Copyright forbes
Google's Borregas office in Sunnyvale, California, is an all-electric, low-carbon building made from sustainable mass timber and featuring high ceilings, natural light and "neighborhood" work spaces. Mark Wickens for Google When new hires join Google, they typically don’t ramp up through a tedious onboarding process. Instead, they dive right in, placed directly into their teams with access to AI-based onboarding programs and a chatbot trained on Google’s own code and documentation. The result: “a high-performing workplace culture that attracts and retains curious, talented and passionate people,” says Jen Fitzpatrick, senior vice president of core systems and experiences at Google. And the learning doesn’t end on day one. Google employees continue to receive access to training and skills-related resources, such as hackathons, vibe coding and expert-taught sessions called “Transformational Tuesdays.” Between a workforce culture that encourages growth and innovation, and the company’s industry-leading position in the technology sector, Fitzpatrick sees Google as a place where “folks want to come—and stay.” She adds that “far more AI talent is coming into Google than leaving, many from top competitors.” It’s no surprise, then, that Google has earned the No. 4 spot on Forbes' list of America’s Best Employers for Engineers 2026. To create this second-annual ranking, Forbes partnered with market research firm Statista to survey more than 28,000 engineers working for companies with at least 1,000 people within the United States. Respondents were asked how likely they would be to recommend their current employer, their previous employer (within the past two years), and companies they knew through peers in their industry or through friends or family who worked there. Current workers were also asked to evaluate their employers based on such criteria as: salary, benefits and professional development opportunities. Data from the past three years of Forbes-Statista employee surveys was included. Responses were tallied, and the 175 companies with the highest scores made our list of America’s Best Employers For Engineers 2026. (For more on the methodology, see below.) Google’s industry, IT Software & Services, dominated the ranking, comprising 18% of the list. Other well-known names in this sector also ranked in the top 10: Microsoft (No. 6), Salesforce (No. 8) and IBM (No. 10). The engineering and manufacturing industry was also strongly represented, with engine manufacturer Cummins (No. 7) ranking as the top company in its category. Employees at Cummins gather for a volunteer event. As is the case at Google, career resources and development are top priorities at Cummins, which jumped up from No. 39 on our list last year. The company boasts more than 30 programs that support engineers’ growth, according to Jonathan Wood, chief technical officer at Cummins. Those include an internal “Technical LinkedIn,” and an online learning center, which includes training and a leader development program for those in technical fields. This year, Cummins launched a partnership with Michigan Tech, which allows Cummins employees to receive fellowships and enroll in a graduate certificate or master’s degree program. Similarly, tech company Lenovo (No. 14) provides employees with “thousands of professional development resources, including courses, videos, boot camps and certification programs,” says Shannon Frazier, executive director of human resources at Lenovo North America. Some of these resources and opportunities for growth include a learning platform called Grow@Lenovo, mentorship programs, and an initiative that allows Lenovo engineers to highlight their achievements, which qualifies them for higher-level roles without necessarily needing to transition into management. The company’s efforts begin even before its employees walk through the front door. Lenovo, Frazier says, works with K-12 programs and universities near its U.S. headquarters in Morrisville, North Carolina, “to cultivate the next generation of technology leaders.” More than 100 students from nearby high schools and colleges join Lenovo as interns each summer. Indeed, career development and learning programs are consistent offerings across this list’s top employers, helping those firms retain engineers in a competitive talent market. In a survey by Terminal, a talent platform targeting developers and software engineers, 82% of engineers said career growth was either very or extremely important in choosing their employer. Employers of engineers are contending with “fierce competition for top talent,” says Tess Manderson, global senior vice-president of talent at Terminal. The job market has become polarized, Manderson says, with big tech companies, high-growth startups and Bay Area businesses offering higher compensation and pricing out smaller companies. Given the shortage of experienced engineers, there is “always a better offer knocking,” she adds, with pay being the top reason engineers leave their employers. Software engineers at Mountain View, California-based Google self-reported annual salaries to Glassdoor ranging from $235,000 to $364,000. Nationwide, according to the latest data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the median pay for architecture and engineering jobs is $97,310, nearly double the median annual wage for all occupations. Another factor currently impacting engineers, particularly those focused on software, is the advent of artificial intelligence. “The tools and methods that engineers use to develop are dramatically different than they were three years ago, and best practices are evolving weekly,” Manderson says. Terminal’s report found more than 70% of developers use AI or machine learning in their work, and 80% said their company encourages them to use AI. Case in point: Cummins’ Wood says he’s seen “growing curiosity and engagement around AI—particularly where tools are being piloted to streamline engineering workflows.” To that end, in May of this year, the manufacturer established an AI Academy, which trains employees on AI fluency and builds on previous programs that helped technical employees develop data science skills. Also this year, Google created Building with Gemini, a course that gives engineers hands-on experience with the company’s Gemini AI models. Google, as one of the earliest adopters of AI, has an edge on both innovation and performance, Fitzpatrick says. “Candidates and current employees are very attracted to that.” Overall, BLS data projects the demand for engineers will escalate, with most fields expected to grow at least 5% over the next decade. The competitive talent landscape will, in turn, keep driving employers to make their organizations attractive places to work while balancing growth with support for employees and their well-being. As Cummins’ Wood sees it, "innovation and problem-solving thrive only when our people do." For the full list of America’s Best Employers For Engineers, click here. Methodology To create our second annual list of America’s Best Employers For Engineers, Forbes partnered with market research firm Statista to survey more than 28,000 engineers working for companies with at least 1,000 people within the country. Respondents were asked how likely they would be to recommend their current employer, their previous employer (within the past two years), and companies they knew through peers in their industry or through friends or family who worked there. Current workers were also asked to evaluate their employers based on such criteria as: benefits, professional development opportunities, salary and workplace flexibility. Data from the past three years of Forbes-Statista employee surveys was included. Responses were tallied and analyzed, with data from current employees weighted more heavily than older data or than responses from past employees or people who had never worked at the company. Each employer was then given a score, and the top 175 companies made our list of America’s Best Employers For Engineers 2026. As with all Forbes lists, companies pay no fee to participate or be selected. To read more about how we make these lists, click here. For questions about this list, please email listdesk [at] forbes.com. Editorial StandardsReprints & Permissions
