Pros
American Systems is an employee-owned large company. The relatively small size of our local office fosters a small business/family feel, while still having the resources and reachback capability of the large process-oriented company it is, being CMMI-DEV Level 3 assessed and ISO 9001:2015 certified. There is a focus on work/life balance, and a culture of mutual respect and accountability. There are opportunities for training and advancement; I have moved up in the organization twice in my time here. The benefits are pretty good. There is an employee-funded 401(k) and a company-funded ESOP, for which the annual company contribution is more than you would ever get for 401(k) matching at any other company, and only has a 3-year vesting schedule. Holidays are rolled into the PTO, so you have the freedom to choose when to take your holidays, or save the time for other purposes. The health coverage includes an HSA with company contributions and is comparable to that of other defense contractors. Dental and vision coverage are available. There is tuition reimbursement, and company paid LTD and Life.
Cons
The only downside that is worth mentioning is that the health plan could be better. It's a CDHP with HSA, which is typical in today's marketplace, but also means high deductibles. The company contribution to the HSA helps offset those costs, though.