Cutthroat corporate culture with arrogant middle management.
Pros
The technology is very cool. The algorithms developed by Cognex are world class. Some very smart engineering talent works in Natick. Also, the sales force is extremely motivated, so it is a great place to learn how to effectively sell a technology product. Company is global, so there are many opportunities to work/travel internationally.
Cons
The Cognex culture in Natick is far more corporate (back-stabbing) than you are initially led to believe. The turnover rate, especially in the sales force, is higher than at any other company I've worked for in the past 5 years. In two years, I have seen over 5 people in HR come and go, including an HR Director. The game room, the cultural events, etc. are all tools used to help people forget how underpaid they are relative to the market. Also, the cost of living in MA is such that the below-average pay makes it very difficult to work at Cognex and maintain a comfortable quality of life.