Coalfire reviews

Working for the company used to be a decent experience (Pre-Covid). It is a sweatshop now, rife with countless systemic problems, all while drastically increasing work load on top of an under staffed and poorly maintained operational foundation. Zero culture, and a work force that is being driven into the ground by design. The company reorgs at least once a year. Middle management has recently been replaced with a gang of corporate vultures (former IBM cronies), who hold loyalty amongst themselves first and foremost. Which creates an exceptionally toxic work environment where everyone feels like they are under a microscope, unwilling to speak truth, walking on egg shells, and one misstep away from severance. Billable utilization targets are insane and unrealistic. Along with intentionally running the team "hot" by under staffing, to minimize expense and maximize the perception of profitability to investors. With the goal of selling the company to the highest bidder, to line the pockets of VC and company share holders, at the expense of it's exploited employees. As I was leaving the company an equivalent role to mine was posted online with a compensation range $40k-$50k above my salary. But even at that price its not worth the sacrifice to mental health (its still a sweatshop). Senior level professionals should avoid this toxic work environment at all costs. If you're junior and after developing tenure in the industry, get in, and get out as quickly as possible. Coalfire is not a "forever home" type company. They really live up to their "puppy mill" reputation. The more successful you become at the company, the closer you get to being cut loose, if the burn out and mental distress don't get you first.

Sales and Marketing have essentially dropped their focus on cybersecurity services, now just focusing on compliance services. For the last 3 years, they have significantly restructured their approach to sales, attempting to tap into and be a key player in the cybersecurity space. Each year, this results in missing revenue targets thus impacting bonuses, making it difficult to achieve utilization targets where the team culture then takes a negative hit. If you are a compliance professional, Coalfire is probably a good place to grow your skills, however, I'd pass if you're a professional or looking to grow in the broader cybersecurity field. Additionally, when you resign or your position or your job is eliminated at Coalfire, expect to be treated very poorly where HR appears to be an expert with a very direct and crude employee exit program.