Eli5: Why do companies like Snapchat, Uber, Google, etc. need thousands of engineers when they’re product is already made?

Question

I understand a good portion of them are there to work on new developments, but why does Snapchat need 5,000 software engineers for example? What do they do on a day-to-day basis? Why does Google need 27,000 software engineers when they’re website works fine as is and most of their products and apps have already been made?

In: 1

Answer 1

The products are never done. They are always working on the next update and next hot new feature, if they don’t someone else who does will happily take their customers.

Not to mention not every engineer is creating something to sell, many are just keeping the lights on and responding to problems.