Bob Smith, are you really listening? - Software Engineer Blue Origin Employee Review

5.0
Jun 25, 2019
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

This remains one of the tiny handful of places in the world where you can be at the forefront of getting humanity to the stars. In objective terms, this place is awesome. New Shepard is almost out the door. New Glenn is real, is happening, is getting built. Smart, helpful, humble, visionary co-workers. Familiar Amazon perks like dogs in the office, free snacks and drinks, an endless firehose to learn new skills and hone current ones.

Cons

When Bob Smith gave his first all-hands address to all of Blue in his new role as CEO, he started with two words that sent chills down my spine: "We're listening". tl;dr: You can guess by the fact I'm here writing a review on Glassdoor, joined by countless others, what I have concluded about that. This is something Rob Meyerson would have never, ever said. He would have never acknowledged that there was a distinct "we" (i.e. upper management) separate from the "we" that was all of Blue. He would have never bothered to say it at all -- he would have assumed it would have shown from his actions, and that it was his very first, basic responsibility as the leader of his company. All of my pertinent complaints about the state of the company stem from this one phrase.

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5.0
Mar 27, 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

Lots of smart people, company is growing quickly and have many opportunities to grow.

Cons

Reorgs happen frequently, and management will lie about employees.

1
1.0
Mar 15, 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

Blue Origin attracts incredibly talented and mission-driven people. Many of the employees genuinely care about the work and about supporting one another, and there are teams that collaborate well under pressure. The mission itself is inspiring, and for many employees that purpose keeps morale going even during difficult periods. I also had opportunities to contribute to meaningful programs and initiatives and worked alongside colleagues who were dedicated to building strong processes and improving hiring.

Cons

In my experience, performance expectations and feedback were not always consistent or clearly communicated. Coaching and performance documentation sometimes felt disconnected from the actual work being completed. At times it felt like the goalposts were moving, which can create a lot of stress for employees trying to meet expectations. There can also be significant pressure in some organizations without the level of support or clarity needed to succeed. Communication between leadership and employees could be improved so people better understand priorities, expectations, and how performance is evaluated.

2
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