Pros
What first impressed me when I was interviewing with Expedition was the team's technical expertise. It almost immediately became clear that these were people who loved science, technology, engineering, and math and that I could learn a lot here. The second thing was how my management and co-workers are really good people. My co-workers are quick to give credit rather than take it. Also, I had put myself in the worst possible situation for negotiating my pay but still got a good bump over my previous salary. There is a lot of interesting work available, practical work, in that we are trying to implement or prove feasibility of technologies, but cutting-edge enough that we are constantly monitoring new research papers as they come out. Since it's a small company, roles are not narrowly defined, and there's opportunity to take on new responsibilities. At the same time, I don't feel pressured to work extra hours but am encouraged to have work-life balance. Finally, someone picks up bagels every Friday morning, and we spend a little bit of time chatting around a glorious array of bagels and spreads.
Kontras
I kind of expected this going in, but working in an office full of very impressive people can be tough on one's self-confidence, especially if you are used to being a "big fish". I've had more self-imposed pressure to learn, learn, learn, and accomplish a lot compared to my previous job. I wish the office location were closer to DC or walking distance from a functioning Metro stop, but that's more of a personal thing. Friday bagels and the magically refilling chocolate jar are not good for low-carb diets, but I think some people manage it anyway.