user09723

I work for a small startup-ish company (LLC operating the US). They manage several projects and I have been working on one of them fairly autonomously for 6 months and finally have been put "fully in charge" of what I have slowly come to realize is fairly large and ugly project with lots and lots of problems. I am the only programmer on this project. It has so far been a very good learning experience. I now am finally receiving a good pay rate and lots of compliments. The project, however, is a huge liability and involves managing probably millions of dollars of customer assets. I can envision them getting sued at some point. I have never misrepresented myself, but they have been more than willing to give me a longer leash than I am comfortable with.

The project is clearly troubled and it is no secret, yet they take on as many new customers as they can. No investment is being made in long-term fixes. There is a clear partition between this project and the rest of the company.

I need the work, but feel I am being thrown under a bus.

My questions: Am I under any personal liability? If I am, what can I do to protect myself? I am tempted to ride this as long as I can and give it my very best effort. Does anyone have any experience with conducting a train as it derails? Did it hurt you in ways you did not anticipate? Has anyone felt this way and been pleasantly surprised or wrong about the outcome? Is failure ultimately a good learning experience?

Extra info:

I have no financial ownership.

I have always worked for large companies and have little experience with startups.

I do not work directly for the startup, but for them through an HR "outsourcer"