Great potential, poor execution - R&D Starkey Employee Review

2.0
17 Oct 2012
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

Starkey has many bright and motivated individuals working towards a common goal of helping others improve their ability to hear and communicate. Nice amenities at work and benefits are generally competitive across the industry. Free parking

Cons

Management positions are awarded to those who can 'play the game' as effectively as possible, not to those who generally produce for the company. Middle management routinely kisses up and kicks down, often using the ideas of their subordinates, relying on those around them to generate solutions and presenting projects/products to upper management as their own. Starkey promotes sizzle, not steak. This surface understanding of their employees leads upper management to work hard at creating an environment of innovation without connecting directly to - and rewarding - those (relatively few) individuals who actually do generate content. Much time and money is wasted on the process of capable employees maneuvering around obstacles (middle managers) in order to meet deadlines. At best, middle management gets out the way (but never leads or generates the vision), at worst management actively sabotages efforts that may take the spotlight off them. Classic passive aggressive and narcissistic work environment. Too few people doing far too much while others use up precious resources without producing anything. Fast tracking a few through management positions, letting others languish for years without career advancement. Extremely tight deadlines with too few capable people has led to questionable product quality.

Explore other reviews about Starkey

5.0
26 May 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

Flexibility, good pay, rewarding work, great employees, private company

Cons

Some silos between departments can be difficult to work with sometimes

3.0
24 Jan 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

Mission-Driven Impact: You get the unique satisfaction of knowing your technical infrastructure directly supports technology that restores hearing and improves the quality of life for millions. • Innovation Hub: Because Starkey integrates AI and sensors into their hearing aids, IT engineers often work with sophisticated, modern stacks that bridge the gap between traditional enterprise IT and wearable tech. • Strong Local Culture: As a privately held company with deep roots in Minnesota, Starkey offers a stable, family-oriented environment that often feels more personal than a massive, faceless tech conglomerate.

Cons

Legacy Debt: Like many established manufacturing giants, you may encounter older legacy systems and "on-prem" hurdles that can slow down the deployment of more modern, cloud-native solutions. • Corporate Rigidity: Some employees report a traditional top-down management style, which can occasionally feel restrictive if you are used to the agile, flat autonomy found in Silicon Valley-style startups. • High-Pressure Environment: Given the precision required for medical devices and global distribution, the IT uptime requirements can lead to demanding "on-call" cycles and high-stress troubleshooting windows.

See reviews by: Helpful|Rating|Date|All