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Defense Digital Service

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Utterly incompetent leadership, disappointing experience - Digital Service Expert Defense Digital Service Employee Review

1.0
May 22, 2020
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

Of the small number of people who aren’t career bureaucrats hiding on the team, there is some truly bright and energetic talent

Cons

Said talent is enticed to join the team, manipulated, used for all possible PR benefit, marginalized, and cast aside (in that order) on a routine basis. Agree 100% with the reviewer on this site who mentioned leadership not listening to experts. Both the current director and deputy director are utterly out of their depth and don’t seem to have ever been in charge of any size team in the past. They both possess little-to-no technical ability and frequently change their mind about the simplest decisions. Constant chasing of distracting ideas brought up in random meetings. No vision for the organization. And absolutely zero trust in or empowerment of members of the team. What used to be a flat team (albeit not always very organized) under previous leadership had become the same inefficient, bureaucratic organization found everywhere else in the department—only worse, it’s pretending not to be. Projects are randomly picked without using a solid vision for what we’re trying to accomplish as an organization or any realistic transition plan. All good projects are currently dead. The remaining ones Are trumpeted to any senior leader who will listen seemingly in an attempt to get them to put our self-graded assignment on their fridge at home. Do not come to DDS until there is a new director and deputy director. And if the current regime picks the incoming leadership team, still don’t come. Zero stars if I could, stay away. Or if you want to screw off all day and have no work to show for years of your life while being gaslighted or condescended to the entire time, this is the place for you. Some of the (dead weight) team members seem to love it.

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Defense Digital Service Response
6y
We are sorry to hear your DDS experience and your engagement with leadership were not positive. Every organization has its unique challenges when there is a change in leadership and DDS is not exempt from those growing pains. Since the transition of leadership, the DDS team has grown significantly, not only in people but also in projects/portfolios. As we continue to grow in both areas we will take this feedback into considerations to make our workforce stronger. We wish you success throughout your career.

Explore other reviews about Defense Digital Service

5.0
Oct 22, 2024
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

Very talented team of unique characters with diverse backgrounds. You have near-complete autonomy to get what you want out of this position. You often have the freedom to choose projects that interest you. Your work often has direct impact on the warfighters' lives. If you push yourself and can chart your own path you will find this job to be very productive and rewarding. You are encouraged to present at conferences and participate on panels and grow your skills. You are in a good position here to help influence change across the DoD through policy and advocating for best-practices.

Cons

Depending on the partner organizations and external stakeholders involved there can be a lot of bureaucracy to navigate. If you aren't good at raising concerns early or don't have solid people skills you can get buried. There has been a lot of bureaucratic churn over the past few years with a number of leadership changes but current leadership is very capable, a strong advocate for the team, and will have your back. The workload is very streaky – feast or famine. You need to be able to find things to do without someone telling you. Not all have this ability and will lurk in the shadows from time to time.

5.0
Oct 15, 2024
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

- Researching, planning, designing important software UX supporting our troops, government, and working in agile, nimble way with the amazing (PM/Eng/Design) experts around you. - Fully remote - with travel as needed and required. - Once in a lifetime experience for senior product designers to make a difference and learn about working at the DoD and in Gov. - This isn't your typical tech job - it's really exceptional. Expect the unexpected. - Flat org; the director you're hired under is important (I was lucky and had a couple of great ones!). Everyone on team is treated at same senior level.

Cons

- Projects can sometimes stall or lag due to authorizations and approvals and reviews or customers and outside partners schedules. - The larger CDAO org DDS has become a part of is sometimes helpful - sometimes not; priorities are changing within CDAO; not sure DDS has seen lots of benefits yet. - Newer tools - if not on the approved list - can be harder to get but mostly DDS has a solid, modern tech stack already.

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