When Bijal joined Vail Systems virtually in 2021, she could tell her new co-workers were welcoming, smart, dedicated and passionate. Upon starting her hybrid work schedule and meeting them in person, she realized they fully lived up to her first impression. Since then, Bijal has been able to meet new people across the company while prioritizing other important aspects of her life, such as strengthening her software skills and spending time with family. That’s because Vail Systems employees can embrace work-life balance while also advancing their careers. With supportive leaders around every corner and an all-encompassing aura of determination, the company enables its people to achieve their goals and build genuine connections.
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At a glance
01
LEARNING FOR FREE
Full-time employees receive a $1,500 education stipend, which can be put toward courses, certification programs and other educational opportunities.
02
EASY ACCESS
The company’s office locations in the Chicago Loop and the suburb of Deerfield are located within walking distance of public transportation.
03
AMPLE GROWTH AVENUES
Team members often collaborate cross-functionally and are encouraged to explore roles in other departments if desired, or follow one of its defined career paths for vertical growth, as well.
04
SERIOUS STABILITY
The company has never undergone a layoff, wage freeze, or experienced a year without increasing salaries and paying out bonuses since its inception in 1991.
Featured employees
FOCUS MEETS FUN
Maintain a healthy work-life balance
Bijal said Vail Systems offers a challenging yet welcoming atmosphere cultivated by insightful, helpful individuals. When she isn’t busy refining her software and project management skills, she enjoys connecting with her colleagues through the company’s pickleball league, which is her favorite employee-led group. Given the company’s focus on work-life balance, Bijal said she has plenty of chances to reenergize herself by spending time with family and friends and volunteering through Chicagoland’s Project Management Institute, where she holds a leadership position.
Bijal
Technical Project Manager
My manager regularly checks in to see how I’m doing to make sure I’m not overworked or stressed.
TACKLE ROBUST PROJECTS
A cutting-edge tech stack spurs progress
Will Tangney
Software Engineer II
Will Tangney’s workdays involve collaborating with various teams, brainstorming with peers and tackling robust projects. Currently, he’s working on developing Hydra, the company’s multichannel conversational AI platform. “We’re presently working on our next major release, which will add many exciting features,” Tangney said. While he’s motivated by the Hydra project, he’s equally energized by a new tool utilized in the company’s tech stack: the GraalVM Native Image compiler. This technology improves application performance by optimizing resource utilization and hardens application security.
I enjoy having so many people to brainstorm with, as it enables everyone to further understand problems and identify potential issues ahead of time.
SURROUNDED BY SUPPORT
Advance your career and empower others
Since joining Vail Systems as an intern, Akun Taniguchi has had many opportunities to showcase his talents and handle complex challenges. With support from his mentor, he was given the opportunity to transition into a full-time software engineering role, which eventually led to his current position as a technical team lead. Now, Taniguchi gets to stretch his leadership skills while working together with his peers on feature designs and more. “Teamwork is essential to achieving our goals and making a real impact, so this element of the culture really resonates with me,” he said.
Akun Taniguchi
Technical Team Lead
It’s really important for me to feel like I’m part of a supportive and collaborative team, and our culture does exactly that.
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