Review - Director, IT Services Solar Ship Employee Review

Solar Ship has an ambitious mission: solar-powered electric flight to serve remote regions of the globe. Working for Solar Ship felt a bit like being a Wright Brother - every day was different, and there were equal parts office and hands-on labour. Never boring, and often extremely challenging, in a good way. A good place to work if you like to keep things interesting. Also great if you live in or around Brantford - not many other opportunities like this in southern Ontario!

While I was an employee, Solar Ship suffered from rapid employee turnover, probably because the work environment can be politically charged. If you don't believe in the vision, you'll probably feel unwelcome. Working hours can also be difficult (3am wake-ups for test flights, sometimes on weekends). Finally, perhaps this has changed since I left, but much energy always seemed to be devoted to finding new investors, sometimes at the detriment of employees' happiness.

If you believe in the mission, this is a great place to be. The CEO is all about helping employees follow their "life-plan" and will do whatever it takes to keep you on track. The CEO often talks in metaphors and it can be difficult for a linear person to follow what he's saying. That said, what he says is deeply inspirational if you grasp his meaning. It's important to have team members who can interpret him for the rest of the group. The mission is very clear.

There are a few bad eggs on the team who let negativity impact the energy of the group and the C level team is too busy to weed them out. It's unfortunate to have a team of driven people, who are guided by saving lives, ruined by individuals who are only here for the paycheque.