field service technician

senior software engineer

program manager

project manager

software engineer

Aristocrat

I worked for this company for over 12 years, used to be an awesome place to work. The last several years it went down drastically. Upper management puts way to much burden on employees now. Way to much stress but they want things done NOW and god forbid you get any overtime for hourly workers, that is just unacceptable. They want the perfect person to be able to perform any and everything the way the upper management wants it done even if it cannot be accomplished is a timely manner. Way to much micro managing. You use to be able to work at a good pace, take care of your duties and be happy at the end of the day, not any more. I was so stressed out there and I could not function properly anymore. the Managers would not listen when I explained to them how am I supposed to do my job working out of a car when we used to have vans and trucks to do our work?  How  are we supposed to get all of our work done in a 8 hour time frame when we have installs, service calls, customers to deal with and do all required paperwork and computer stuff when all said and done? Became a joke as always had to call Lead Tech daily when overtime was approaching and the make alternatives to not work the hours needed. Always had to call to get technical support on none working products daily, sometimes that was no help even with the training that was provided. The benefits were good and some of the perks too also several employees I worked with and dealt with over the phone were great, to bad it became so messed up  because it was not needed but when people do not listen to advice these things happen.

Started as a temp in the mailroom. After working in the mailroom, I was transferred to the Business Operations department as a Sales Coordinator, supporting the Account Executives, local & remote. I was hired on permanently 5 months after being in the Business Operations department. The AE's were great to work with. I had an excellent relationship with all of them. I always referred to them as my kids. You could joke around with them and they would joke, too. Sometimes they would just call in because they were driving to a casino that was 2 hours away and just wanted to talk. They were very generous, too!! As a Sales Coordinator, a THANK YOU goes a long way!! They would go over and above... At Christmas, they would send their Sales Coordinators gifts, on my 40th birthday, my AE's pitched in and bought me a gift certificate to go sky diving. The package they bought me was almost $400. It included the jump, a video and pictures. On another birthday, they bought me a Coach purse, Coach keychain & Coach perfume. They were incredible!! I really miss the job!! But, a new manager came on board and she was a nightmare. Out of all of the Sales Coordinators, at that time, I was there the longest. She had her sights set on me. I felt like she was coming down on me, trying to put me in my place, to make an example of me. She would eavesdrop on my phone calls, try to write me up every chance she got and, on Fridays, before a holiday weekend, all of the other Sales Coordinators were allowed to leave early. I had to stay. Enough was enough!!

So much of your experience on any job depends upon your boss. A poor boss almost always leads to a poor work experience. Management is not just paperwork, meetings and schedules. It also involves people. A person who doesn't want to talk to people or who has poor people skills should not be in management. 

In the Austin office, and especially my department, turn-over was high. People were simply not there one day. Terminations were common and people who could get better jobs did.

Higher leadership is also sub-par. The company culture does not empower employees and management only wants to hear how wonderful their decisions are. Feedback is not encouraged and may be held against you.

Work/Life balance was non-existent. I regularly worked 60, 80 or 100 hours plus a week. The more capable you are, the more work they pile on you. Working that many hours a week is the same as being paid less than half your salary. 

As an experienced software engineer I can tell you project planning and management were very poor. Aristocrat often signs contracts without anyone in IT reviewing the needs. My project didn't budget for server hardware, OS, or database system. If you're unfortunate and have to work with the VGT division, expect passive-aggressive resistance from VGT employees.

Coworkers are helpful and share their knowledge, they work hard to 'skiil up' new hires and position them for success.  It's a meritocracy, so slow performers eventually get weeded out, but the bright side is that you are surrounded by competent and capable team members that are well above average in software engineering and product development.  This is a great place to hone your skills - a solid engineering department.

Minuses include several that you might find at mid to large companies: management talent is a bit lacking, nice people, but not the best in the industry.  Leadership is tricky given the mergers and divided opinions on goals and strategy.  A lot of good leaders lost enthusiasm when the strategy changed, and most left for other career opportunities.  It feels like the current batch of leaders were promoted from within, not always a bad thing, but some were solid performers as individual contributors but not leadership stock.  If the company brought in some external leadership talent, it would definitely help.  

What is the best part of working at the company?
A few coworkers, a majority of employees are temps and they are unable to perform the easiest of assignments. 

What is the most stressful part about working at the company?
Management’s inability to properly lead its crew and then they attack the same crew when they can’t achieve their unrealistic goals. 

What is the work environment and culture like at the company?
Unacceptable at the best of times and degrading at the worst of times., Management sets unrealistic goals constantly. It's impossible to achieve those goals because the majority of your team is made up of temps who refuse to do their assigned jobs. Consequently, the responsibility falls on you, as you are expected to perform five different jobs at once. 

What is a typical day like for you at the company?
Hurry up and do everyone’s job, and don't make management and corporate executives look bad. They always need their egos bolstered to look good so they can achieve their bonuses and pay raises.

While I appreciate the company’s efforts to promote initiatives for employees, there are significant areas for improvement, particularly regarding inclusivity and fairness. It can feel as though certain groups, including minorities and those with disabilities, may face challenges in receiving equal treatment.

There is a noticeable culture that can lead to feelings of favoritism and a lack of transparency. Employees may feel that the HR department does not always prioritize their well-being or address concerns effectively. This can create an environment where some individuals may experience inconsistencies in how policies are enforced.

Additionally, while some locations receive ample recognition and benefits, employees in other areas may feel overlooked and underrepresented in these initiatives.

Overall, there is potential for the company to improve its commitment to inclusivity and ensure that all employees feel valued and supported, regardless of their background or location.

Employees are dedicated to meeting goals but if there is any sort of poor reflection on management cowardly leadership simply throws people under the bus. Instead of addressing root-cause problems, the leadership team attempts to find scapegoats who are then blacklisted; there is no responsibility and/or accountability taken on by the leaders. Corporate headquarters does not provide autonomy to the local regional offices and the approach is always the "stick" and never the "carrot". Very old-style "do as I say because I am your boss" leadership with massive turnover of those who could make changes because apart from providing lip-service about making the company a better place to work, there is no real desire for change. If you keep your head down and do as you are told it is fine but if you want to be an engaged employee doing the right thing, it is a terrible place to work.

This company changed my entire world view on what a job is. Working for Aristocrat Technologies is like getting your dream job. The company culture is PHENOMENAL. Every single employee from base level to upper management are open, welcoming, kind and helpful beyond belief. I made lifelong friends working there. The former CEO used to greet me at length whenever we crossed paths. This company has countless employees yet you never feel overlooked. I can say without a doubt that Aristocrat looks out for and truly cares for their employees. If you have the chance to work there, TAKE IT. The #1 thing that initially attracted me to leave my previous employers and vigilantly pursue a job at Aristocrat was their company culture, and after I got hired I found out that it's even better than I had previously hoped for.

There is little opportunity for advancement unless you are pals with someone in a high position.  Loyalty and dedication are not rewarded, favoritism is common; rules and guidelines are not enforced uniformly.  Fear of retribution when speaking out against management despite the 'open door' policies.  There is no mentoring or coaching by managers.  Expectations are to work outside normal work hours on a routine basis (with no comp time in exchange) Working weekends to meet unexpected deadlines is common. 

The compensation is above average and benefits are better than average as well.

Aristocrat is a gaming company which makes gaming products for the public. It is place where work is valued and depending on what position you take it can be fun, I can't say position management and up are fun. But you looking for a place for constant work this is a place you can be at. You be able to learn new technology as further you career, learning is valued here.

Top Job Titles	Average Salary
Field service technician 25 salaries reported	$29.54 per hour
Senior software engineer 4 salaries reported	$174,590 per year
Program manager 16 salaries reported	$128,941 per year
Project manager 11 salaries reported	$130,331 per year
Software engineer 5 salaries reported	$83,214 per year

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