Cummins - A nightmare job for an engineer - Systems Engineer Cummins Employee Review

2.0
7 Jul 2008
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

Interesting product, good co-workers, clean environment, nice facilities, shutdown between Christmas and new years, benefits were good (not sure how they are now). Nice architechture in Columbus.

Cons

The most nonproductive work environment ever! Union, union, union...they expected engineers (especially those right out of school) to be able to tell technicians (union) how to run equipment which the engineers weren't allowed to touch or ever operate. Engineers were expected to get work finished and had to report to upper management on progress, however certain union people (not all of them) would put off their required work and there was nothing the engineer could do (but look bad). For example, it could easily take a month to get the machine shop to drill a simple hole. It wouldn't be fair to say all union employees are bad (there were some there who could run circles around the engineers), though I feel I worked with some of the worst of them here. This is a bad first engineering job if you are right out of school, and if you are used to a hands-on position, don't come to cummins. Also, cummins is pretty much the only game in town, so when they have their "cleaning house" lay-offs (rumored every 5-6 years), make sure you don't own a house in columbus, especially in today's market. If you're a single guy, Columbus is devoid of any attractive educated single women (I guess most women just don't dig Diesel engines!). You will see many a single lonely old man shopping at the grocery store wearing a cummins uniform.

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5.0
2 Jun 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

Great mentorship, great leadership, projects were challenging but very helpful to me growing as an engineer. Hosted lots of employee and intern events

Cons

Rural Indiana--not a lot to do as a young person in the immediate area

2.0
7 Mar 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

Most the people are okay. BUT this place is TOXIC AF They do not give you a 30min lunch, they take 30min out of your check, but they give you 30min away from your machine, so if you have to walk 2 to 3 min to and from your zone you barely get 25min for lunch, One of the new people was clocking out for 30 min for their lunch and was actually told if you clock out for 30 min you have taken a longer lunch than you are allowed.

Cons

Upper Management doesn't care or doesn't listen to employees, There is nothing on earth that will make people want to be there for 13days in a row, I used to hear at Cummins you have to follow the standard work, now its do whatever you have to to get your numbers. You DO NOT Provide enough time off, not when you are running people 13d in a row. you provide enough time off for a 40h work week nothing more, Get it into your thick skulls.

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