AVOID Security Detection & Automation (SD&A), Former L3 SDS. TOXIC WORKPLACE - Field Engineer Specialist Leidos Employee Review

1.0
26 Oct 2021
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

- Got to travel around a bit - Work remote - Leidos corporate IT is very responsive (Not the local SD&A IT) - Leidos pays per diem and travel costs very quickly

Cons

This is specifically for SD&A, Leidos has separate divisions that work completely independent to one another. STAY AWAY FROM SD&A, IT IS GOING DOWN THE DRAIN! Morale extremely low - SD&A has been in decline for years. It started as L3 SDS, but had major cuts and laid off all their manufacturing personnel and outsourced their production to Sanmina Corp (that never deliver on time, and get little support from SD&A). They merged with L3Harris, so more cuts. Then got sold to Leidos, then even more cuts. Because of that and the toxic workplace culture, the turnover rate is extremely high. There were several people that started with me and quit before their first year. The main offices in Tewksbury, MA and St. Petersburg, FL were eerily empty even when I first started. Cut-Throat, Back-stabbing, and Vindictive Culture - Most employees are ex-military, and if you aren't, you're not part of the club. There is a very selfish egocentric attitude at this division. Employees do not share information, they work for themselves. Managers turn a blind eye to harassment issues. Even when reported to HR and Leidos Ethics, they didabsolutely nothing. Somehow the company prides itself on being a "Most Ethical Company", it's not true and just a PR stunt. Poor Quality Product - The product is very unreliable and cheaply made. They don't invest anything into R/D, but just recycle old bad ideas. There are several active lawsuits and huge contracts were lost due to non-functioning products. Poor Leadership - The new president of the company didn't last two years, just abruptly left without a word being said. Then was replaced by someone from another failing security detection company. It's highly likely this company is going to get broken up and sold off.

Explore other reviews about Leidos

5.0
15 May 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

Great culture, supportive management, encouragement for self development

Cons

Some decisions move too slowly.

3.0
27 May 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

Leidos provides opportunities to work on complex government programs with meaningful technical challenges. Depending on the contract and team, there can be exposure to cloud infrastructure, cybersecurity, systems engineering, networking, and mission-focused work that is difficult to find elsewhere. The company also has a large footprint, so there may be internal opportunities for people who are able to navigate the organization.

Cons

My experience was that the quality of management varied significantly by program. Communication around expectations, roles, and priorities was often inconsistent, and decisions that affected employees were not always explained clearly or handled in a transparent way. Work-life balance also depended heavily on local management. Flexibility that existed in practice could be changed quickly, and employees were sometimes left trying to reconcile changing expectations with existing workloads and personal obligations. In my view, the company would benefit from stronger oversight of program-level management decisions, especially where employee responsibilities, workplace flexibility, and performance feedback are concerned. I also found that technical decision-making was sometimes driven more by schedule pressure than by sound engineering judgment. On complex government programs, that can create unnecessary risk and frustration for employees who are trying to do things correctly.

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