Pros
- exposure to numerous government agencies and research institutes
- wide range of instrumentation training and use
- 50/50 split between lab work (DOE, data collection, building apparatuses etc.) and office work (data processing, presentation, technical report writing etc.)
- network builder
- practice of non-research-related skills such as interfacing with vendors, shipping and receiving of samples, ordering parts, buying instruments from sales reps etc
- multidisciplinary projects worked A-Z for excellent big picture experience beyond the day to day tasks
- ability to publish research work
- some supervisors are highly qualified, very passionate, proven scientific people that are excellent to work for
Kontras
- sometimes straining work environment
- generally a lack of hands to produce top quality work consistently
- excellent career experience for 1-2 years but a tough outlook beyond that
- nepotism
- great medical and dental but no bonuses, 401K, or financial incentives for engineers
- upper management does not always set a professional example
- upper management seems unmotivated to grow the company... content with keeping it where it is
- very difficult to implement changes to the status quo of things. upper management does not take kindly to suggestions from engineers