HERNDON, Va.—Software provider Deltek, a key player in tools for government contractors and project-based firms, eliminated 275 positions—less than 10% of its roughly 3,000-employee global workforce—in a move executed between Jan. 12 and Jan. 17. The Herndon, Virginia-based company framed the reduction as essential for “invest[ing] in long-term growth,” according to a spokesman quoted in Washington Technology.

“Deltek recently made a difficult decision to reduce the size of its global workforce as part of a broader effort to invest in long-term growth,” the company stated. “We are grateful for the contributions of the colleagues who were impacted and are supporting them through this transition with care and respect.” The cuts, first reported on TheLayoff.com, span offices in the U.S., Canada, the U.K., Denmark, Germany, Norway, Sweden, the Netherlands, India, and the Philippines, though specifics on affected divisions remain undisclosed.

Deltek’s enterprise software, including Costpoint for federal compliance and project accounting, and Maconomy for professional services, serves contractors navigating Defense Contract Audit Agency rules. Its GovWin platform tracks government contracts, opportunities, and forecasts. Owned by Roper Technologies since a $2.8 billion acquisition from Thoma Bravo in 2016, Deltek operates amid Roper’s portfolio of nearly 30 niche tech businesses.

Pattern of Cost Pressures Emerges

Employee forums reveal frustration over repeated reductions. On Glassdoor, workers described a “cycle to push whatever work they can to the Philippines office and lay off people here,” with long-tenured staff replaced after training offshore teams. A review noted, “Most people get laid off after their salaries start getting much above the mean average a new one could be hired for.” Similar sentiments appear on TheLayoff.com, where posters linked cuts to private equity influences like past owner Thoma Bravo, though Roper has held the reins for a decade.

Prior rounds included a 170-person layoff in mid-January 2025, per an Indeed.com review, followed by a CEO all-hands call touting strong performance without mentioning the event. “Morale is terrible, the layoffs were not explained other than it was a ‘business decision,'” the reviewer wrote. RepVue echoed this, stating Deltek “has went through several rounds of layoffs in recent years which targeted the most tenured leaders and reps in order to reduce costs and restructure.”

Under CEO Bob Hughes, who succeeded Mike Corkery in April 2024, Deltek continues emphasizing growth investments. Corkery transitioned to a group executive role at Roper. Recent X posts from @WhatLayoff confirmed the latest cuts, tying them to restructuring.

Roper’s Shadow Looms Large

Roper Technologies, publicly traded and focused on high-margin software, acquired Deltek when it had about 2,400 employees; headcount has since expanded to 3,000 amid estimated annual revenues approaching $828 million, per CompWorth. Yet forum chatter on TheLayoff.com suggests pressure: “Apparently we’re not growing enough to satisfy Roper, which is on track to net over 1B this year.” Outsourcing to lower-cost regions like the Philippines features prominently in complaints, aligning with patterns under prior PE ownership.

Deltek’s market intelligence arm, including GovWin, reported over 2,330 prime government contracts terminated by mid-August 2025, fueling private-sector job losses in Northern Virginia, as noted by Virginia Business. This external turbulence in the govcon sector may compound internal challenges. Despite cuts, Deltek’s Clarity studies show industry optimism, with 59% of contractors expecting higher 2025 revenues per its press release.

Glassdoor reviews criticize leadership for fostering fear: “People are in constant fear of lay offs and this doesnt promote a great working environment.” Technology lags also surface, with one calling products reliant on “outdated and behind the times” infrastructure.

Broader Tech and GovCon Pressures Mount

The reductions fit a pattern in software serving federal markets, where federal budget scrutiny and contract expirations strain vendors. Deltek’s FY2026 Top Opportunities report highlights largest federal contracts amid uncertainty. Roper’s model prioritizes margins, potentially accelerating efficiency measures like these cuts.

Employee sentiments on TeamBlind and Indeed point to muddled culture from acquisitions and poor transparency. One Indeed reviewer contrasted past stability under Corkery with current flux: “The management team under Mike Corkery was fair.”

As Deltek supports affected workers, questions persist on whether these moves will yield the targeted growth or further erode morale in a competitive field.