Pros
* GTRI and Georgia tech are well-respected, and we get interesting, meaningful projects as a result. There are lots of smart people working at GTRI who take pride in their products, and it really shows - apathy is not an issue here. Most people are very willing to help others. * The benefits package is great. Accumulating sick time that rolls over is a huge bonus. There is no stigma associated with taking time off for doctor's appointments or as needed. * The work atmosphere is great; it's very laid back, flexible, and supportive. * There are multiple different labs and locations that provide good opportunity to move around and work on different projects.
Cons
* Pay tends to be lower than industry but the retirement savings matching is exceptional * GTRI is very traditional in its processes with a lot of employees having a long tenure (7+ years). The stability and continuity is great, but at the same time people tend to be rooted in the way things have always been done, even if it's not the most efficient. * The matrix structure is very unusual and program/project teams have an unconventional makeup. Teams are aligned to projects, but there are functional teams within the project teams. There are also some people who do not belong to a functional team at all. This makes the dynamic between PMs and functional managers more interesting than usual. * Since this is a research institution, most managers are also individual contributors on projects. That tends leave a significant leadership gap when it comes to integrating efforts, providing clear direction, and removing roadbloacks and providing overhead support.