-36
eNPS Score
Q&A With General Atomics Aeronautical Systems Employees
General Atomics is a visionary pioneer with a unique and powerful mission. Join us and you can work on transformative technology, developing the latest solutions for Nuclear Fuel Cycle, Electromagnetic Systems, Remotely Piloted Aircraft Systems, Airborne Sensors, Laser Technologies, or Biofuels. Here you’ll have the freedom to look further and dream bigger. You won’t wait for opportunity, you’ll create it. We’re a different kind of company, and if you like what you see below, we could be the perfect landing spot for you.
How employees describe working at General Atomics Aeronautical Systems
There could be more collaboration and enthusiasm
Lots of opportunity if you're willing to do the work. I'm in my 8th position & going on 17 years.
integrity loyalty love good 8best defense
They are very chill and relaxed
Tolerance of nonproductive workers and schemers.
What it's like to work at General Atomics Aeronautical Systems
- General Atomics Aeronautical Systems employees generally work 9.4 hrs a day
- Employees at General Atomics Aeronautical Systems report the work pace is comfortably fast
- On a typical day, employees at General Atomics Aeronautical Systems have 0 meetings
- 68% of General Atomics Aeronautical Systems employees look forward to interacting with their team every day
- General Atomics Aeronautical Systems employees most often take 10-15 paid vacation and sick days each year
- 14% of General Atomics Aeronautical Systems employees report they are happy with their work life balance
- General Atomics Aeronautical Systems employees never get valuable feedback on how to improve at work
- 59% of General Atomics Aeronautical Systems employees call their work environment negative
Q&A With General Atomics Aeronautical Systems Employees
IDX: 0 TOT: 67
Does General Atomics Aeronautical Systems drug test or do a background check?
They do a pre-employment drug screen and a background check using A-Check Global.
Pre-employment drug test as well as a background check.
Drug test and background check happen.
What are the team outings like at General Atomics Aeronautical Systems?
Theme park once a year.
usually to a bar
the small groups have them from time to time, but ...not the whole group.
If you could make changes, how would you improve the culture at General Atomics Aeronautical Systems?
Top Employee Response
In a magical world where GA changes for the better. I would appoint a COO. I would appoint competent HR people, who understand the importance of confidentiality in complaints/evidence gathering. I would stop people from getting promoted based on whether or not they are drinking buddies with their boss, and promote people based on their performance.
Restructure the "Strategic Development" group and remove unqualified Senior Directors. Make sure that people who raise concerns about corruption and mismanagement aren't retaliated against. Make sure that more than one person's voice is heard by corporate leadership.
More employee perks, free snacks, parties, clubs and outings.
How innovative is General Atomics Aeronautical Systems?
The engineering group are very innovative, the rest of the company is held back by ego and personality politics.
On the engineering side of the house, it is very innovative.
Very
What's the work from home policy like at General Atomics Aeronautical Systems?
It depends on your department and manager. There is no across the board policy.
Depends on your department, level of seniority and whim of your manager.
Depends on your department and Supervisor.
What's the office layout like at General Atomics Aeronautical Systems?
mostly cubicles, most offices don't have windows
terrible, cube farm or offices with no windows - unless you're a Senior Director
Depends on your seniority, most likely you will have a cubical.
What is the PTO policy at General Atomics Aeronautical Systems?
3 weeks per year to start.
Supposed to be 17 days/year ...BUT if you're having an affair with your boss - you get to take as many days off as you want without counting them towards your PTO balance.
What kind of people does General Atomics Aeronautical Systems like to hire?
Top Employee Response
people who are complacent, and who won't ask hard questions or provide new ideas
Engineers, programmers, and scientists
How can I get hired at General Atomics Aeronautical Systems as a recent grad?
Go for an internship. Without experience, youll have a hard time getting in the door
yes
How long does it take to hear back after applying to General Atomics Aeronautical Systems?
Depends on the department
Could be quick could be never
How long after an interview at General Atomics Aeronautical Systems does it take to hear back?
Depends on the department - a lot of times, a candidate has already been chosen and the position is just advertised as a matter of policy - so if you're coming from outside the company, a less qualified internal candidate will likely get the job.
within a week or so
What are the most important soft skills I need to be successful at General Atomics Aeronautical Systems?
To be successful at GA, you need to be able to play politics. Skills, abilities and accomplishments count for nothing if you haven't been playing politics with the right people.
Patience and thought out conversation.
What is the best advice you could give someone during their first month at General Atomics Aeronautical Systems?
The most important thing to know about GA-ASI is that every department is a silo and has it's own culture and politics. So, every answer to this question will depend on which silo you end up working in. In my department, I would recommend that any woman identify an employment attorney within 30 days, you may not need them right away, but you WILL need them eventually.
Learn a lot of acronyms, verify with your manager/supervisor the expectations they have for you and ask them about goals you can set to get a raise.
What skills do you need to be successful in the Communications department at General Atomics Aeronautical Systems?
political skills are far more important than professional skills. ALWAYS remember this.
Early in your career at GA-ASI someone will say "everything is political" make sure that you take this to heart. Success is determined NOT by professional accomplishments, or advancing the company's sales plan. Success is determined by personal popularity, and personal popularity alone.
What benefits does General Atomics Aeronautical Systems provide?
Pension, 401k match up to 3%, medical/vision/dental/life, gym subsidy, 9/80 work week,
Pension, 401(k), vacation time, average health insurance...
How does General Atomics Aeronautical Systems make decisions around promotions?
Based on the annual performance review, time since last promotion and whoever else may be in line before you.
You must be personal friends with your supervisor, or their boss. Promotions are based on personal popularity not performance.
How do you feel about General Atomics Aeronautical Systems's future?
The future is bright with all of the different products offered and all of the different countries interested.
They will continue to engineer great products.
Who did you meet with during your interview? And how long did it take to hear back from General Atomics Aeronautical Systems?
I met with several of the senior engineers. It was about a week to hear back and a month to make it official.
Hiring manager, and their boss. Depends on how the hiring manager structures the team as to who you'll meet. Heard back in a few days, but the process still took four months.
What does the ideal candidate in the Communications department look like at General Atomics Aeronautical Systems?
A candidate who won't make the Senior Director feel threatened by being smarter than him, is the best candidate.
Depends on the hiring manager. The senior director prefers women who are blond and well endowed, and giggle during their interview. Senior Managers want candidates who have the skills and qualifications to do their job successfully.
How helpful was your Communications team when you were first hired at General Atomics Aeronautical Systems?
The comms team are great!
Don't trust everything you hear from management about individual personalities in the team.
What's the internship program like at General Atomics Aeronautical Systems?
It depends on the department. However, interns are now being offered jobs at the conclusion of a successful internship.
Limited. Lots of opportunities if you have family who works in the company.
How does General Atomics Aeronautical Systems handle HR issues?
Raising ANY issue with HR WILL result in retaliation from your Senior Director.
Badly. HR at GA exists to stop the company from being sued, and that is all. You will spend a lot of time taking mandatory online training courses (if you are former military, you are familiar with this), but in any other issues are resolved by allowing managers to do whatever they want...and HR person told me that "facts don't matter...only perception that matters" - Going to HR for advice when you are asked to do something illegal will result in blatant retaliation.
How does General Atomics Aeronautical Systems measure success and growth in the Communications department?
Success is measured by whether or not you are personal friends or drinking buddies with the Senior Director. That is the only metric that counts.
Success is based on how good social friends you are with the Senior Director, and his boss. Raises and bonuses are calculated on the same basis. Extra points are gained by drinking with senior leadership, and engaging in office politics, which includes but not limited to, reporting on the activities of your colleagues, bullying, and encouraging socially unpopular employees to find employment elsewhere.
What's the office vibe like at General Atomics Aeronautical Systems?
Depends on the department. In some departments most people are spending their lunch breaks looking for another job.
Laidback
How secure do you feel at your job at General Atomics Aeronautical Systems?
relatively secure - managers will try to make your life terrible so that you quit, rather than fire you.
I'll probably be here forever, I don't see GA going anywhere anytime soon.
Curious about what work's like at General Atomics Aeronautical Systems?
Anonymously Ask General Atomics Aeronautical Systems Employees Any Question
Should I work at General Atomics Aeronautical Systems?
24% of General Atomics Aeronautical Systems employees would encourage their friends to become coworkers, whereas 16% are neutral and 60% would not recommend working at General Atomics Aeronautical Systems to their friends.
| 24% | Promoters |
|---|---|
| 16% | Passive |
| 60% | Detractors |
Recently Asked Questions about working at General Atomics Aeronautical Systems
- How common is it to switch departments or teams at General Atomics Aeronautical Systems?
- What is the PTO policy at General Atomics Aeronautical Systems?
- What kind of people does General Atomics Aeronautical Systems like to hire?
- How can I get hired at General Atomics Aeronautical Systems as a recent grad?
- What is General Atomics Aeronautical Systems' internship program like?
