great job, great people, beware of new owners - Quality Control Associate I Genentech Employee Review

4.0
Apr 22, 2024
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

Overall, a great place to work and a great place to learn new skills. As an employee, you'll receive exposure to other parts of the business to see, learn, and execute processes and workflows from varying groups inside the Genentech organization. One of the few organizations that stress cross-training and Genentech does a great job of hiring and promoting internally (mostly good choices, rarely bad). If you're open to learning, have an outgoing personality, and are generally likable you'll do pretty well for yourself.

Cons

Folks are resistant to change, There's not a big incentive to understand the "whys" of what you're doing in QC, and the routine work might be boring for some folks. If you're timid, shy, or anxious.. it'll be rough. If you're an independent person who is not used to collaboration, you will have some trouble adjusting. As with most high-salary biopharma positions, be prepared to work off the clock. The biggest con is the acquisition of the Vacaville Genentech site by Lonza. I suspect annual pay/bonuses and other benefits (e.g. sabbaticals) are likely to be reduced or eliminated. That said, it's better than a total shutdown of the Vacaville site and the work experience will look great on any resume.

Explore other reviews about Genentech

5.0
Jun 6, 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

Great salary and team! The interview process was smooth and effective.

Cons

To be determined, but so far many alignment meetings. Some folks have frustuations around the re-org and strategy changes.

3.0
May 7, 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

Genentech's origin story and mission are genuinely inspiring — few companies can point to such a meaningful historical arc in medicine. Patient engagement is taken seriously and feels authentic, not performative. The campus is beautiful and the culture has real warmth.

Cons

DDA is operating with significant gaps. First, the foundational data infrastructure is not mature enough to support the ambitions being set for the team. Second, the measurement culture has gotten ahead of the methodology, and no one in a position of authority seems to be asking hard questions about whether the numbers actually mean what they're being presented as meaning. Third, some management feel disconnected from the work itself, lacking the knowledge, hands-on experience, or relevant credentials. Individually any one of these would be manageable. Together these create an environment where it's hard to do rigorous work, rather work is performative, and be recognized for it.

2
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