Pros
Innovation: SSI Schaefer is an engineering company at heart. Change is a constant at SSI and products are re-imagined every 6-8 months. In my 5 years at SSI, I have seen many iterations of product development with aggressive goals. This pace of product development leaves engineering with a constant flow of challenges requiring innovative engineering solutions. No matter where you are in the organization there is constant need to develop new skills and think of continuous improvement opportunities. This is a dream employer for someone who enjoyed automation, technology, and technical challenges. Comp. and Benefits: SSI tries to stay competitive with other automation OEMs. The total comp. package is pretty good if you factor in benefits, training investments, and work atmosphere. SSI’s merit and incentive plans are based on pay-for-performance. If you are an A player who works to develop their skills and delivers solid performance then you will be well compensated for it. Development and Growth: When I was still at SSI, growth was mostly based on stretch roles. People with high growth potential and willingness to take on challenges are offered additional responsibilities and promotions. If you are an independent self-starter individual who seeks a challenging and satisfying work environment, then you will be successful. In a Nutshell: I had a challenging and satisfying job, felt a sense of accomplishment at the end of each day, met a lot of cool people, learned a lot of technical and soft skills, and got paid well enough to have a good life.
Kontras
SSI can benefit from having a more structured training and also better operator manuals.