Less than great. Downhill trend for employees. Used to be the employer of chioce. Not they way for new folk.
Pros
Cost of living in New Mexico is average. Areas outside Albuquerque are nice. Fascinating research opportunities Getting the Sandia imprimatur on my resume 9/80 schedule and working 40 hours per week, unlike the private sector
Cons
Intrusive nature of Federal investigations for getting security clearances. Lots of work is on a 'need to know' basis so you get excluded from a considerable amount of what goes on. It creates a whole negative mindset. Facilities are mid to late 20th century. Acres of bare dirt, oceans of asphalt for parking lots with no trees, working in 20 year old mobile offices. Not inviting to those who can leave or to new staff. Clearly a 'how cheap can you make it?' approach to building. The GPA rule has to go. Why would you not hire a staff aug person who has worked for you for 10 years, has worked for 30 years, but you disqualify him because his 30+ year old undergraduate gpa is less than 3.2? People get hired in on a 'who they know' basis. Three people in our department came in that way. Fortunately two are good and well qualified. Leave your cell phone and digital players in your car. You can't bring 'em in.