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Blue Marble Communications

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Great Tech, Cliquey Employees - Engineer Blue Marble Communications Employee Review

2.0
19 Mar 2024
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

Neal generally goes out of his way to take care of his people. Tech is all cutting edge, so you'll be working on interesting things. Startup culture means that you'll be working on a large variety of things, so you'll get a lot of experience quite quickly. Lunch was provided daily if wanted, which is very convenient. Company events weren't uncommon, oftentimes company sponsored. Decent 401k match, even though it's a smaller company. Employees are generally at the top of their game - you'd be hard pressed to find smarter people to work with in their respective fields. Labs are the most well stocked I've ever seen - you'll never want for a specific piece of equipment to do development. Spot bonuses when big milestones are hit. Cell phone bill stipend.

Cons

Talented people come with big personalities. Lots of friction if expectations aren't met, regardless of feasibility. Expect to hear psychotic things mentioned casually from your peers. Blue Marble is the first place I ever heard someone talk about the benefits of the white ethnostate. So keep an ear/eye out if you're not white. Raises were pretty rare. Only ever received one raise in multiple years there, and it wasn't even comparable to COLA. Bonuses are feast or famine - don't count on them to always be there. Neal is very much a butts-in-seats kind of guy. He wants to see you there regardless of what you're doing, so don't count on remote work unless you have a pressing reason. Because they pay for part of your cell phone also means that you're expected to be reachable at all times. Work hours tend to be long. The expectation is 45 hours a week at a minimum. Expect long hours to be a regular occurrence (10 - 12 hour days). Environment made me a worse person because it was so toxic.

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Blue Marble Communications Response
2y
Wow, that's quite a bit to take in. Firstly, it's unfortunate that things didn't work out to your satisfaction. We strive to sustain BMC's reputation as an employer of choice. Occasionally there's an inevitable misalignment of talent, goals, culture, etc.; which is unavoidable at any company. The key is making sure we seek out mutual compatibility in these areas. BMC designs and manufactures extremely high-tech, high-reliability, spaceborne communications products which is hugely challenging in many aspects; and during the timeframe indicated, we were very much in our "start-up phase" which is not a good fit for those not up to the challenge. As far as expectations and feasibility, we constantly get industry feedback as to how we've done an incredible job getting the advanced-technology products to market in the timeframes we did; hardly unfeasible, it just couldn't have been done within the realm of mediocrity. Admittedly, a couple/few years back things could get grueling, but now the vast majority of the staff work at or under 40 hours/week. Some of the specific comments compel direct response: I have never heard, nor heard of any, discussions regarding “benefits of a white ethnostate” or anything along those lines. That would never be tolerated at BMC. There was a period wherein it seemed anywhere one went, people were pulled into and vocal about divisive issues within the US. That has all been eliminated at BMC and we maintain a highly inclusive and diverse employee population at all levels within the organization chart. (Currently 51% Non-White, 38% female/non-male; far greater than industry averages.) As far as raises and spot bonuses being infrequent and not comparable to cost-of-living adjustments, that is not representative of what is typical at BMC. There are several employees who have gotten 2-3 raises and/or multiple spot bonuses in a year; and a few that have more than doubled their salaries since starting work at BMC. There are, of course, others that haven’t had the same level of growth. The benefit is that people are not constrained by “policy” or pools allocated to departments and other such limiting methods, which in my opinion is much more appropriate and fairer to the employees. And yes, this is definitely not the place to seek employment if you’re looking for WFH or hybrid environment. Occasionally employees will work from home so that they can focus on a critical task, have a sick family member or pet, and other such situations. However, we succeed by being a tight, interactive team with all members constantly learning through doing, from mentors and via peer-to-peer interaction. This is necessary for BMC’s achievement and hugely beneficial for team members. Regarding “astro-turfing” of reviews…absolutely not. I do encourage employees to write reviews every few months or so during all-hands meetings and such, particularly when we’re hiring, as I believe it’s good when recruiting new talent and candidates can get a good idea as to what the company is all about. However, I never coach or push for positive reviews; in fact, I state that I am specifically not encouraging any slants and to speak honestly about their thoughts. I strive hard to make this an optimum workplace and it is what it is. I don’t want people coming into BMC with false expectations. Additionally, there is absolutely no more than a single review done by any employee. Each is an individual opinion. I don’t know who wrote this review, but I do hope that you’ve found a compatible company where you enjoy your work. Good luck!

Explore other reviews about Blue Marble Communications

5.0
22 Mar 2025
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

Innovative Work: Exciting projects that push the boundaries of technology. Talented Team: Surrounded by hardworking, intelligent, and motivated colleagues who challenge and support each other. Growth Opportunities: Plenty of chances to develop skills and advance within the company. Great Culture: A collaborative and fast-paced environment where hard work is recognized and rewarded.

Cons

Not many! The pace can be fast, but that’s expected when working on groundbreaking technology with a high-performing team.

5.0
13 Feb 2024
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

- Mentorship: Easy to seek guidance and mentorship from senior engineers - Collaboration: The office has an open-floor plan which makes the office feel more connected and lets you speak with other teams more easily - Opportunities: Supervisors are receptive to your ideas and are ready to assign challenging tasks if you're willing to take them on - Transparency: Senior management is approachable and welcoming to your suggestions - Fun events: Events are frequently hosted both in and out of office, they're always a fun way to connect with coworkers outside of work! - Snack/drink carts are all over the office, and lunch is provided daily!

Cons

- Although the company doesn't normally offer remote work options for full-time employees, I personally find the office environment more enjoyable and conducive to productivity. Nonetheless, supervisors are often accommodating on a case-by-case basis if you do need to take your work home

2
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Blue Marble Communications Response
2y
We're very pleased to hear that you're able to see and take advantage of the unlimited growth opportunities at BMC and continue to increase your contributions and value to our company and our products. We strive to remain a workplace of choice, maintain a familial environment, and take on the coolest challenges. It is a bit unfortunate that we're not really able to support remote work; however, our constant pursuit of embracing the latest in technologies and continuous learning really needs in-person collaboration to not only bring synergy to the team but provide provide the mentorship and teamwork that makes it possible. Another great thing about it is that you get to be around fantastic people everyday. We're very pleased and lucky to have you in the Blue Marble family. Thank you!
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