Great work environment, great place to become a senior developer, after that....???
Pros
The office culture is by far one of the best office cultures I have ever encountered. Big Nerd Ranch is a Results Only Work Environment (ROWE) which means that each person is free to do whatever they want, whenever they want, as long as the work gets done. Lots of opportunities for training and generous benefits (especially Health Insurance). Work is fun and engaging. Clients are awesome. Managements doors, especially the CEO, are always open.
Cons
Company is changing rapidly and merged with another company, Highgroove Studios, in November 2012. This can make the company seem unstable at times as the management adjusts to the new company, culture, and competitive environment. Management might not have anticipated all the challenges inherent with M&A, but seem to be learning and adjusting. Once senior developer status is attained, it can be hard to move up in the company. Flat hierarchy means very few managers, and even fewer Director and VP positions. This usually means what few opportunities for advancement arise, the odds of actually advancing are few and far between. Culture can be very "Silicon Valley Startup" or "Hipster" oriented. If you don't fit into their pre-determined mold, you might feel like an outsider at times.
