Good company that values science and people, however driven by lack of accountability and unwillingness to change. - Senior Engineer Genentech Employee Review

2.0
Feb 6, 2016
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

Best in industry benefits, smart people, work/life balance, proximity to San Francisco, good experience to have on resume to further career growth at another company.

Cons

Organization is not always receptive to new ideas/strategies for execution, Genentech way is always perceived to be the best but in reality is not always the case when benchmarked against other companies, nebulous corporate policies/SOPs from Roche that provide no clear direction on compliance or strategy/system implementation, old timers (people that have worked 10 years or more at the company) who are still holding on to the past glory and refuse to do things any differently than what they've been taught to follow at Genentech, and lack of overall project team accountability to execute activities in a timely manner.

Explore other reviews about Genentech

5.0
Jul 8, 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

Great culture and work environment.

Cons

PhD is necessary oftentimes for advancement.

3.0
May 7, 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

Genentech's origin story and mission are genuinely inspiring — few companies can point to such a meaningful historical arc in medicine. Patient engagement is taken seriously and feels authentic, not performative. The campus is beautiful and the culture has real warmth.

Cons

DDA is operating with significant gaps. First, the foundational data infrastructure is not mature enough to support the ambitions being set for the team. Second, the measurement culture has gotten ahead of the methodology, and no one in a position of authority seems to be asking hard questions about whether the numbers actually mean what they're being presented as meaning. Third, some management feel disconnected from the work itself, lacking the knowledge, hands-on experience, or relevant credentials. Individually any one of these would be manageable. Together these create an environment where it's hard to do rigorous work, rather work is performative, and be recognized for it.

3
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