Typical Defense Contractor - poor pay, poor benefits, horrible hours, antipathy toward home life/family - Analyst SAIC Employee Review

1.0
Jan 24, 2012
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

There were some really nice people there. Can count the number of them on one hand. Got to play with some nifty toys once in a while. Benefits include coverage for a "domestic partner".

Cons

Pay was average for the industry. Which is to say - if you are upper management, it suits your needs. If you are a techie or some other non-management type, it is entirely inadequate for the ridiculously expensive cost of living in Huntsville. And BTW, they are bilking the customer for far (undisclosed amount) more than what the employee earns for the services of said employee. Company expects you to put it before your own family. I work to live, not live to work. Ever since the company went public, it ceased to give a crap about its employees. It will lie to them (w.r.t. their job security), work them half to death with ever dwindling resources, and its work has in my humble opinion suffered due to management's greater emphasis on "appearance" of the products delivered to the customer, rather than performance. Example: if you can make your software "look like" it is performing a certain function without it actually performing said function correctly, and it fools the customer, then you have "done your job". Mass layoffs are now the new business model. With the ancillary benefit that the poor unfortunate employees are more than willing to sacrifice time with their families and let their home life suffer to work ridiculous hours under increasing stress, due to the fear of management's axe being aimed at their necks. Oh, yeah. I found while there that many coworkers are mean, vindictive, and have no problem not telling you at all that they have some inexplicable issue with you, and then going behind your back (with one person, it averaged once a month) trying to get you fired. I would like to say that particular issue was with one person - but I have found from experience it is epidemic within the company's culture.

Explore other reviews about SAIC

5.0
Jul 1, 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

-Love the contract -People are great to work with -Very flexible with times -If had a very long day, can lessen time to work less later in week

Cons

-Sometimes you gotta work a long freaking day -Have to be ready to get called to go to base at like 1 am

2.0
Jun 30, 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

Decent learning and development opportunities. Some really passionate and hard working people on your teams. Performance management is relaxed and flexible.

Cons

Benefits are wildly expensive for a company of their size. Was laid off with 1.5 months notice right before Christmas. Months prior to layoff was forced to use my PTO due to gov shutdown, but was still getting my full paycheck during shutdown. I believe this was so that they could diminish our PTO banks so they would have to pay out less when they laid us off. Laid off with zero severance despite being at company for almost 4 years and being in good standing. No efforts from management to make connections for a new internal role despite being strongly encouraged to search internally. New CEO Jim is not personable at all. Gives heavy corporate and cog in a machine vibes. Rumor has it that in the defense contracting industry, SAIC will be faring rather poorly within next 1-4 years.

See reviews by: Helpful|Rating|Date|All