supplier quality engineer

system engineer

field service engineer

engineer

senior software engineer

Accuray

In my last position, my typical work day included working directly with customers, Field Engineers, Product Development and Manufacturing Engineering to address system issues at customer sites. This was done remotely via phone, email, and remote diagnostic programs.

Working with others to improve their system use experience, system performance and reliability, and keeping the systems going was a fulfilling experience, daily. I enjoyed building relationships with customers and co-workers which better enabled me to resolve system issues expeditiously and improve customer satisfaction with system performance.

The hardest part of this job was that doing everything remotely meant some resolutions I knew could easily be addressed with hands on the system (as I learned when I was a Field Service Engineer - FSE), could not always be efficiently deployed remotely or even with the customers' assistance. Often, waiting for an FSE and/or parts to arrive on-site was most frustrating.

Additionally, as Technical Support, we worked remotely. When product improvements/options were released to the field, we did not always get adequate training before the releases. Therefore, we would be learning how to troubleshoot and resolve issues with the new releases as the FSEs were trying to perform the installations/upgrades, and we often felt under-prepared for these situations. However, it encouraged us to keep detailed notes, write supporting documentation, and share the information with FSEs during regular regional Technical Forum t-cons/webinars in order to better disemminate the information to alleviate the headaches as the installations/upgrades continued across the system install base.

When I started at this company it was TomoTherapy. They were a bit overzealous in their promotion of themselves. Accuray took over and  began a pattern of downsizing to realign profits (non existent) to expectations. A typical day at work consisted of trying to figure out what was expected of me. Very little communication.

 Through no fault of my co-workers, it became the "good ole boy system" as far as expectations and discipline was concerned. Lower level management operates on the favoritism model. As for my immediate supervisor, the manufacturing manager, if you sucked up to him you could do no wrong. If not,well expect to be discriminated against. HR was also involved in the preferential treatment system. I have never worked for a more inept, ineffective and inaccessible supervisor.

 Fellow employees were friendly enough and the few golden boys enjoyed their untouchable status. The hardest part of my job? I had to practically beg to get my monthly one-on-one meeting with my supervisor. The most enjoyable part? Producing machines that gave cancer patients a little better chance of leading a longer, better life.

The technology used to guide a 2800 pound robot to point a high energy, beam at the tumor with +/- 1 mm pointing accuracy was amazing and I never grew tired of teaching Service Engineers how the CyberKnife worked and what they would need to know to maintain, troubleshoot and repair it.

My colleague and I had to teach ourselves (and learn from Subject Matter Experts) how the system computers, Targeting System components and Safety Systems worked, so that we could make the information clear and easy for the students to understand.

We expanded a light, two week class into an in-depth three week class (later I added a one week Install Class) that was more than 50% labs and troubleshooting. The FSE's would learn everything from how to drive the KUKA robot, to X-ray camera calibrations and checking Modulator waveforms on an oscilloscope.

It was always interesting and fun for students and trainers alike!

The Good:  Functional staff teams (department mgt) are quality people - collaborative, supportive with effective communication.  Best product in the market (cancer treatment).

 The BAD:  Staff leadership however, is widely ineffective, struggle to control cost and focus to preserve cash, and yet to realize an annual profit. 

Turnover is rampant - department of 6 experienced 3 staff (1 director) leave organization in same period, stressing remaining staff (3).  A history of layoff to manage poor market conditions.

Business processes poorly structured and incomplete.  4 Staff leadership changes (1-adding reporting tier in org) in 15 months.

The role provides valuable hands-on experience with highly complex radiation therapy systems requiring multidisciplinary expertise, yet this complexity is not reflected in compensation or organizational support. Senior engineers are expected to maintain the same service quality despite regional staff reductions, while absorbing additional workload to compensate for inexperienced hires; experience is often undervalued, and no bonus was paid despite expectations.
Limited documentation, weak R&D and software support, and inconsistent upper management further complicate field service work. Repeated layoffs and a persistently low stock valuation raise concerns about long-term stability and realistic career growth.

Life at Accuray was great, I was helping to drive change in the radiation oncology field and maintaining a work/life balance that allowed me to take care of my young family. I say life WAS great until they laid off approximately 1/4 of the R&D department, myself included. This was the second large layoff in my time there and I'm sure it won't be the last. Upper management seems to think that research and development happens with no staff or staff that is constantly shifting work priorities due to shifting goals and workers. 

All in all, good place to work, but upper management needs to look hard at their long term goals.

I only worked for Accuray for 1.5 years as a field service engineer.  One of the shortest jobs i've held.  My reasons for leaving were long hours and constant weekend work.  I wasn't made aware of the commitment required to working off hours when I accepted the position.  Another reason would be the equipment was extremely difficult to learn and service.  Lots of physics testing was required and often times bad parts were received adding down time and frustrations from the customers.  One of the worst machines I've had to work on during my 20 years in equipment repair

This company has great products, great pay and brand recognition.  So what's wrong with it?  The C level management team is out of touch with their customers.  The egos are huge with little humility or respect for coworkers.  The mid managers  and sales team that survive are a group of yes men and women with no autonomy. Everything is financially focused, and short sighted.

On the whole Accuray (Madison, Wi) is a great company to work for. It has the same problems most accelerator companies have such as a few of the technicians and manager/engineers don't have a good understanding of how the device works so a guru management style has developed in a few critical areas. The overwhelming majority of the people are, in contrast, very helpful, understand their system and are willing to share their knowledge. It has a friendly and positive work environment and compensation is appropriate to skill set.

Having been part of the team that set the new standards (many in last 4 years) helped Accuray adjust and comply with them in a least cost, most value added manner, just wish I could have finished before being laid off but China orders fell short of expectations.  Great products, fantastic technology, a company ready to bloom with plenty of orders in the pipeline, they are poised to do great things.

Top Job Titles	Average Salary
Supplier quality engineer 7 salaries reported	$84,429 per year
System engineer 3 salaries reported	$122,500 per year
Field service engineer 2 salaries reported	$99,000 per year
Engineer 4 salaries reported	$115,000 per year
Senior software engineer 3 salaries reported	$89,333 per year

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