Comp @ Automattic?
1) What's the comp like for a senior software engineer at Automattic? Wouldn't want to go through the whole process for half of what I currently make, I'd rather stay miserable but well paid. I've read the reviews on blind and it seems that most people don't enjoy the management much, but afaik that's the case everywhere that's not specific to Automattic š 2) How many PTO people usually take? 3) How's the work-life balance? I have a few kids and usually enjoy my personal time more than my work time. 4) Is it realistic to work ~30h a week there? Meaning ~16h of intense real coding. 5) Is pair programming common there? I know it's old code, frameworkless PHP, but I think I can enjoy it considering I think I'd feel like I'd be making a difference. I gotta say though that the lack of actual proper project management scares me a bit. Thanks! #automattic
Comp is usually complained about. YMMV. Iām okay with where Iām at, obviously itās not FAANG, but itās alright. I believe that theyāre doing a ācomp calibrationā talk early in the hiring process now ā so you donāt need to go through everything blind. Iām guessing youād be looking to join Woo? If thatās the case, the management is great. Best at Automattic. The PTO question is variable. Last year I took somewhere between 30-40 days and I think thatās pretty standard. WLB is good. I too have kids. Never felt like I was punished for that. Work what you need to get your job done. Iām not sure how to answer that question. Iām sure some people do work that much, others put in 50+ hours because they do that. I shoot for around 40. Pair programming depends on the team. Some do, others not so much. It can also be tricky because the rest of your team might be in a completely different time zone. There is some project management, just none of the ridiculous ceremony and overhead like in SCRUM.
1) Comp is peanuts. "I'd rather stay miserable but well paid." Don't join then. "I am more motivated by impact than money" is in our "Creed"; that says it all. 2) People take lots of PTO, min 25 recommended, lots of people take 30-40+. Remember that is including statutory holidays though; we decide which ones we take off. 3) WLB is good. Team dependent just like everywhere else. 4) Yes it is if you're efficient. If you're coming from SHOP it should be a breeze to keep up with your coworkers doing 30. 5) It can be if you seek it out.
If you're looking to work, get promotions, earn raises, get the most out of your career, STAY AWAY. If you value WLB, want flexibility, do some coasting, get up to 2 months of PTO, then APPLY.
Started around 115 in 2020, got about 5% raise per year. No equity or cash bonuses. I never had to work more than 40 hours per week over 3 years. Done smartly, itās possible to do 30 and still deliver whatās expected, but donāt tell anybody youāre doing it. Pairing is on an ad-hoc basis with your team or whomever you want to pair with. Thereās no structure dictating for or against it. Work-life balance varies by team. My lead was always adamant about protecting my non-work hours, but others arenāt. Word to the wise: the whole company is in disarray right now and most folks are nervous about their financial future. Lots of terminations happen under shady circumstances. Forget any possibility of an IPO for the foreseeable future, and understand that upper leadership doesnāt have a coherent strategy (or at times, even a useful vision for the future).