Sinking fast - Senior Software Engineer John Deere Employee Review

1.0
Apr 27, 2022
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

Some of the people are good to work with. Good bonus structure the higher you get but mediocre at entry levels.

Cons

Global IT has been sinking for a few years now and gotten a lot worse in the past 1-2 years. Constant re-orgs and bringing in consultants to try new things that don't stick but always seem to result in senior management getting promotions. Career architecture plans that are meant to control employee career paths and keep some people stifled while unqualified people get ahead because of who they know. Constant talk of diversity, equity, and inclusion but very few women and in 5+ years I don't know of a single one who has been promoted. Senior management that is astoundingly out of touch. Their solution for attrition is opening up satellite offices and moving all jobs there and taking opportunities to people at headquarters who have been devoted and grown with the company. They have somehow convinced themselves creating a "hip" atmosphere will bring in Silicon Valley talent but under the covers it is one of the worst run IT departments I have seen in my 20+ year career. Attrition has been pinpointed as an ongoing concern and committees have been created to reduce the numbers, since then they have gone even higher. I'd say 75% of the people I work with (including myself) are planning on jumping ship. It's not worth it anymore, especially since many companies with engineering roles are fully remote. Way too many contractors that are grossly incompetent, horrible at communication, and that don't hide the fact that they are not personally invested in their work and don't care about the company at all. But a three-year contract was signed to create an 80% contractor to full-time employee ratio so we're stuck trying to integrate under-qualified people who can leave at any time. This means constant onboarding which sucks up team time. Unless you're in with management (i.e., constantly willing to overlook their repeated failures and investment waste), you will never get ahead, especially for POCs and women. If you offer ways to improve you can expect to be blacklisted or have your manager yell at you or just ignore you altogether. And once you're on "the list", you won't get off of it. Upper management is all in it together, to promote each other. If you are considering applying, look at roles in ISG where there is better leadership and more opportunities for innovation.

Explore other reviews about John Deere

5.0
Jul 8, 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

Money was above average for industry

Cons

Leadership deteriorated due to influx of people

3.0
Jul 12, 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

Fun work, interesting problems to solve, good people in the office. Good 401k match.

Cons

Deere corporate doesn't care about it's employees. No promotions, tiny raises. No equity. Bad health insurance. Some people get promoted but only if you are good at kissing a** it seems.

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