Great team that builds tech to strengthen democracy! - Software Engineer State Affairs Employee Review

State Affairs sits at the intersection of AI, news/media, and policy, which is a pretty amazing place to be if you're interested in any one of those, much less all three. The team is growing incredibly quickly and the level of talent is high. The product velocity is astounding, and in a matter of months they build a best-in-class solution with a totally new perspective on how to serve customers. Customers love the product, team is great to work with, and incredible amounts of accountability and room for growth. People work hard, but it's a really constructive culture where feedback is fast and not personal and the value comes in quickly learning from mistakes and growing quickly.

Usual pains of a fast-moving startup. Product and company is moving faster than process, which is exciting, but can lead to inefficiencies and rework.

I am a recent undergrad and have worked at State Affairs for a few months now as a software engineer. I would recommend working here, especially as an engineer, to anyone looking to accelerate their learning and ability to contribute. The product is very promising and has been gaining traction across every industry I could name. I know this because the engineering team, BDR sales team, and even the editorialists work very closely together, and their achievements are broadcasted. This alone contributes to the company culture, but there is much more to be said. The hiring team clearly emphasizes both skillset and culture fit, as evidenced by the collaboration and eagerness to help me when needed, as well as the high expectations for me coming in. My ramping experience has been incredibly fast but equally rewarding. I was pushing production code week one while simultaneously learning the stack and best practices of the company. It is very cool to see your impact that quick. There is certainly a grind culture here, but that is to be expected from any startup that is serious about their product, and with strong leadership to back it up, my enthusiasm to be here hasn’t dulled. I will add that compensation is very competitive and benefits include ISOs, healthcare, and generous PTO. I strongly recommend it!

I have very little cons to provide. Like I said, the grind culture my not be for everyone, but that is up to the engineer. That being said, it is definitely valued here, and I would encourage anyone to give it a shot.