Please Do Your Research - Design Engineer Altus Spine Employee Review

2.0
20 Oct 2016
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

Excluding the people that I worked with, there are not many benefits to this company besides an entry way into the orthopedic (spine) design industry. The company is very small and you are able to pick up major responsibilities expanding your resume. The current (at the time) direct management is tolerable however that seemed to change over the time I have spent at the company. The employees that I worked with made this job very tolerable. A great friendship was formed under hardship of upper management. However I do not foresee the employees that I worked with staying there long term unless things change. They are the sole reason that I give this company a two star rating instead of a one.

Cons

Please read the Acero Precision GlassDoor reviews; this will give a good insight to how the upper management works and is, for the most part, very accurate to how Altus Spine functions. Also there is a non compete, so if you are to sign with the company there is a potential hold on your career in the industry that could cripple you in this specific field. This review is based on my experience and personal opinions of this company. There are many cons to this company. It is a small company; however, it is by no means a family run type of organization. It lacks the benefits of working for a small company where you feel like you have a secure job and everyone is friendly. There is an 'at will' clause which makes you feel replaceable and is reinforced by the high turnover rates of the company. I was only there for one year and we lost 7 employees in a company of fewer than 15 employees. On top of that a majority of the managers do not fight for you and will pretend to be your friend for their best interest. Excluding upper management, the pay and benefits are terrible for the amount of work employees do. The medical/dental/vision benefits are expensive compared to competitors, you do not receive many days off, you are expected and typically have to work long hours, your pay is well below average, and the owner has strict expectations and more. Excluding my coworkers this company is the worst company I have ever worked for. I typically worked before sun rise and left after sun set. My experience involved often doing very unrelated tasks for an engineer. It was expected and encouraged by upper management. Days were very long and employees are expected to work over 45 hours per week per individual contract and circumstance. This is doable but by no means is sustainable. There is no overtime pay and there are required hours which forces you to oblige by the company's rules of when you can come in and leave. This made it difficult to spend time with my family even with a half hour commute. I was given last minute jobs frequently due to poor time management or last minute requests. On top of this I felt like I was being watched and spied on every minute of the day. Company morale at the time was always very low because of the frequent turn overs and stress put upon the employees by the owner. For some strange reason I felt stuck at the company which is a strange feeling because I had many opportunities. This can probably be attributed to the owner and his management tactics. I did not intend to but I ultimately left on bad terms. The owner of the company is antisocial unless you are in his inner circle. It is almost cartoonish how he will not look you in the eyes. He sees his employees as an expense and will constantly remind you about how much time and money you spent on a project based on your pay. It is not professional and will often lead to short cuts to appease his list of urgent tasks. Please read Acero Precision's Glassdoor reviews because it will unearth a lot of issues that I have not mentioned.This company has the same ownership as Acero Precision and share the same HR team as well. Also please do your research before working for this company.

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Altus Spine Response
3y
Thank you for your feedback and we will attempt to clarify the issues raised in your post. First and foremost, non-compete agreements are standard for our industry. Every company has them as part of how they do business. Second, Pennsylvania is an “at will” employment state which means that every private employer with few exceptions is subject to the same conditions. It is difficult to discuss the medical/dental/vision benefits issue without an alternative to compare our rates. What we do know is that medical benefits for employees are covered by the employer anywhere from 60% up to 100% of the costs depending on the plan. I would also agree that a review of all the posts on Glassdoor would be helpful and insightful. We hope that you get the sense that we are on the right track and our potential is unlimited. You will also read that where a criticism is warranted we will openly address it. Finally, we appreciate the employee who posted this review acknowledged that they left the company on “bad terms." Maybe that will explain the level of animosity against the owner and leadership because the facts do not.

Explore other reviews about Altus Spine

5.0
6 Mar 2026
Anonymous employee
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

As a current employee, I am proud to be part of a company that is truly dedicated to advancing spine care and improving patient outcomes. The level of innovation, collaboration, and commitment to quality here is impressive. Our team works hard to develop technologies that support surgeons and ultimately help patients. One of the things I value most is the culture. Leadership encourages collaboration, professional growth, and continuous improvement.

Cons

The company is growing quickly, which means processes are still evolving

5.0
7 Nov 2023
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

Altus Spine is a great place for engineering students to learn about the medical device industry. It boasts a truly impressive facility, sharing a working environment with its sister company, Acero Precision. Consequently, there are plenty of opportunities to crosstrain between the two companies in a wide range of skillsets. The work one does has a tangible impact and provides plenty of opportunities to learn and develop. Spinal implants and instruments are a highly regulated industry, so gaining experience with the interplay between R&D and Quality necessary to bring such a product to market is incredibly valuable.

Cons

Work can be somewhat monotonous, at times, but that's to be expected for an internship position.

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Altus Spine Response
2y
Let’s start with the Advice to Management. You are right. The program is intended to provide real work experience and ultimately lead the interns back to Altus Spine and Acero Precision. For the record, a number of interns have graduated and joined both companies over the years. We also allow student interns to work through school breaks like Thanksgiving and Christmas so that they can keep their skills sharp and earn at the same time.
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