[ksmith14]

I worked for VMware from 2007-2014 on things other than the core virtualization products.

I think you’re overestimating the situation. There is a group that did have a fair number of CS PhDs to develop and maintain the core piece — the virtual machine monitor (VMM) but then there’s a large number of plain old everyday SWEs developing the bulk of vSphere and the desktop virtualization products.

I would expect VMW’s policy to apply to just about everyone. A few old timers that have reached the principal engineer or fellow levels might be able to avoid it but that’s a few dozen out of 20,000+