resource allocation suggest that AI and machine learning are no longer strategic priorities. The number of dedicated ML engineers has declined significantly while hiring has shifted primarily toward general software engineering roles, creating confusion about the company's long-term technical direction. The company also states that it wants to become a product-based organization, but many of its processes, priorities, and ways of working still resemble those of a consulting company. As a result, there is a lack of product thinking, long-term planning, and customer-focused product development. Overall, there is very little motivation for long-tenured employees. Without competitive compensation, meaningful career progression, consistent leadership, or a clear long-term strategy, it is difficult to recommend this company as a place to build a career.