Black & Veatch

Pros: The base salary for a Field Engineer was actually pretty good for infrastructure projects. I got a decent 401k match, which isn't always a given these days. Paychecks were always on time, which you can't take for granted at a big engineering firm.
Cons: Healthcare costs felt too high, even for a global company like this. PTO accrual was super slow for entry to mid-level engineering staff. The dental insurance plans were just okay, not much coverage.
Advice to Management: Review the overall benefits package, especially healthcare costs and PTO. It would help retain talent for crucial engineering roles.

Pros: As a Civil Engineer, I've had some decent luck with the hybrid work model, coming into the Kansas City office a few days a week. It's nice to have that option for deep work. Some managers are genuinely understanding when life happens.
Cons: The 'flexibility' often means coming in when your project team needs you, which can be inconsistent. It's tough to get full remote approval, even for seasoned engineering professionals. Feels like some teams are stuck in old ways.
Advice to Management: Try to standardize remote and hybrid policies across different engineering groups. Empower project managers more to trust their teams with flexible schedules. It would really help with employee retention in this corporate environment.

Pros: As a Civil Engineer, the sheer volume of infrastructure projects keeps things pretty steady. Working on large-scale utility sector projects means there's usually something in the pipeline. It's a big engineering firm, so you often feel okay about your spot, especially for onsite work.
Cons: However, job security can feel really tied to specific project phases. If a big project wraps up or gets delayed, there's always that worry about what's next. We've seen some reorganizations, which makes people a little nervous.
Advice to Management: Be more transparent about future project pipelines and potential workforce planning. Better communication around changes helps ease employee anxiety and retain good Civil Engineers.

Pros: They do offer a hybrid work arrangement, which is a plus. Working from home a couple of days a week really helped with my commute. For the engineering and construction industry, any WFH is pretty decent.
Cons: The 'flexibility' isn't actually flexible for most roles. It's a mandatory 3 days in office, fixed schedule. Getting exceptions as a Civil Engineer was extremely tough. It's a big corporate environment, so there's not much wiggle room.
Advice to Management: Think about what real flexibility looks like beyond a fixed hybrid. Allow more team autonomy on schedules. Consider full remote for appropriate engineering roles.

Pros: The starting salary for Project Engineer roles is pretty competitive, especially if you're fresh out of school. For a big global engineering firm, the base pay is a solid foundation. They also have a 401k plan, which is good.
Cons: Health insurance premiums are definitely a big bite out of your paycheck. Dental and vision plans aren't the best, honestly. It feels like the full benefit package lags behind what you'd expect from a company this size.
Advice to Management: Take a serious look at the health benefit package and consider reducing employee contributions for premiums. It would significantly boost overall compensation satisfaction.

Pros: I've seen decent remote flexibility for some administrative roles and during slower periods in infrastructure projects. My manager was usually understanding if I needed to leave early for an appointment. It's a large corporate firm, so there are benefits for that.
Cons: As a Civil Engineer, the project deadlines often meant long hours, especially closer to milestones. There isn't always a strict 40-hour week, and you can feel the pressure. It makes work-life balance tough at times for technical roles.
Advice to Management: Try to better manage project scopes and client expectations so teams aren't constantly working overtime. Encourage managers to truly enforce a healthy work-life boundary for all technical roles.

Pros: Some immediate project leads are really supportive and provide good guidance for Project Coordinator roles. It's a solid place to learn the ropes in the engineering consulting industry. There's definitely job security.
Cons: Upper management often feels disconnected from daily operations. Decisions can seem very top-down in this large corporate environment. There's not always clear direction from senior leadership for onsite teams in the Kansas City office.
Advice to Management: Try to bridge the gap between senior leadership and project teams. More transparent communication on strategic goals would really help everyone feel more connected and informed.

Pros: I learned a ton about water treatment projects early on. The company provides good initial training for new engineers. It's a big, stable corporate engineering firm, which feels pretty secure.
Cons: Getting promoted past a certain level feels like a struggle. As a Project Engineer in the Kansas City office, I often felt overlooked for bigger leadership roles. The hybrid model sometimes limits mentorship for career advancement.
Advice to Management: Create clearer paths for career advancement for mid-level engineers. Invest more in leadership development for Project Managers.

Pros: They've got a pretty solid 401k match and good health insurance, which is key. The PTO accrual isn't bad for a large engineering firm. For someone working onsite in the Kansas City office, the benefits package feels stable.
Cons: The salary for Electrical Engineer roles feels a bit behind market, especially with the inflation lately. Annual raises aren't always significant, so it's tough to keep up. There's not much flexibility in the compensation structure.
Advice to Management: Management should really look into competitive salary bands for engineering projects. Reward high performers with more substantial raises to retain talent. It would make a big difference for morale.