Apparent inability for upper management to look at big picture. Projects are pushed through design/development process to meet timing established by marketing/sales with little or no regard to realistic timing (Oh we can sell this! Get it in production yesterday!! We'll figure out the design/engineering later.....). Chaos ensues. Engineers end up working on several projects at once that all have to be completed at the same time. Sticking with any sort of schedule for design and development of a product is unheard of.
Poor training and mentoring of new employee's, especially those with less experience.
Little or no depth of knowledge from an engineering perspective which results in a over reliance on those experienced engineers that remain. Burn out is a common problem at this company.
While you are given the opportunity to do new things (see 'Pros' listing), you are expect to do so with little or no training. Sink or swim. If you succeed, its expected. If you fail, you should have worked harder.
Overtime is expected. Typical work week for those in my department range in the 50-60 hours a week. No additional compensation. As a result CAD guys make more than most engineers as they are eligable for OT. Engineers are not. Keep this in mind when the topic of compensation is addressed.
Pay raises are typically poor, regardless of how the company is doing financially. Usually not much more than the cost of living. This is commonly known throughout the engineering department not just one employee's opinion.
Lack of any instiutional knowledge documentation on product design and/or development history. Problems that are solved today show up again in 2-3 years on the next update of the product. As the turn over at this company is high, whoever has the project is starting from scatch.
Lack of standardization for process in design/development of product.
