Low Pay, Mediocre Benefits, Outdated Policies
Pros
SEL seems to be stable, so no risk of layoffs. Interview process isn’t too difficult. Generally friendly people in the office. Work from home policy isn’t great, but it exists so I’m putting it in pros.
Cons
There are much more cons than pros for SEL. First off, the pay is very very low for the software engineering space. It seems people have drank the kool-aid thinking the esop makes up for it… it does not. If you do the math, a job paying a competitive salary with a 401k match beats the esop, and doesn’t take forever to vest. SEL also offers a pitiful amount of vacation time. You basically need to work here for your full career to even get a minimum respectable amount of PTO. Unless you’re passionate about the power grid, you’ll likely find the work and culture quite boring. It also takes forever to move upwards. Another huge gripe I have with SEL is its antiquated view on cannabis. Even as a professional you’re subject to random urine tests like you’re a criminal on probation. God forbid you use cannabis on a Friday night in your own home, or as a sleep aid, that’ll show up and you’ll be fired. Ironic as alcohol is nowhere near as taboo here, I often hear people talking about “getting drunk” this weekend, or discussing alcohol during work hours. I personally have no issue with that, I’m just pointing out the irony as it doesn’t take a genius to see cannabis use at night will not impair your work performance anywhere near a night of drinking.
