Pros
1) Exceptional Talent I have had the privilege of working with some of the most passionate, talented engineers for over a decade at Interactive Intelligence (now Genesys). In fact, there are likely very few software companies that possess the depth and breadth of engineering as Interactive Intelligence has or had. Not just the engineers, but employees at all roles in the company are dedicated, hard-working, talented, and friendly. The company has done an exceptional job at hiring people who are a joy to have as colleagues. 2) Competitive compensation and modern, comfortable facilities The compensation package is competitive for the industry especially for the reasonable cost of living in Indiana. The office facilities are very modern and comfortable where many developers have offices which are conducive to providing developers the necessary environment for engaging in "deep work" free from distractions. The on-site fitness centers are a great perk as they show the company's commitment to employee wellness which is a positive factor for productivity and increased company profitability. The on-site cafe is very nice and offers a variety of healthy food and snacks at reasonable prices. 3) Working on high-quality and innovative products Working at Genesys you get to work with great technology and products. Genesys products are the most innovative and high-quality in its market space. There's a great deal of satisfaction working on interesting technology.
Cons
1) Bureaucracy and lack of advancement opportunities Over a decade ago the hierarchy was very flat where the founder and CEO had a handful of engineering managers as direct reports who typically took direction on product and features from the founder. As the company experienced rapid growth in subsequent years the ranks of management were filled with senior engineers which hasn't always let to the managers being outstanding leaders, but engineers. In many cases mid-level managers are heavily involved with the day-to-day engineering tasks instead of delegating these activities to the engineers. Opportunities for career growth and advancement are extremely limited as a result. On many teams it is very difficult for the engineers to grow in their roles to have opportunities at advancement because advanced engineering responsibilities are assumed by managers. The rapid growth of Interactive Intelligence and the addition of layers of management in recent years has led to increasing bureaucracy where even senior engineers and managers are hesitant to make decisions and have a willingness to defer them to superiors resulting in routine engineering decisions requiring buy-in from mid-to-senior levels of management and engineering slowing down product development.