Stuck in CDOT, Stopped Innovating, Doesn't understand Cloud - Senior Software Engineer NetApp Employee Review

3.0
Aug 19, 2015
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

Existing culture is still OK. That's the people culture - not the corporate Culture.

Cons

Corporate wants the "Best Place To Work" and touts the culture. But it used to promote that first knowing that the company performance followed. Now that the company has lost it's way every other sentence in All Hands seems to be about Culture - but there's no corporate backing for it. Corporate wants it all - but is sacking people like EMC - numbers. Netapp USED to have one layoff for an entire recession, re-strategize the products, and come out running with good products - and no fear of further layoffs. This is the third layoff in a row - the 1st was "the one for the recession" - but it showed they no longer understood the market (hint - it's NOT CDOT - too myopic on that one). Last years they sacked most of the few cloud projects while saying "we don't understand cloud" and it was obvious by who got laid off they "gave up" on a fiscal deadline for re-slotting people. So for most, last year in particular was a wake up call for employees. This years - including appropriate corporate sacking - showed no further understanding of market or vision. Sure they patched up a hybrid-cloud strategy - that's good for NOW - but what's the strategy? CDOT is, what 90% of revenue, and they've not acquisitions on sight either way. Kurian is a bean counter and his main advice at all hands was "execute faster" Execute a market indicated failed strategy faster?

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5.0
Jun 18, 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

Good work life balance (in my team)

Cons

Leadership is bad, stay away!

3.0
Jun 26, 2026
Anonymous employee
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

Amongst the top companies in the data storage industry = company stability.

Cons

If you'd ask me a year or 2 ago, I would have given the company 5 stars. But, as with most tech companies now, they've started to follow the trend of return to office, regardless of logic. There's little to no room for exceptions and the company would rather sacrifice productivity regardless if they know the hardships for people living in metros (one way commute to the NY or SJC office can take 2 hours one way!) - that and there's no commuter benefits. You have to pay out of pocket and live in fear of not receiving your bonus if you miss the "thrive together" quarterly requirements.

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