Pros
When other reviews say you'll learn a lot, they aren't lying. Rackspace is still in the startup mentality mode, even after returning to private ownership. Too many silos of knowledge, and each group writes their own tools. You will be forced into the trial by fire, and have to spend as much time troubleshooting your tools, as doing your job. Your critical thinking skills will gain a huge boost. The people, as shown on so many reviews, are great. You are almost guaranteed to be put on a team with incredibly smart people. Who are always willing to go above and beyond. You have the opportunity to earn certifications. Some onsite (such as Red Hat), and others such as AWS will be required for your job. Fairly standard benefits and pay (see 401(k) note in cons) Tons of growing business areas. No shortage of customers wanting the expertise that Rackspace sells, especially on AWS. When public, it could be understood that the CEO couldn't admit to the long running talks, but he still took the time to send out a message for employees potentially affected by several different world events, will show up at most events, and in the open office area, has a desk that sees a lot of foot traffic. Tons of opportunities to volunteer (with 24 hours paid annually), and meet with others that work all over Rackspace.
Cons
No training, except for remote opportunities, which negates a lot of the benefits, and proper mindset, for training. Managers are everything. People don't quit jobs, they quit managers, and many organizations internally have too many managers/directors to get actual work done. Over promise and under deliver should be the motto for tools needed to do the job. Even if you get the tools, they are often hobbled by lack of support. Uncertainty, many positions (support) in the company have well-defined requirements, but others are too loose. You have no idea if you are doing the right job, because you have nothing to compare it to. You have no idea if you are ready to level up, because you have nothing to take to your manager and say I meet these requirements. Certifications required that your job doesn't pertain to. Access requirements should be more strict, and some of the required certifications could then drop off the radar. Being too wide open is often a problem, as no one "owns" an issue, and internally people tend to have to fix issues they find, instead of having an expert assist them. Internal support tickets for a 24/7/365 environment often require waiting days, or weeks, for resolution due to the help desk not being 24/7/365 to match the needs of the workers. Too many systems. Every project seems half implemented, and oft without any project management. Teams fall off after turning on the "production" environment, and thus everyone fends for themselves. The end result is a series of one-offs doing the same tasks. Low 401(k) matching. Each team supposedly has a budget for team activities each month, but I have yet to see a team get to use it consistently. Managers and directors, on the other hand, seem to have catered lunches most days. Communications. Rackspace communicates widely about events that have little importance for the day-to-day, or the mission, but company-wide HR issues are only acknowledged when you make a request yourself, and sales-pitch style propaganda for important issues.
