Pros
- The most interesting work I've come across - much of the work doesn't actually feel like work - Extreme flexibility in terms of what you're doing and when and how you do it, subject to good engineering principles and meeting deadlines - Virtually no micromanagement, useless meetings, or other things that eat into productive time - Lots of control over your career path - Support for continuing education, training, publishing, and additional credentials - Lots of freedom for who you work with - Lots of mentors willing to share advice - Awesome coworkers who have the same drive and dedication you do (Hint: If you don't, this probably isn't the right place for you!)
Cons
- The work never stops coming - it can be very hard to take a break, especially with lots of talented people around who continue to drive forward -Some projects are inflexible in terms of timing, and if you are working on global projects, 9-5 US business hours really don't apply. (But on the other hand, I can set my schedule to meet my needs, i.e. working in the mornings, afternoons free, and then overseas calls in the evenings)