Sandia National Laboratories

"Overall great place to work, but there are not many women in leadership roles. It still has a mentality focus on men but they are working to change that in the culture and industry of STEM. Since it is a government contractor you still have the "military" influence in the day to day working structure and that men dominate leadership. They work to change it but it can be harder to speak up and influence peers in meetings especially if you are a women leading the meeting with all men. "

"Make sure your manager supports you. If s/he doesn't, find someone who will and move to that department, or figure out how to make peace with the fact that you will make zero professional progress."

"I worked here a number of years ago, was gone for quite a while, now back for about 12 years. Much progress has been made since my first experience, especially with work schedule flexibility and the number of women in management positions. A lot of women work in science and engineering positions. The number of women in management is improving as women work their way up (the current President and Lab Director is a technical woman promoted from within, a first for a national lab). In the day to day work environment women in my area seem to be treated equally. There are some lab-wide programs to give women networking and mentoring opportunities."

"Sandia is very big and your experience depends mostly on which department you are in. There are many women at Sandia, mostly in managerial roles and support roles. Only 20% of technical positions are held by women. The work is novel and interesting. Collaboration, mentoring, and learning are valued. Employees have flexible work hours, sick leave, maternity leave, and a medical clinic onsite. Scientists and engineers have to conform a certain stereotype to fit in. It's a boys club. You can succeed if you work harder than then men around you. At the corporate level, they say they want to hire more women, but there are no policies to make it happen. Sandia is a much better place for women in business, HR, and management than it is for women in technical fields."

"I have worked here for six years and have never felt gender was an issue in my advancement. The workforce is very family-oriented - maternity, and paternity leaves are well-supported by management. There are individuals who are sexist, but in general the company culture is very supportive of both men and women."