MathWorks is a software company best known for developing MATLAB and Simulink, industry-leading platforms for technical computing, simulation and model-based design. Headquartered in Natick, Massachusetts, the company serves engineers, scientists and...
"I joined as a new grad and felt welcomed from day one. The onboarding was solid and my mentor helped me get up to speed." Another common note from engineers: "You will work on meaningful problems — the tools you build are used in research and industry every day." People in support and documentation often say they appreciate the stability and focus on quality: "You will rarely be asked to sacrifice craftsmanship for speed."
These voices reflect typical sentiments when talking about working at MathWorks. You will hear about thoughtful peers, useful internal tools, and a culture that values accuracy. You will also hear that some teams move faster than others, so experiences vary by group.
The company culture at MathWorks leans toward collaboration, depth, and a product-first mindset. Engineers and domain experts tend to be detail-oriented and proud of their work; there is a strong emphasis on correctness, reproducibility, and customer focus. You will find that people care about the product and about helping users succeed.
There is also a low-key, non-pretentious vibe: people are friendly, approachable, and willing to help. Diversity of thought is encouraged, though some reviewers note that technical areas can be somewhat homogeneous. Overall, company culture at MathWorks rewards technical expertise, curiosity, and a pragmatic approach to problem solving.
Work-life balance at MathWorks is generally positive. Many employees report predictable schedules and the ability to manage personal commitments. You will find flexible hours in many roles, and managers often respect boundaries outside normal business hours.
That said, deadlines and product release cycles can create short bursts of heavier workload. If you value consistent evenings and weekends free, you will likely be satisfied most of the time, but plan for occasional crunch periods around major deliveries.
Job security is one of the stronger aspects of the company. The business model and steady customer base provide resilience. There have been no widespread, recurring rounds of layoffs reported in recent years. Employees often stay multiple years, and many build long-term careers within the company.
The company invests in sustaining core products and services, and this stability tends to translate into reliable employment for most teams.
Leadership emphasizes technical excellence and customer satisfaction. Senior leaders often come from technical backgrounds and demonstrate deep knowledge of product domains. Strategic decisions are guided by long-term product health rather than short-term gains.
Management quality can vary by team. There are many skilled managers who are strong advocates for their teams and focused on development. There are also examples of middle-management constraints that slow decision-making. Overall, leadership is competent and generally aligned with the company’s mission.
Managers are commonly described as supportive and technically savvy. They typically prioritize team health, mentorship, and professional growth. Performance reviews are structured and constructive, and managers tend to provide clear feedback.
Some employees cite room for improvement in cross-team coordination and in making promotion criteria more transparent. In most cases, however, managers are approachable and willing to discuss career paths.
There is a solid investment in learning and development. The company runs internal training, workshops, and tech talks regularly. Engineers have chances to attend conferences and receive training relevant to their roles.
There are formal programs for new hires and mid-career skill building. If you prioritize ongoing learning, you will find many resources and a culture that supports skill growth.
Promotions are available and usually tied to demonstrated impact, leadership, and technical depth. The process is formal and documented, which makes expectations clear for many roles.
Progression can be slower in highly specialized tracks where fewer higher-level positions exist. Candidates who take on cross-functional projects and visible initiatives tend to accelerate faster.
Salaries are competitive relative to comparable software and engineering employers in the region. Typical ranges (approximate) are:
Compensation varies by location, experience, and function. Total pay is typically aligned with market standards for similar roles in the software industry.
Bonuses are performance-based and can be meaningful for some roles. There is a structured review cycle tied to annual bonuses. Incentives focus on individual and company performance metrics rather than stock-based compensation, since the ownership structure limits broad equity programs.
Overall, bonus and incentive programs provide a clear link between contribution and reward.
Health benefits are comprehensive and well-regarded. Medical, dental, and vision plans cover a broad set of options. The company also provides wellness programs, mental health support, and flexible spending accounts.
Benefits are competitive and designed to support both individuals and families. Many employees highlight the quality of the health plans as a major perk.
Employee engagement includes team offsites, speaker series, hackathons, and social events. There are frequent opportunities to connect across teams and functional areas. Local offices often host community-building activities and volunteer events.
These events contribute positively to morale and to building a sense of belonging.
Remote work support is strong, with hybrid arrangements commonly available. Teams vary in how often they require in-person presence. Technology and collaboration tools are robust, and the company has adapted to remote-first workflows where needed.
If remote flexibility matters to you, the company is generally accommodating, while maintaining some office-centric roles that may expect periodic presence.
Typical working hours center around a standard full-time schedule of roughly 40 hours per week. Some teams average closer to 45 during busy phases. The culture respects downtime, and after-hours expectations are usually limited.
Attrition rates are relatively low compared to industry averages. The company has a history of stability and has not had frequent, large-scale layoffs in recent history. Turnover tends to be driven by personal career moves rather than company instability.
Overall, this company is a strong employer for people who value technical depth, stable products, and collaborative teams. It offers competitive pay, good benefits, and reliable job security. If you are considering working at MathWorks, you will likely find a supportive environment with clear paths for growth and a healthy balance between work and life. Overall rating: 4.3/5 (competitive compensation, excellent benefits, strong culture).
Read authentic experiences from current and former employees at MathWorks
Nice commission structure for clear wins, friendly people.
Quota pressure and travel can be heavy during product launches.
Supportive manager, lots of autonomy, strong engineering community and mentorship.
Some internal process overhead and slow procurement at times.
Interesting problems, collaborative research teams.
Decisions can take a long time and compensation lags market occasionally.
Great product vision, cross-functional teammates, lots of user-facing impact.
Sometimes roadmap changes quickly which makes planning hard.
Good teammates and product knowledge building.
Long shifts, limited salary growth, and promotion opportunities were slow while workload increased.
Good benefits and learning opportunities.
Unrealistic deadlines sometimes, little process clarity across teams.