Pros
When Liatrio was smaller, there was a real sense of mission: solving hard technical problems, helping clients improve their software delivery, and investing in engineers. There was a collaborative energy, and mentorship felt real. The technical stacking & tooling used were strong—and in earlier days there was flexibility to do “right architecturally” rather than “fastest checkbox.” The apprenticeship program is truly best-in-class—structured, hands-on, and filled with dedicated mentors who care about growth. It’s an incredible place to start a career and learn solid engineering practices, but at this point, it’s best treated as a stepping stone to healthier, more sustainable environments.
Cons
Client-First Erosion: It feels like decisions are no longer made in the best interest of clients but in what will maximize revenue or AI-“buzz.” Promises get made that teams can’t keep because of unrealistic timelines, cutting scope, or pushing engineers without matching resources. Engineer Burnout: Because of the above, engineers are regularly overloaded—tight deadlines, weekend work, on-call expectations, and little buffer. The staffing levels versus workload are misaligned. There is less support, less flexibility, and less respect for work-life balance than before. Driven by AI and Metrics Over Quality: The company seems enamored with using AI and automation as a selling point rather than ensuring those tools genuinely add quality or reduce overhead. Sometimes AI is used to justify unrealistic productivity demands, sacrificing maintainability or craftsmanship. Culture Issues at the Top: Certain members of the executive team are out of touch—from what I see: little openness to feedback, lack of transparency, sometimes abrasive interpersonal styles. Decision-making feels opaque, blame gets shifted downward, and many engineers feel they aren’t heard until problems escalate.