Pros
ACT offers a positive work culture and a non-toxic environment. The company is growing rapidly. Employees have the opportunity to work on various projects covering a wide range of topics and enjoy the independence to pursue their intellectual curiosity. The management is flexible with work-from-home or hybrid options, provided there is good communication. The Lead Engineers and technicians are knowledgeable and helpful, and colleagues routinely assist with projects.
I highly recommend ACT to recent graduates, particularly those with PhDs. Recent PhD graduates can thrive and gain practical engineering experience here. You'll learn how to write proposals and execute projects effectively. The R&D division is primarily funded through DOE and NASA SBIR/STTR programs, so as an R&D engineer, your performance is largely judged by your ability to secure funding after you've established yourself in the company. Good benefits aswell.
Cons
There are days, especially before proposal submission deadlines when work-life balance is thrown off. The technicians are a bit understaffed. The major con is that the pay is quite low.
