Principal Scientist - Principal Scientist FICO Employee Review

5.0
Dec 14, 2017
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

It's he center of credit scoring for retail lending in the US and the world. It has a quiet collegial atmosphere, and plenty of opportunities for building interesting models, and increasing global access to credit.

Cons

The San Rafael office is a bit hard to get to from Oakland, and the return trip home was a bear.

Explore other reviews about FICO

5.0
Mar 6, 2026
Anonymous employee
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

Salary, work life balance, people

Cons

Nothing much to say, all good

4.0
Jan 24, 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

FICO is a great place to work as a software engineer. I had a very positive experience collaborating with smart, thoughtful teammates on technically interesting problems that have real-world impact at scale. The engineering culture values code quality, thoughtful design, and pragmatic decision-making over hype. Leadership was supportive, expectations were clear, and there was a strong emphasis on ownership and accountability. Overall, it’s an excellent environment for engineers who enjoy working on meaningful systems in a stable, well-run organization.

Cons

Slower pace of change compared to startups or high-growth tech companies, which can feel restrictive if you prefer rapid experimentation. Legacy systems and tech debt in parts of the organization that require patience and careful refactoring. Process-heavy at times, with multiple reviews or approvals slowing delivery. Less emphasis on cutting-edge frameworks—the focus is more on stability and correctness than chasing the newest tools.

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