Pros
Diverse range of projects handled in our group, from optolectronics to nanoscale materials. If you are a PhD scientist who likes doing laboratory work and applied research, you will like it here. Research personnel are expected to "bootstrap" programs, i.e. get them going from the initial conceptualization of the science and technology, writing the proposals, making the materials, to constructing prototypes. Fortunately, our group had a good blend of people with the background to make this happen.
Cons
Our group felt more like a small start-up company than part of a multi-billion dollar corporation. We always seemed to be scrapping and scrounging for access to analytical instrumentation or creating laboratory infrastructure as we went along. There was no "corporate research center" to tap into. There was also little cooperation or communication between the lines of business, and we found ourselves competing with other parts of the company for funding.