Pros
The DoD/Intel side has stable, non-competed work which is typically more technical than the Civil side of the house.
Cons
By Charter, not a development organization, so after ~3 years most engineers will not be employable elsewhere. MITRE will tell you that they pay ~30% less than comparable companies, but offers stability. That has changed dramatically. In the past 6 years, mgmt has flooded the company with new hires while current employees go begging for a task. If not tasked at 100%, some are told to go to half-time status and/or pay their own benefits. No problem, Wal-Mart is always looking for part-time help, and houses can be sold easily in this area. Standard had been that 6 to 7 years of technical industry experience was required, now no experience is just fine. Cuts costs, but should cut at middle to top of the pyramid. New hires are given priority at getting a task, even if not qualified (e.g., mechanical engineers working an I.T. task. But hey, they're cheap, right?). Technical folks usually are in a Tech Center, and loaned to projects. When tasks are scarce, the Project departments kick the engineers back to the Tech Center, and fill the project with English, History, Nursing, and other soft-science majors even though they don't know I.T. How is that operating in the Public Interest? That's why folks are fleeing the Tech Centers. Forget about complaining that you are working for a non-tech task leader, with little chance of ever leading a technical task unless you can break out of the Tech Center. When tasks come to the Tech Ctr., DHs get first pick, then the Group Leads get taken care of, with regular engineers getting the leftovers.