Senior leadership is driving a toxic culture - Engineer Blue Origin Employee Review

1.0
Apr 9, 2020
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

My coworkers are kind, amazing, intelligent, driven people, and it is a pleasure to work with them. The work is also challenging and compelling.

Cons

Since the former president of the company was displaced by the new CEO Bob Smith about two years ago, the culture has gradually but radically shifted to become increasingly opaque, authoritarian, and toxic. When Blue Origin was smaller, there was a strong culture of healthy work/life balance, and it was rare to see people in the office late into the evening. Now, employees are pressured by management to work 50-60 hours a week without additional pay or recognition. Employees are told that it is a privilege to work for Blue Origin, so we're expected to not only accept working more for less, but we're chastised if we are not perceived as grateful enough to the company and Jeff Bezos. Expression of discontentment over salary in annual compensation reviews is now dismissed as "entitlement to our founder's investments." Shifts in culture should be expected for a company working to transition from a development-focused startup into a profitable production-centered business. However, there is no justification for it to become toxic.

Explore other reviews about Blue Origin

5.0
Jun 3, 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

Good team to work with. No complaints.

Cons

No cons at this point.

1.0
Jun 5, 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

Free cheese and yogurt. Some people are nice others will make sure you fail

Cons

No equity unless you like monopoly money. No IPO for Blue ever and liquidity events are just bonus event. No work life balance. Toxic leadership who do not care about but will lie to you as long as you serve their own purpose. Everyone is looking, DO NOT come here!!! You will lose years of your life stressed out, frustrated and nothing but an average salary to show for. There are better places out there for space work

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