Pros
I dont have a boss who is micromanaging me. I know what needs to get done and I am trusted to finish without constant checkins. If you think a project does not make sense or you want to pursue a certain project, SPEAK UP. If you do not speak up how will anyone know how you feel. Employees trust me and listen to my input on my subject expertise. Timeline and workload, in my opinion, are completely fair. I have heard some people say they are overworked or cannot take advantage of open pto. These are generally people who promise they can do 40 hours of work in 5. As a result they promised timelines that do not make sense and force themselves to work for 60+hours on the regular. The best advice I can give is set realistic expectations with timelines from the start and you will have a great work/life balance. Overall I love my job and the flexibility it gives me in life.
Cons
Recent acquisitions have resulted in some promotions/ positions that do not seem deserved. Whether it be acquired employees or pre-acquisition employees, sometimes you get the feel of favoritism. Often I find me doing all the work but never get recognition for it, in fact someone else will instead. Lack of recognition is fine, but someone else receiving the recognition is what frustrates.