SSL future hinges on finding competent new corporate owner
Pros
If working aerospace is your dream this could be a great short-term opportunity to learn before moving on to a different, better managed company. Lots of fast-paced work & big responsibilities. Interesting technical work and (dwindling number of) smart talented co-workers. For prior several years SSL has been the largest commercial satellite builder in the world.
Cons
Current corporate parent "Maxar” reaction to worldwide drop in geo satellite business is to drive a stake thru the heart of the company by abandoning the geo business in a desperate fire-sale. They don't seem to get that geo know-how is what enables the remaining small-satellite business they hope is their future. It's like cutting off your scalp and throwing away your head because hair is more profitable. Benefits get slightly worse each year. 5 years of below-inflation raises were followed by 3 years of zero raises, and that was just recently followed by a pathetic 5% bump intended to stop the current brain-drain of workers headed for the doors. Hard to stay at SSL with major layoffs looming and lackluster compensation while housing costs skyrocket and local inflation is high. The sense of gloom at the Palo Alto site is thick, as buildings are sold to raise cash and talented engineers with MS & PhD degrees from elite universities are squeezed into ever tinier cubicles. Local Palo Alto management, now mostly young faces, acts paralyzed by corporate missteps. Some have resigned themselves to working on jigsaw puzzles throughout the day, as if that will help.
