Avoid at all costs - Mechanical Engineer Pacbrake Employee Review

- Autonomy on projects - Wide set of responsibilities

- Generally unprofessional work environment - Pay well below average for commensurate experience - Lack of recognition/acknowledgement for putting out smoke before fire, but mistakes were often amplified - Technical implementers are also expected to be project managers and product owners (have to figure out 5W on top of the "HOW"), which blurs separation of responsibilities with management and led to products being not well thought out (and the implementer takes responsibility in the end)

Local company with a short commute to work.

I encountered a number of challenges that prospective employees, especially those in Electrical Engineering, should be aware of. Work Environment: The company promotes a 'family-like' atmosphere, but I found the engineering management style to be quite critical, often questioning decisions without constructive feedback. This created a less than ideal environment for innovation and growth. Project Expectations: The primary focus seemed to be on revising legacy designs, with a significant emphasis on closely mirroring competitors' products. This approach may not suit those looking for more original engineering projects. Regulatory Compliance: Concerns were raised regarding the sale of PCBs for safety systems that had not received approval from relevant regulatory bodies. This is something potential employees should consider, especially given the importance of compliance in our field. Technical Standards: The lack of coding standards and the complexity of existing firmware present considerable challenges. The documentation and understanding of the firmware, especially for critical safety systems, were not as robust as one might expect. Company Culture: The workplace culture, in my experience, leaned heavily on innuendoes and offence dialogue. This extended into some marketing campaigns (i.e. "want a quickie?" to advertise a new quick connect product). Additional Duties: In some roles, there were unexpected responsibilities, such as bathroom janitorial duties, that might not align with one's primary job functions. Teamwork: The culture did not strongly promote teamwork, which I believe is essential for engineering success and overall job satisfaction. I share these observations with the hope that they provide useful insights for prospective employees and perhaps prompt constructive changes within the company.