Excelitas Technologies Corp.

Pros: My direct managers are pretty solid. They're supportive for us Software Engineer roles, especially with the complex R&D projects in the photonics industry. The team collaboration is usually good.
Cons: Upper leadership in this large corporate environment sometimes feels out of touch. Decisions often come down without much explanation, which is frustrating. It makes career growth tough to see sometimes.
Advice to Management: Please work on transparency from the top down. Employees want to understand why big decisions are made and how it impacts us. This would really help with morale and seeing a clearer future here.

Pros: The work itself in **optical systems** is genuinely challenging and interesting, especially for **Process Engineer** roles. I've learned a lot about advanced technology here. It's a stable **corporate environment** with decent benefits, and you're typically on an **onsite** schedule.
Cons: Leadership often struggles with clear communication, especially between departments. Decisions feel really slow and sometimes lack direction, making it tough to move projects forward efficiently in the **Waltham, MA office**. There's not enough clarity from upper management.
Advice to Management: Focus on improving inter-departmental communication. Provide clearer strategic direction and empower middle management more to speed up project execution.

Pros: The work itself isn't usually too demanding, so as a Process Engineer, you can mostly stick to a 40-hour week. That's a huge plus when you're in precision optics manufacturing. They do offer some flexibility for appointments, which is nice, especially in the Waltham, MA office.
Cons: Sometimes, projects get really intense, and then it's tough to keep a good balance. You might work a lot of overtime if something urgent comes up. They don't really encourage remote work for engineering roles, so you're almost always onsite.
Advice to Management: Try to implement more flexible work options, especially for less hands-on tasks. It would really help with employee morale and retention.

Pros: The medical coverage is surprisingly good here. Also, the 401k match is pretty solid for a mid-sized corporate company in the photonics industry. It's a decent safety net.
Cons: Base pay for a Senior Manufacturing Engineer in Waltham, MA feels just average, maybe even a bit low. Salary reviews don't happen often, making it tough to negotiate competitive raises.
Advice to Management: Review compensation bands, especially for engineering roles, to stay competitive in the market. Improve transparency around salary increases for all employees.

Pros: Generally, I've had decent 40-hour weeks as a Manufacturing Engineer. For those in the photonics industry, the regular hours help keep things manageable. The onsite role in Waltham, MA means a clear separation between work and home.
Cons: Project deadlines can get really intense, forcing some long days and occasional weekend work. There's not much work flexibility, so if you need WFH options, this isn't the place. Sometimes management expects a bit too much without recognizing the extra effort.
Advice to Management: Encourage managers to prioritize employee well-being over constant overtime, especially in our Waltham, MA office. More consistent communication about project timelines could also help.

Pros: For a corporate company, the pay is pretty decent. You mostly get your 40-hour weeks in as a Manufacturing Engineer if projects aren't in crisis mode, which is good for family time. They offer a hybrid work model for some roles, which is a nice perk.
Cons: Work-life balance here is inconsistent. There are times when product launches or urgent issues demand long hours, making it tough to disconnect. Leadership sometimes expects you to be "always on," which can be stressful in the optics industry.
Advice to Management: Managers need more training on setting boundaries and protecting their teams from burnout, especially during critical phases. Re-evaluate expectations around after-hours communication for technical roles.