field service engineer

hvac technician

security engineer

quality engineer

sales intern

CaptiveAire

A typical day at work for most workers, would be some form of manufacturing assembly line production, where you are stuck between listening to fake management and their “get it out the door” push for speed, and fake engineers with their quality control attempts to please out of touch corporate bodies. This leaves you in a constant scenario where it feels like mom and dad are fighting and you are wrong regardless. Favoritism is rampant, and those in the inner circle are untouchable. Harassment and toxic behavior has to reach ridiculous levels before any steps are taken to reach solutions, and the general strategy is to backstab and treat people as step stools to get ahead. Bottom line is there is no traditional management, and the “engineers” that hold the roles of leadership are ill equipped for the task. This breeds toxic behavior that should have been nipped in the bud. Those who came from management backgrounds or have potential for leadership are overlooked in lieu of popularity. This leaves many talented individuals feeling very frustrated and undervalued. Attendance policies are extremely and unnecessary strict, so this has reinforced the popular (and usually correct) opinion that “you cant get fired unless you are late”. All this to say, Captiveaire is an aggressive company fighting for the monopoly of new technologies in HVAC, and the potential is there to be a fantastic place to grow a career,  but that potential is fantastically wasted by inept leaders. 

This company had such potential. I was a service tech and was in charge of a new region. The regional service manager hated the geographical location of the district and made it every clear that he wasn't interested in building the district. There were many times when I would need help lifting very heavy motors into the exhaust fans or supply units and there would be no one to help me. When I asked my regional for help, he stated figure it out and that he doesn't do that anymore. Some of these motors can weigh 250+ lbs. As far as the job is concerned, I grew bored of it after a year. Very simple work and almost too easy. The biggest issues were the electrical contractors who liked to blow everything up. All in all, the job is not challenging at all and the management is an absolute nightmare. This job is a classic carrot dangling above your head promise. If they tell you that you will receive bonuses... Don't believe it. It's almost impossible to get especially if you are in a new district. Your job is only justified as long as you can pay your way. The second your P&L is below your earnings, the threats start rolling in. This particular district did not have many customers due to there being many other companies that perform this type of work. So CaptiveAire was swimming in a tank of established sharks. All in all, if you like to just sit around, not work and you don't care about being threatened because of a lack of work, then this is for you. If you like to work and earn real bonuses from hard work, then this job is not for you.

What is the best part of working at the company?
As long as you get along well with coworkers, which depends greatly on where you work in the plant, then the people are probably the best part of the job. Everybody for the most part at least at the Youngsville plant is pretty easy going. All the listed benefits (matched 401k, free lunch on Wednesdays, etc) can go a long ways as well. Nothing exceptional about the actual work you are putting in though in my opinion, but that could be different for somebody else.

What is the most stressful part about working at the company?
The most difficult part of working at CaptiveAire has to be dealing with the fact that you'll have no say in how production is done. You learn pretty quickly to just accept that if something isn't designed well whether it's an engineering issue or elsewhere. Your word has to go through so many different people/positions with their own motives that you may as well forget trying to improve anything. You just stick to what your responsibilities are. 

Sometimes there is mandatory overtime (6-4:30 days) to meet schedule dates on products but that's rare, usually only in summer, the busier time of year and not too bad.

I was told I would get an "automatic raise" if I got a certification. After getting it they have told me it isn't automatic and I have to wait on a replacement. Well they aren't finding one any time soon it seems. Also they told everyone they would cut back on overtime and on Fridays everyone would only work 8 hours. Within a month they already have people working 50 hours again and workinf 10 hour shifts on Fridays. They really make it clear that they do not care about you. It is also one of the only companies I have seen that will fire many people while being severly understaffed. If you need money and don't mind overtime, it isn't a bad place to work for a little. I cannot see my future in this company being long at all due to the forced overtine every week. If you apply for one schedule, don't expect it to be accurate. Most of the overtime is also just waiting on things. 

Also I told them originally that I would only work there if it would fit with my out of work schedule, they lied and said it should work when they clearly have me working hours that aren't what I asked for in the interview. 

Plant management takes a hands on approach to day to day life on the production floor at Captiveaire Systems.  Each member of the team has the opportunity to contribute greatly to the well-being of the plant as well as the company at large.  I never felt like just a number at Captiveaire Systems, I was a part of a large family there.  I received holiday and birthday cards as well as recognition for having stood by the company for a years time or more from the president of the company.  It was really nice to have been remembered specifically by our corporate leadership.  
The three highest priorities, in order, are safety, quality, and production.  At Captiveaire, we never send anything out the door that we aren't proud of and wouldn't spend our own money on.  Every unit is inspected ad nauseam and tested to meet or exceed industry standards and regulatory requirements for fire suppression and air exchange/filtration capabilities.

I have been with CaptiveAire since 2015 and have enjoyed my time here. I work hard and feel I am rewarded for my labor. I started out as a Field Service tech and now hold a corporate position. A few times over the years I've had to ask for a raise or a promotion and I always got what I requested. If you are a self starter, self managed, and do well on your own, then this is the company for YOU. If you like being told what to do, want to punch in and out at the same time every day, need explicit instruction on what you need to do next... then you may want to look elsewhere. Self-starters tend to thrive at CaptiveAire. People who need constant input from management usually hate their time here due to lack of direction.

CaptiveAire will never hold your hand and tell you how to do your job. This is great news for some people, and terrible news for others. If you read a negative review; its probably from someone who found it difficult to self start and self manage.

Working here is not easy, you will work hard and for long hours. However, if you are someone with the right work ethic and grit, you can find satisfaction with your efforts here. Speaking as someone starting fulltime work here I have learned so much about working efficiently and courtiously with others, many different skills from assembling, welding, packaging, operating various machines and vehicles, CPR, and leadership. Management was really good when I worked there. They are tough but fair, and give employees plenty of room to suggest new ideas for improving working conditions and production. When working with them I felt they really have listened to my suggestions and rewarded me for my initiative. Overall I would say this job is a fantastic choice and I will always be appreciative of my time working with them.

What is the best part of working at the company?
The people was great to work with and management treated you really nice everyday was like your first day i actually enjoyed going to work each day.

What is the most stressful part about working at the company?
Wasn't stressful was actually a wonderful place to work for. In my 30+ years of working it was the only place I can say I woke up everyday happy to go to work.

What is the work environment and culture like at the company?
Work Environment was really peaceful you didn't have managers bothering you or being grumpy everybody was always nice & just worked all day no problems. The culture they treat their employees really good with meals & extra things during holidays.

What is a typical day like for you at the company?
It was wonderful wake up go to work can build ac units all day long no heavy lifting no bending over no back aches it was quite lovely each day in my eyes.

In the beginning, this was a great place to work.  There was a great training program, travel to corporate for culture and specialized training.  The work load was normal and as a team, we worked well together.  That lasted a few years.  There was a mental shift and our group was told that a minimum sales quota would be instilled.  If you don't meet the minimum, disciplinary actions will happen...and boy, did they!  But wait, there's more...COVID!  Places were shutting down left and right, but we were forced to pressure sell PMs and we had to account for every minute of our time.  My manager and his managers showed their true colors...some got furloughed and I had pay cuts with reduced work weeks.  Now, we are busy and driving all over the place.  I am overworked and see no end.  My team, which was there for me and I for them, is no more. There is no trust, only backstabbing! If you were keeping tabs on a project, another would scalp the billing, just to keep up with his minimum. Its tough and I don't see the end getting better

Typically you will only work for 8 hours although there are times when you could work from 10 to 12 hours in a day. The work day is determined by the amount of orders for the day and how quickly you can get them done. My supervisor was great and upper management had its moments. There is a very typical feel to the job in the sense that there are definitely favorites. Some of the things they get away with make you scratch your head! However if you can get past that, it's a super easy job. I loved most of the people I worked with and had I not relocated I would still be there today!!! Vacation time was earned. The first few years you would earn 8 hours of vacation for each month worked. One of the things that was not so positive was the fact that you generally did  not know or get advanced notices of when you were going to have to work more than the 8 hour shift. The company would bring in free lunch from different restaurants around town, once a month.

Top Job Titles	Average Salary
Field service engineer 146 salaries reported	$85,000 per year
Hvac technician 58 salaries reported	$73,616 per year
Security engineer 25 salaries reported	$69,120 per year
Quality engineer 23 salaries reported	$78,326 per year
Sales intern 14 salaries reported	$22.50 per hour

Working at CaptiveAire: Company Overview and Reviews

CaptiveAire

CaptiveAire Ratings

Popular jobs at CaptiveAire

Salary Satisfaction

Job Seeker Tools

Employer Tools

Browse

Stay Connected