Microsoft Software Development Engineer In Test (SDET) II reviews

I can write many things here: - Highly political company that rewards people that can play the game * Send bunch of email --> This shows you are working according to managers * Suck up to your manager --> This is how people are getting promoted * Do less of what is assigned to you and more of useless tools to have "impact" cross teams - Stack ranking system with forced curve * Even if you have a team full of rock star engineers 1 or 2 will be getting a rating of 4, 5. * This system forces competition among peers rather than collaboration * Even if you work very hard to improve the feature/quality you are not rewarded because it's "expected". While someone else can work 9-5 and do a silly script to automate stuff is valued - Far too many Program managers * These people don't contribute less than quarter of what engineers(SDE/SDET) do * Great talented people that are forced into this role to do data entry Overall: Microsoft looks very good from outside, however it's a contrast when you are inside.

The review process has become worse than dehumanizing. Excessive workload. Mid to upper managers who really don't have an understanding of how to manage. Senior management arrogance.