I loved it! - Mechanical Engineering Intern AE Works Employee Review

I have had the privilege of working for this exceptional company, where I have experienced an environment that truly supports professional development and encourages collaboration. Encouraged to Own Your World and Share Ideas: In this company, you are not just an employee; you are a valued contributor. Employees are consistently encouraged to take the lead on projects and share their ideas. The organization fosters a collaborative and inclusive atmosphere where every voice is heard and respected. This approach cultivates a sense of ownership and personal investment in the work we do for our clients. An employee can quickly accelerate their career with strong leadership and initiative. Collaborative and Team Operating Departments: Unlike many other companies, internal competition is virtually nonexistent here. Instead, a collaborative culture prevails, with teams working together towards shared goals. The absence of internal employee competition creates a supportive and harmonious work environment, where everyone can focus on achieving excellence collectively. We often inspire each other. Multi-Disciplines and Cross-Learning Opportunities: Having architecture and engineering under one roof helps junior designers to have a better understanding of the built environment early in their career. Designers and architects are encouraged to meet frequently with MEP engineers. I have discovered so much about how to improve the aesthetics of a space by learning about full building systems. Creativity really sparks when interior designers meet with the lighting designers. These opportunities for cross-learning create a fertile ground for personal and professional growth, contributing to the amazing buildings we design. Nurturing Junior Designers: AE Works invests in the future of the industry by mentoring junior designers. We have a strong internship program. Seasoned professionals are enthusiastic about guiding and empowering the next generation. Junior designers are encouraged to unleash their creativity, and knowledge is shared to improve their technical skills. Over my tenure with AE Works, I have had many opportunities to grow my career and lead exciting projects and teams. I look forward to continuing my prosperous career here.

I love our design process and working with unique clients. Unfortunately, as part of the ebbs and flows of our industry, it can take a long time to see the full construction and completion of project.

If I had to say one positive aspect, I’d say that the physical office environment is well designed.

AE Works struggles with internal management and prioritization, often placing greater emphasis on external messaging and glorified corporate awards rather than fostering a strong and healthy workplace culture or addressing critical operational shortcomings. Leadership remains largely disengaged, with the CEO appearing out of touch and more focused on external, unrelated projects than the day-to-day challenges affecting employees and clients. Communication within the organization is extremely poor, making it difficult for employees to voice concerns or drive meaningful improvements. Despite numerous client complaints regarding project quality, responsiveness, and AE Works’ failure to provide appropriately skilled staff for critical projects, leadership continually ignores these issues. Poor feedback and repeated concerns from clients have gone unaddressed, further damaging trust and credibility. Employees who attempt to propose solutions find their feedback dismissed, reinforcing a cycle of inefficiency and declining performance. Compounding these challenges, AE Works routinely misses business opportunities due to a leadership team that prioritizes internal politics and superficial initiatives over the organization’s long-term success. Employee turnover is alarmingly high, yet departures are routinely concealed, creating an illusion of stability while further weakening the company’s foundation. Ironically, the only time employees hear from the CEO is when he speaks about company culture—yet there is a stark disconnect between his rhetoric and the reality of the workplace.