It works for me, but can be nerve-wracking - Senior Scientist Leidos Employee Review

5.0
11 Nov 2018
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

I am a scientist who started with SAIC in the mid-90's, world through he "going public", multiple CEO's, and the transition to Leidos. I have worked my way up from someone green to a rather senior level where I am a primary decision maker on multiple contracts. My salary has increased by 4x over the 23 years -- growth exists. I am surrounded by really smart people who love solving problems -- hard problems that are of critical importance to the nation. Salary is pretty good (I think, not looking around), benefits are Meh. But that is the case throughout the industry. For me, the biggest plus is, most mornings, I am excited to go to work and I find the work engaging. I get the tools I need to do the job by one asking once. One other thing, there is a lot of personal flexibility. In my group, as long as the work gets done (and 80 hours in two weeks are billed), no one cares which hours are worked.

Cons

First of all, we are a contracting company. If we do not win new work or recompense, we are laid off, and are on our own to find a new position. The company offers some limited help. No severance, though. But, if you are good, and you network within the company, you can have continuity of employment. In fact, that is what usually happens. Getting a layoff notice, while incredibly stressful, is not considered an embarrassment. But, it does mean that you need to be 100% aware of situations. Let me be clear, though, this is not unique to Leidos. I have friends in other companies that are in the same boat. Basically, if there is no work, there is no job. Other big negatives is, over the last several years, bonuses have been lacking/absorbed by the higher ups.

Explore other reviews about Leidos

5.0
22 Jun 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

Ability to work from home

Cons

There is few opportunities to promote

3.0
27 May 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

Leidos provides opportunities to work on complex government programs with meaningful technical challenges. Depending on the contract and team, there can be exposure to cloud infrastructure, cybersecurity, systems engineering, networking, and mission-focused work that is difficult to find elsewhere. The company also has a large footprint, so there may be internal opportunities for people who are able to navigate the organization.

Cons

My experience was that the quality of management varied significantly by program. Communication around expectations, roles, and priorities was often inconsistent, and decisions that affected employees were not always explained clearly or handled in a transparent way. Work-life balance also depended heavily on local management. Flexibility that existed in practice could be changed quickly, and employees were sometimes left trying to reconcile changing expectations with existing workloads and personal obligations. In my view, the company would benefit from stronger oversight of program-level management decisions, especially where employee responsibilities, workplace flexibility, and performance feedback are concerned. I also found that technical decision-making was sometimes driven more by schedule pressure than by sound engineering judgment. On complex government programs, that can create unnecessary risk and frustration for employees who are trying to do things correctly.

See reviews by: Helpful|Rating|Date|All