BURN OUT - Trial by Fire & Raked Across the Coals | Get Experience as a Junior and Get Out ASAP - Principal Consultant Coalfire Employee Review

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.