Structural Engineer - off-shoring reduced quality of work and added stress - Structural Engineer Jacobs Employee Review

2.0
7 Nov 2021
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

No particular pressure to work overtime. Supportive of work from home

Cons

Hierarchical organisation, where strategy decisions are reported from the top, and change moves very slowly. An example of the above is the drive to force off-shoring from low cost centers into doing highly complex work. The work is poor, the communication worse. No one in the rank-and-file likes it, however reporting about it to middle managers has little visible effect. Senior engineers are usually not technically skilled, as they get given all the coordination and resourcing tasks of which there is a lot, so you rely on the scattered few engineers who've resisted getting into management to answer the hard questions, although this seems to be a trend in tier 1 consultancies. Engineers are often moved around between projects frequently, which encourages complacency that someone else will fix mistakes or designs with insufficient detail, although this is an issue with the large contracts Jacobs receives as contracts go for so long.

Explore other reviews about Jacobs

5.0
3 Apr 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

Strong learning environment for entry-level engineers Great exposure to large-scale transportation and infrastructure projects with experienced mentors and structured onboarding. Reputable global firm Jacobs’ strong brand name adds credibility to your résumé and opens doors for future opportunities in both public and private sectors. Good career growth and mobility Clear pathways to move into roles like Project Engineer, Assistant Resident Engineer, or Construction Management with internal postings encouraged. Supportive team culture (project-dependent) Most teams are collaborative, and senior staff are willing to guide junior engineers, especially in inspection and CM roles. Competitive benefits and job stability Solid health benefits, 401(k), PTO, and steadier work compared to smaller consulting firms—especially on long-term public agency contracts.

Cons

Growth pace depends on manager and project Advancement and role expansion can vary widely based on leadership and available opportunities.

1
4.0
29 Jun 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

The benefits and unlimited pto are great

Cons

It’s a big company, so there are a lot of corporate games you have to play to get noticed and advance in your career

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