Feb 25, 2013
InnovaSystems International Software Engineer reviews
3.6
51% would recommend to a friend
Chris Wollerman
100% approve of CEO
Reviews by job title
10 reviews
3.0
Jan 5, 2010
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook
Pros
Good people, interesting work, working in the defense sector lends to be exciting at times. The owners of the company show a genuine interest in the company and the employees.
Cons
The company used to be very focused in a niche market. The last couple of years have shown an increased push on process development and organization training. The focus on the customer and quality software seem to have taken a backseat.
2.0
Dec 15, 2008
InnovaSystems has outgrown its leadership and slipped into mediocrity in part because of it.
Former employee
San Diego, CA
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook
Pros
If you are self-motivated, InnovaSystems is a good place for a junior or mid-level software developer to improve their skills without a lot of interference from management - just don't expect a lot of support or incentive either. If you want a job where you can punch in, do your work, and go home without big expectations or overtime, the environment at InnovaSystems is conducive to this work style. If you are interested in the defense industry and seeking a security clearance, it is a great place because they are very willing to hire individuals without clearances and go through the necessary process and expense to get one for you. They have a good 401k and good flex-time benefits (flex-time, telecommuting, ability to defer holidays, etc.). Lastly, it's a good place if job security is a concern; there has not been a layoff in over 10 years (including during the dotcom bust) and they try to plan for flexibility in order to shift people from project to project as contracts come and go.
Cons
As is frequently the case in government and DOD work, there is not a strong drive to build the best products possible nor to use the best and latest technology to do the job. As the company has grown, hiring standards have relaxed too much as well. Particularly if you are an entry-level or junior developer, look out because your initial salary offer will probably be low-balled badly. The health benefits are expensive, especially if you have a family. Senior management preaches constantly about good leadership, but appears to be blind to their own shortcomings, or at least unwilling to do what's necessary to correct it. In too many instances, it seems that good leadership means "don't rock the boat." Management has not dealt well with the company's growth and seems to be stuck trying to maintain a mom-and-pop shop mentality with a company of over 300 and growing. In short, the company has outgrown its leadership and it needs new, more experienced help. The company has also gone on a process crusade over the past few years in order to achieve CMMI compliance. This has put a large burden on the company which has tried to make the transition on its own with little experience in-house. You'd do well to keep your head and avoid involvement in this initiative for as long as you can while they continue to struggling getting this area figured out.
Viewing 7 - 9 of 10 Reviews
