Pros
The mission of NEON is incredible. I think the project has potential. Local management was helpful for me (though other technicians disagree). I got to work in beautiful places and contribute to a broader purpose.
Cons
The scheduling was chaotic if you were a mammal technician. As a plant technician, I often felt overworked but appreciated the overtime pay. Data collection was placed above technician well-being and safety. There was a lot of pressure to finish the collection before December so the full-time staff didn't have to work in the snow, which I felt to be unfair. Technicians were seen as cheap labor with little opportunity to advance in the company. I was offered a position to return with a 50 cent raise but turned it down for a more lucrative opportunity with the option to actually advance in my career.