Ramboll

Pros: I liked that as a Junior Structural Engineer, I could sometimes work from home, especially with their hybrid model. It helps when project loads aren't crazy. You usually get your 40 hours in most weeks.
Cons: The challenge comes with client demands for infrastructure projects. Some weeks you're pulling longer hours, and it's tough to say no. It really depends on your project manager in the New York City office.
Advice to Management: Try to standardize project workload expectations across different teams. Better resource allocation would really help manage employee burnout during peak times.

Pros: I've enjoyed working on some really impactful infrastructure consulting projects. As a Civil Engineer, the project variety is great, and my immediate team is super supportive. We have a decent hybrid work model too.
Cons: Upper management often lacks clear direction for large construction projects. It feels like decisions take forever to get made. There's not enough transparency from leadership, which can be frustrating for career growth discussions.
Advice to Management: Work on improving communication channels and setting clearer strategic goals. More transparent decision-making would really help boost team morale.

Pros: It's a solid place if you're fresh out of college, especially for civil engineering roles. You get exposure to a lot of different consultancy projects early on, which is cool for learning.
Cons: Honestly, career development feels pretty slow after a couple of years. There isn't a clear path for promotions, especially for mid-level engineers. In the New York City office, you gotta really push to move up.
Advice to Management: Management should really work on clearer career growth paths and mentorship programs for mid-level staff. It feels like people get stuck if they don't jump ship.

Pros: Working on cool infrastructure and sustainable building design projects is a big plus. As a structural engineer, I got to tackle some interesting challenges. There's a decent team vibe in the New York City office, and people generally help each other out with engineering tasks. The hybrid work model is flexible.
Cons: Leadership in some departments isn't always clear with direction. This makes it tough for career growth and getting ahead for project engineers. Sometimes decisions feel top-down without much input from the team.
Advice to Management: Focus on developing clearer paths for career growth and provide more transparent communication from senior leadership. Empower project managers to make decisions quicker for engineering projects. Value input from all levels.

Pros: The health benefits are solid, even for a large consulting firm. I appreciated the good dental and vision coverage. PTO accrual was also pretty fair, giving a good amount of time off.
Cons: The base salary for a Junior Structural Engineer felt pretty low. It's tough to make it work in the New York City office on that pay. Raises aren't very substantial either, which is a bummer.
Advice to Management: Seriously review the salary bands for entry-level and mid-level structural engineering roles, especially in high-cost-of-living areas. Competitive pay will help retain talent.

Pros: You get solid project experience on diverse infrastructure projects. There's a lot to learn from the senior engineers, especially in the New York City office. It's a good spot to build foundational engineering skills.
Cons: Career growth felt pretty stagnant after a couple of years. Promotions are really slow for typical engineering roles, and I didn't see much clear mentorship. It's a big consulting firm, so you can sometimes feel a bit lost.
Advice to Management: Create clearer paths for promotion and invest more in formal mentorship programs for engineering staff. It'd really help with retention.

Pros: I've had some solid chances to work on diverse infrastructure projects here. As a Civil Engineer, you get exposed to a lot, which is great for building your skillset. If you're proactive in the Chicago office, there are learning paths you can push for.
Cons: But honestly, you really have to advocate for your own career growth. The path isn't always clear, especially moving up from a junior role. Sometimes it feels like promotions depend on project availability more than your readiness.
Advice to Management: Make career progression paths more transparent and formalized, especially for early-career Civil Engineers. Provide more structured mentorship programs rather than leaving it entirely up to individual initiative.

Pros: As an Environmental Consultant here, the hybrid work setup is pretty decent, offering some flexibility. You can usually manage your own schedule within reason, which helps with personal appointments. It's not a rigid 9-5 in the engineering industry, which is a plus.
Cons: Project deadlines can be brutal, especially for senior roles. I've had weeks hitting 50+ hours regularly, making work-life balance tough. There's pressure to constantly deliver, which often means sacrificing evenings or weekends.
Advice to Management: Managers should try to better distribute project loads and actively encourage employees to take their well-deserved time off, especially when project cycles get intense.

Pros: Ramboll is a large corporate with a steady pipeline of engineering projects. It s a known name in the environmental consulting industry, which helps with overall stability. I felt pretty safe as an Environmental Consultant during my time there, especially with the hybrid model.
Cons: While stable, things can shift fast with project delays or changes. We saw some internal restructuring, which made me and other consultants worry a bit about long-term roles. There isn't much transparency when big changes are coming.
Advice to Management: Be more upfront with employees about potential restructures or significant project shifts. It would really help reduce anxiety and build trust for those in roles like Environmental Consultant.

Pros: I really liked the project work here, especially for challenging New York City office developments. The actual engineering teams are solid and collaborative. It's a good place to learn practical skills in the civil engineering industry.
Cons: Leadership is a real issue. Managers often seem disconnected from daily operations for Structural Engineer roles. There's a lack of clear vision from the top. Communication downward often feels like an afterthought in this corporate environment. It can be frustrating to deal with.
Advice to Management: You really need to listen to your project teams. More transparency and better communication from senior leadership would help a lot. Invest in leadership training too, especially for newer managers.