Run, don't walk!! - Pittsburgh - Architectural Designer Jacobs Employee Review

1.0
Apr 5, 2022
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

Not one comes to mind, even after being away from the company for monthssss, I still have PTSD from this position at this particular office. There is no amount of money that could ever bring me through those doors again, cause I'm going to end up spending it on therapy sessions.

Cons

I had a terrible experience working for Jacobs Pittsburgh. The horror stories are true. The reviews aren’t fake. It’s not “disgruntled former employees”. It’s real people who worked there and were treated terribly like myself. The culture is extremely toxic. They allow a lot of unprofessional behavior and speak to employees rudely. This is specifically in the Pittsburgh office. Employees aren’t celebrated; not on birthdays or work anniversaries, nothing. My supervisor always made fun of people's accents behind their backs (and I'm African, with an accent) They rarely promote within unless you have been named a “favorite” of the leaders at the top. You can work hard and it’s still not good enough, because they believe you should chase for work. And they will be sure to tell you that you aren’t good enough. The place has a revolving door of employees. Which says a lot in itself. Things became worse once we were sent to work from home because of the pandemic. Laying off people based on demographic, and then telling others to not "let them know they did not get laid off". Benefits are horrible, especially health insurance. The multiple "diversity and inclusion" trainings are just for show. CEO was asked in a Townhall how many top leaders are POC and the fact that he choked and then could count how many? SAYS A LOT. If you're in design, don't bother. Everything's super technical and there's no freedom to design so you'd be BORED. I heard some of this when I first started but was optimistic because I’m a hard-working professional. I quickly learned my lesson.

Explore other reviews about Jacobs

5.0
Apr 3, 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

Strong learning environment for entry-level engineers Great exposure to large-scale transportation and infrastructure projects with experienced mentors and structured onboarding. Reputable global firm Jacobs’ strong brand name adds credibility to your résumé and opens doors for future opportunities in both public and private sectors. Good career growth and mobility Clear pathways to move into roles like Project Engineer, Assistant Resident Engineer, or Construction Management with internal postings encouraged. Supportive team culture (project-dependent) Most teams are collaborative, and senior staff are willing to guide junior engineers, especially in inspection and CM roles. Competitive benefits and job stability Solid health benefits, 401(k), PTO, and steadier work compared to smaller consulting firms—especially on long-term public agency contracts.

Cons

Growth pace depends on manager and project Advancement and role expansion can vary widely based on leadership and available opportunities.

1
5.0
Jun 11, 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

Great people and culture, internal mobility if you’re networked

Cons

Lots of internal process/procedure but to be expected at a large firm

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