Edwards Lifesciences reviews

Although Edwards has amazing pros, I think the cons can really overshadow that. As an engineer, you will be overworked and your team will be understaffed. Edwards Draper prides itself in delivering results while running very very lean. Their method of training new engineers or engineers that transfer roles is pretty much just "figure it out as you go". There's not a lot of resources in place because everyone truly is overworked and doesn't have a ton of time to mentor or help others. The expectation is kind of to just put your head down and work hard and you'll be rewarded. The issue is that there aren't a lot of growth opportunities at the Draper site (compared to the Irvine location). They provide a lot of time off and sick time, the only problem is that if you take it, you're only creating a bigger burden from yourself down the road because now you have less time to get your projects and tasks done. Taking time off isn't truly time off because every day you take off is a day less that you have to get your stuff done, and only causes more stress. This is pretty common across all engineering teams because people are pretty silo-ed and you can't just have someone cover for you 100% while you're gone. Even as a sustaining engineer (like a ME or QE), you will have additional projects and tasks outside of your sustaining tasks. So your workload may fluctuate substantially based on if the manufacturing lines you are over have problems. Different lines are more prone to issues than others so your workload may fluctuate substantially. If you are working on a bigger project (like introducing a new product line), you are expected to sometimes put in very long hours (like coming in at the start of production at 5 am and not leaving until 5 pm), just because there's so much to do and so little time. Overall, the work life balance I think is the biggest con to working at Edwards.

When I left Edwards I was sure I would never want to go back. Not because of the company or even the majority of the employees, the reason was is it appeared to be a company that attracted and valued highly narcissistic individuals. It doesn’t take many of these people to bring an entire culture down especially when these individuals are drawn to and hired for positions of leadership. I get that some level of narcissism is required to run a successful business but there are limits to what people can endure. The hope was that it could change for the better with time. Having left on good terms, there should not have been an issue with reapplying to be rehired. However, after speaking to people who still work there and then reading another review on this topic, Edwards will not rehire former employees regardless of their solid skill set and positive reputation in the industry. Having learned this brings a great deal of insight. The reason I would have wanted to work for them again are now no longer applicable as once you leave you are of no value or interest to the company. Why ever be a part of a company who will no longer value you if you make a personal choice to leave? In addition, most of the employees that still work there and provide feedback of the company, do not speak highly of the culture, hiring practices, or management. They say they don’t feel valued. They stay because they have been there so long that they can’t leave for the same pay anywhere else as well as the vacation time they have available to them. Edwards traps it’s employees with its pay and benefits. Once you have a taste of it, it is so hard to see leaving as a viable option, regardless of how unhappy you feel. I have since worked with many former Edwards employees and they all reflect back on how great the systems were but what a joke the leadership and work expectations were. None indicated they ever wanted to go back. It is a great place to learn a lot fast and build a resume to go to a company that will value you so much more (and trust me, being valued over pay is not to be underestimated)! Just don’t expect to ever go back once you leave.