MERIDIAN SYSTEMS INC. New Hire Reference Guide — Engineering Division Version 3.2 | Effective January 2026 ================================================================ ABOUT MERIDIAN ================================================================ Meridian Systems is a mid-size engineering services firm headquartered in Beaverton, Oregon with regional offices in Seattle, WA and Sacramento, CA. Founded in 2003, Meridian specializes in infrastructure monitoring, structural assessment, and smart building systems for public sector clients. Employees: ~340 (180 engineering, 60 project management, 50 business development, 50 operations/admin) Core service lines: - Structural Health Monitoring (SHM) - Environmental Compliance & Reporting - Smart Building Integration - Infrastructure Risk Assessment Primary clients: ODOT, TriMet, Portland Public Schools, City of Seattle Public Utilities, Multnomah County ================================================================ YOUR FIRST 90 DAYS ================================================================ WEEK 1: ORIENTATION Monday - 8:30 AM: Badge pickup at front desk (bring government-issued ID) - 9:00 AM: HR onboarding session (Room 201, Beaverton HQ) - 11:00 AM: IT setup — laptop, accounts, parking pass - 1:00 PM: Lunch with your team (expensed, $25 limit) - 2:30 PM: Meet your onboarding buddy Tuesday–Friday - Complete required training modules in MeridianLearn (LMS) - Required modules (must complete by end of Week 1): Information Security Awareness (45 min) Anti-Harassment & Workplace Conduct (60 min) Safety Orientation for Field Work (30 min) Export Control Basics (20 min) - Set up your development environment with your buddy - Attend your team's daily standup (usually 9:15 AM) DAYS 8–30: LEARNING - Shadow a senior engineer on an active project - Complete your first "starter task" (assigned by your manager) - Attend at least one client meeting as an observer - Schedule 1:1s with three people outside your immediate team - Complete your 30-day self-assessment in Workday DAYS 31–90: CONTRIBUTING - Take ownership of a small deliverable on your assigned project - Present a 10-minute "What I've Learned" to your team - Complete your 90-day review with your manager - Set Q2 goals collaboratively in Workday ================================================================ TOOLS & SYSTEMS ================================================================ REQUIRED (set up in Week 1): - Email & Calendar: Microsoft 365 (Outlook) - Chat & Meetings: Microsoft Teams - Project Management: Azure DevOps (engineering teams) - Time Tracking: Deltek Vantagepoint — log hours DAILY (billable code = client project code, non-billable = OVHD-ENG) - Document Storage: SharePoint (project files) and OneDrive (personal work files) - HR & Benefits: Workday - Learning: MeridianLearn (Cornerstone LMS) - VPN: GlobalProtect (required for remote access) OPTIONAL BUT RECOMMENDED: - GitHub Enterprise (for teams using version control) - Power BI (for data visualization projects) - Copilot in Microsoft 365 (available to all employees) ================================================================ ENGINEERING PRACTICES ================================================================ CODE & DOCUMENTATION STANDARDS - All deliverable code must pass peer review before submission - Use the Meridian Style Guide (SharePoint > Engineering Standards > MSG-2025) - Python projects: use Black formatter, Ruff linter - Documentation: every project repo must have a README, CHANGELOG, and architecture decision log FIELD WORK - PPE required for all site visits (hard hat, steel-toe boots, high-vis vest — provided by Meridian after Safety Orientation) - Never visit a client site alone on your first 3 visits - Field reports due within 48 hours of site visit - Mileage reimbursement: $0.67/mile via Concur PROJECT STRUCTURE - Every project has: Project Manager (PM), Technical Lead (TL), and 2–6 engineers depending on scope - Junior engineers report to the TL for technical work and to the PM for scheduling and client communication - Weekly project status meetings are mandatory - All client-facing documents require TL review before delivery ================================================================ BENEFITS & POLICIES ================================================================ COMPENSATION - Pay periods: semi-monthly (1st and 15th) - Direct deposit: set up in Workday by end of Week 1 - Annual reviews & merit increases: every April - Bonus eligibility: after 1 full year of employment TIME OFF - PTO: 15 days/year for new hires (accrues monthly) - Sick leave: 10 days/year (Oregon paid sick leave compliant) - Holidays: 10 company holidays per year (see MeridianLearn > Company Calendar for dates) - Parental leave: 12 weeks paid (birth or adoption) - PTO requests: submit in Workday, minimum 2 weeks notice for requests over 3 days HEALTH & WELLNESS - Medical/dental/vision: coverage begins Day 1 - Plans: Meridian offers 3 tiers (Bronze, Silver, Gold) through Providence Health - HSA contribution (Silver/Bronze plans): Meridian matches up to $750/year - Mental health: 8 free counseling sessions/year through EAP (Employee Assistance Program), call 1-800-555-0199 - Gym reimbursement: up to $50/month with receipt REMOTE & HYBRID WORK - Engineering roles: hybrid schedule (3 days in-office minimum) - Core in-office days: Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday - Remote days: flexible (Monday/Friday typical) - First 90 days: full in-office recommended (not required) - Remote work from out-of-state requires HR approval - Home office stipend: $500 one-time (submit in Concur after 90 days) PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT - Tuition reimbursement: up to $5,250/year (after 1 year) - Conference budget: $1,500/year per engineer (manager approval) - PE/EIT exam fees: fully reimbursed - Internal tech talks: every other Friday at noon (optional) - Mentorship program: opt in via MeridianLearn after 90 days ================================================================ COMMUNICATION & CULTURE ================================================================ WHO TO CONTACT - IT help desk: ithelp@meridiansystems.com or Teams channel "#IT-Support" (response within 4 hours during business hours) - HR questions: hr@meridiansystems.com or your HR business partner (assigned in Workday) - Facilities (badges, parking, office supplies): facilities@meridiansystems.com - Ethics & compliance concerns: anonymous hotline at 1-800-555-0142 or ethics@meridiansystems.com MEETINGS & COMMUNICATION NORMS - Default meeting length: 25 minutes (not 30) - Cameras on for client meetings, optional for internal - Teams messages: respond within 4 hours during work hours - Email: respond within 24 hours - "Focus Fridays": no recurring meetings scheduled on Fridays (one-offs are OK) EXPENSE REPORTS - Submit in Concur within 30 days of expense - Receipts required for anything over $25 - Manager approval required for all expenses - Client meals: $50/person limit - Team events: coordinate with PM for project budget codes ================================================================ FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS ================================================================ Q: What if I need to work from home during my first 90 days? A: Talk to your manager. It's recommended you're in-office but it's not a hard rule. Life happens. Q: When do I get access to client systems? A: After completing all Week 1 training modules AND getting sign-off from your TL. Usually by end of Week 2. Q: How do I expense my PE exam prep materials? A: Submit in Concur under category "Professional Development." Books, courses, and exam fees are all covered. No pre-approval needed for items under $500. Q: Can I use personal devices for work? A: Email and Teams are accessible on personal phones via the Company Portal app (Intune managed). Do NOT store client data on personal devices. All engineering work must be done on your Meridian-issued laptop. Q: Who approves my timesheets? A: Your project manager for billable hours, your functional manager for overhead hours. Both review in Deltek weekly. Q: What if I don't know my project billing code? A: Ask your PM. In the meantime, log to OVHD-ENG (engineering overhead). Do NOT leave days unlogged — Finance flags anything older than 5 business days. Q: Is there a dress code? A: Business casual in-office. Jeans are fine. Client site visits follow client dress code (your PM will brief you). PPE required for all field work regardless.