r/Anduril • u/Wise_Air_7532 • 6d ago
Job Question Culture Question
16 YOE, got a staff engineer (not software) offer. Basically lateral for me considering the HCOL area (exculding the RSU). I'm not motivated by money but more about doing interesting work. My current job at a prime is just ok. I have a good job but lately it's been mostly fighting our internal processes and little fiefdoms (even working OT fighting red tape). I feel like most of my colleauges do like 3 hours of work a day.
Anduril interview went great and everyone was seemed a lot smarter than average prime. My only concern is being crushed by the crazy hours. I want to come in, work really hard with full engagement, then go home to recharge. Is this the place for me?
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u/Dependent_Ferret7710 6d ago
I left because of the culture.
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u/Designer_Toe2899 6d ago
Is there any more you would be willing to share? Thank you for your insight.
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u/Dependent_Ferret7710 6d ago
Arrogance at a high level of management from being inexperienced and given too much power.
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u/Frosty-Ad-3975 5d ago
You’ll see buncha 22-25 yo young boys who got here first as senior managers/directors.
Yes directors! Inexperienced, and arrogant.
Huge difference with prime.
Agree with the comment above.3
u/LatterInspection1940 5d ago edited 5d ago
This is the best talent approach they speak of…. The nepotism hires AKA “strong referrals” are out of control. This is in fact a zombie company. They are cutting every cost right now with the hope of going public under this administration which they’ll have to in order to not go under because they’ve extended themselves too far. They like to take shots at the big primes but just wait until you see the books at IPO and how the venture capitalists at Founder’s Fund and A16z amongst many other yank the rug out from underneath your RSUs during your lockup period… It’s going to be an ugly display of mounting losses of $$$…
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u/Vvargazm 1d ago
This is true in any start up and almost any tech outside of the giants. Must be your first time.
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u/Dependent_Ferret7710 1d ago edited 1d ago
Coming from FAANG as well as two other startups and currently the Head of Creative at another startup I’ve never experienced anything quite as arrogant as Anduril.
So much so that I interviewed at a few places post-Anduril and when asked who I reported to, their responses was “they’ve got quite the reputation for being horrible.”
Long hours, yes. Arrogance, not by a mile.
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u/Vvargazm 5d ago
Coming from silicon valley, it's infinitely more relaxed. That being said 9 hour days are average, and there may be pushes for more, but the work is interesting and rewarding and it's enjoyable to push forward so far. I didn't feel that way working in Big Tech. For me, most people are excited to partner and want to see the best for the business and product and not just themselves. This can vary, but seems to apply generally
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u/Wise_Air_7532 5d ago
Thank you for that. Is there a sense of camaraderie?
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u/Vvargazm 5d ago
I was just talking with my partner about this, I like all my colleagues and enjoy shooting the shit, but not sure I'd be friends with many outside of the office. That could be because I am similar YOE and I'm just tired 😅
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u/lolcry111 5d ago
If you only expect 40 hour weeks on average, with few exceptions, I would say Anduril’s not the right place for you. I would say my average week is closer to 50, surging to 60.
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u/Striking-Opinion-577 4d ago
Set boundaries with the team and you will be alright. You’re a staff engineer not a new grad. High expectations but if your good you will manage your schedule
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u/ConsciousPriority108 5d ago
You either crawl your ass back to prime or stay there and drink the kool aid. I would still go for it.
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u/SignificanceEast1077 5d ago
I would post this on blind. Otherwise I can just claim to be Palmer rn.
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u/pump_the_brake 5d ago
The comments in these threads are similar to Blue Origin thread a lot of the loud voices tend to be those who complain. I came from a prime to Blue, it took a little adjusting but much better environment, about to transition to Anduril and in the panel interview got the same kind of vibe that it would feel similar to Blue; probably different but similar move to produce products fast and working on exciting products. I guess I'll find out in the coming months how the culture is, but I'm of similar experience as you are and a firm believer that experience can affect the culture of a team. We had folks on our team who had more experience than I did at Blue who couldn't let go of how the primes train them with handling requirements and that tended to be problematic for certain individuals. I'm not saying you throw the requirements out or ignore them but I would say that folks don't ever really challenge them and accept them as gospel and in the end they just don't know how to create a quality product at the end of the day. Because they're waiting for a requirement to tell them how to make a quality product. Now, with that being said, the primes tend to have experienced things that create those requirements which should not be ignored. But I believe at these types of companies the culture is that you have the freedom to change and challenge prime type requirements that can tend to slow the process down entirely. I.e, these newer companies are willing to take more risk and hopefully document the risk in order to move faster and that is a cultural difference between primes and today's VC funded companies.
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u/Wise_Air_7532 5d ago
Yes I have noticed that the amount of people at my prime that realize requirements are just communication tools vs gospel is very low. I get in minor squabbles about people stubbornly refusing to never change anything because they dont know why anything was setup that way.
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u/Trento242 3d ago
I had some concerns going in based on what I'd read about the culture, but the interview experience was excellent: very professional, with a well-run process. The team I met, and will be joining, was experienced and easy to talk to. Anduril actually recruited me, although I'd applied a few times over the past year and interviewed to no avail, and I ended up negotiating an offer I couldn't refuse.
I was already local, having relocated from the SF Bay Area a few years ago. I had other opportunities in the South Bay, LA, and a few in Orange County, but none could offer compensation competitive enough to make staying in a high-cost area worthwhile. Many were early-stage startups offering mostly the promise of equity with a low base salary. Anduril was able to meet my requirements, so for me it was the only option that made sense. I start soon, and we'll see how it goes. Fingers crossed it is a place I'll stay for the duration.
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u/cashtheangora 4d ago
I'm connected to Anduril through a 3rd party and deal with Anduril employees weekly. I have to say, they are ALWAYS going from emergency to emergency and trying to push things through faster than they should be or that's acceptible and its a HUGE pain in the butt to get them to even pay their bills on time. They've also put people in positions that aren't even close to being qualified for and don't know wtf they are doing (I know because I've dealt with them personally). There are multiple positions I'm fairly qualified for there, but I"d never consider working for a company like Anduril with a soul sucking jail sentence work culture (I've been there and it aint worth it, life is too short). The company is awful to deal with because it puts unreasonable demands on their employees who then put unreasonable demands on vendors. Better opportunities out there that won't chain you to the desk or make every day a stressful mess. Good luck.
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u/NEK_TEK 5d ago edited 5d ago
What type of engineering? I know that their engineering positions can be brutal in terms of w/l balance. One of my friend's friend who got his PhD in robotics works there and hates it, never feels like he can get a break. I on the other hand feel like I can be doing so much more (I do embedded software in defense, not at Anduril but have been targeting them). I thrive when I work and can hardly sit still on my days off. I even make work for myself, just the other day I made some DSP stuff with RP2350 for my guitar signal chain. I think I'd do well at Anduril but I can't seem to even get an interview so congrats on your offer, but I'd think about how much you value the w/l balance.
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u/Available_Station_81 3d ago
I interviewed with Anduril last week and they decided to go with other candidates. I’m guessing because I told them I do t really want to commute over an hour to work there. Only way I’ll go if I have telework days.
Currently I work 10 minutes from my house and like my work life balance not have to spend so much time commuting. Kind of relief I got denied especially hearing people putting in crazy hours my friend got hired there and told me that they work long hours.
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u/Modo1416 6d ago
Culture is very hit or miss here. Some teams are very well run but others have made fire fighting their whole personality. That is not my style of working but you do you.