Catfish - Sr. Software Engineer Smokeball Employee Review

1.0
5 May 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

Remote work Decent salary and perks

Cons

Very poor engineering culture. Possibly the worst codebase I've ever seen. No tests, no observability, no TypeScript, failing security audits, no trust or autonomy for engineers, and no desire to improve it. I got into trouble for raising a PR that added a package-lock.json (an industry standard). I was told that adding application observability was too risky (also industry standard), when a week earlier there was an application outage which would have been caught by an APM - they found out because a customer told them. I was told that my value was measured in PRs and that I was expected to raise 1 PR a day. I asked if I could include tests in my PR and was told no. Efforts to improve the codebase for more accurate LLM usage were also rejected making LLMs pretty useless. You will likely be less experienced if you work here than when you started. I feel sad because the engineers have a lot to give but I've noticed people don't know how to be excited by technology. There's no ownership or pride in work. My advice if you're considering Smokeball, when you start, don't say anything. They do not value skills that improve the platform for customers. Just do your 1 PR a day, pretend it's hard, and enjoy working from home.

Explore other reviews about Smokeball

5.0
17 Mar 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

Working here has been a culture shock. Smokeball is filled with genuine people. Both peers and those in leadership are kind and more than willing to help in any aspect. If there is an area you have questions or may be struggling in, it's encouraged to ask and get guidance. There is a clear vision of what the company's mission is, and you are included in the motion. There's no "being left in the dark". There are also many team outings and even surprise gifts that come about. Great place to work with a strong product that is in motion to continue to separate from the competition.

Cons

Like every sales position, prospecting can be challenging. However, taking the steps needed to approach to learn the legal industry as it's new to me.

5.0
17 Mar 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

Smokeball has a very supportive and collaborative culture, Team members are always willing to help one another, whether it’s with sales strategies, ongoing learning, or enablement. The company also places a strong emphasis on work-life balance, encouraging employees to take time off for family or when they’re sick without concern. There is a generous vacation policy, and unused time rolls over, which adds flexibility. Additionally, the enablement team does a great job of keeping everyone informed on product updates, ensuring we are well-equipped with the latest information when speaking with clients.

Cons

One potential area for improvement is the transition from Business Development Representative (BDR) to Account Executive. Currently, there isn’t a clearly defined path for advancement. While some BDRs have successfully moved into AE roles, having a more structured internal progression and prioritizing internal candidates before hiring externally could make career growth more transparent and attainable.

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