Avoid at All Costs If You Value Stability, Growth, and Job Security - Senior Software Engineer OutThink Employee Review

1.0
30 Jun 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

- Almost no processes, approvals, documentation, or governance to slow you down. If you enjoy operating in complete chaos and figuring things out as you go, you'll feel right at home. - Great place to learn how to operate under constant pressure and uncertainty. - Small office means you'll always be close to your colleagues, sometimes literally.

Cons

- Almost no mature engineering processes in place. The company operates in a constant state of urgency. - One of the worst code quality i have seen, no PR reviews. The deployment process is one of the most chaotic I have seen. What should be a routine release often turns into a troubleshooting exercise, followed by a stream of hotfixes. - The company is so cheap that even basic engineering tools like Postman are apparently too expensive for them. - Job security is non-existent. Layoffs are common enough that employees regularly question whether they'll still have a job in a few months. The oldest employee in the India engineering team was only around 7-8 months old because many earlier employees had already been laid off. - There is not even a dedicated full-time HR, they depends on interns for such roles. - The India office is extremely small for the number of people expected to work from it. Around fifteen employees are packed into a space that feels more like a storage room than a software engineering office. - ESOPs are heavily emphasized during hiring, but there is very little transparency around valuation, FMV, or how employees can independently track and manage their grants. - Engineering growth is limited. Architecture, technical direction, and key decisions are controlled by a small group of people outside India. Most engineers are expected to focus on implementation and AI-generated code rather than system design, architecture, or technical leadership. - Work-life balance is poor. Employees are expected to accommodate European schedules, and meetings outside normal Indian working hours are treated as normal. - Unlimited leave sounds great during hiring but it is practically a scam, you won't get approval for leave. Even national and public holidays are not respected as actual holidays, and employees are expected to work as usual. - If you are coming from a stable organization with established processes, engineering standards, and career growth, this company will likely feel like a major step backward. - Be skeptical of extremely 5 star reviews. The company hires interns and junior engineers in large numbers, and their experience can be very different from that of experienced engineers who join expecting long-term career growth and stability.

Explore other reviews about OutThink

5.0
29 Dec 2023
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

Many startups, especially in the US, promise the startup dream. Few deliver. OutThink is the real deal! The team is absolutely top-notch, talented individuals who are not only experts in their fields but also genuinely passionate about their work. The mission is inspiring. Working at OutThink is an experience like no other!

Cons

While OutThink thrives on innovation, the industry can be a bit sluggish in embracing new ideas. Cybersecurity buyers, understandably cautious, tend to see potential risks and threats everywhere. I guess it’s part of their role to be vigilant. This means that we have to introduce our innovative solutions in a more gradual, measured pace than one might prefer. It’s a delicate dance of progress and prudence, but it’s all part of the journey.

5
4.0
26 Dec 2023
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

As a hypergrowth startup, OutThink offers a typical work environment - the company’s values 'customer first', 'innovation' and 'growth mindset' are reflected in its operations. This means that every team member has the opportunity to contribute significantly to the projects they are involved in. The leadership team promotes a culture of swift decision-making - they refer to it as 'bias for action'. They encourage original thinking and extreme ownership. This approach enables the team to make a real impact. The CEO plays a crucial role in shaping this culture - the company values are regularly discussed in All Hands meetings and people are recognized for living them. For people who share these values, OutThink is an excellent platform to grow professionally.

Cons

While OutThink’s fast-paced environment can be exciting, it can also be overwhelming at times. The rapid pace may not suit everyone and will test your limits. Recent changes at the top have caused some disruption. Some new hires were not the right fit and the CEO took action. However, these experiences have helped the company refine its hiring process to better align with its current stage, and ambitions. Despite these challenges, I see OutThink as a very promising startup.

4
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