Duck and Cover - Senior Software Engineer Ancestry Employee Review

1.0
25 Nov 2018
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

Some really nice people Some good opportunities to try new things Decent pay and benefits 9-4 with hour lunch and hour in the gym Unlimited PTO Many very competent employees

Cons

The reorg was so bad, with the random layoffs and forcing people to certain teams, that upper management (not leadership) refuses to hold management accountable. It is sad to see friends suffer from the hands of managers that should never have been promoted. It is depressing watching people's passion that they once held die. I witnessed ordinary people try to help with the reorg, only to be told it wasn't their job by poor middle managers. I have seen people's project change almost weekly because people can't get their act together. If a manager or a situation is so bad, you have to force people to stay on a team, they will leave. While many left, there are still a lot of great people. Many have just taken the duck and cover approach. Gossip is now much more common. You may be hired on to a team with a great manager but then be forced to work for a bad one, with no way out. I feel bad for a friend who got out from the domain of a very poor middle manager only to have that manger transferred to their new one, after decimating their previous one. I saw another friend beg for help from his manager with a personal conflict only to have the manager and the manager's manager refuse to intervene for over six months. The best advice is to stop caring, if you can. Leave if you can't.

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5.0
24 Jun 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

Great company culture, supportive team, smooth onboarding process, strong career stability, and meaningful work. My interview experience was very positive, and the recruiting and onboarding teams were helpful, responsive, and professional throughout the process.

Cons

There is always a learning curve when joining a new company, especially while understanding internal systems and processes, but the team has been very supportive.

3.0
12 Jun 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

It’s a great product and people are customer obsessed.

Cons

Misogyny is baked in to the culture.

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