Pros
Working Ginkgo combines an exciting sense of purpose with a culture that rewards talent and community. The pay/benefits are competitive for the area and the industry. Personally, I feel a great sense of satisfaction working at Ginkgo because the purpose for my hard work is clear and results are tangible. This greatly contrasts from a previous academic research environment where great efforts may have uncertain impacts on the world at large. I also feel my set of professional skills is enhanced by the talent of those around me. Ginkgo makes clear to employees that professional development is encouraged and expected.
Cons
Work life balance is well appreciated and encouraged in Ginkgo culture, however employees may at times go above and beyond to make challenging tasks work. Ginkgo as a mature startup still provides individuals the opportunity to make an exceptional impact by exceeding the call of duty. Biology is not yet easy to engineer, and while Ginkgo and others are making progress, occasionally "elbow grease" is required to push an effort over the finish line. While the average workweek is ~40 hours, some employees exceed that semi-regularly largely because they want their projects to succeed. Having said that, management actively encourages work/life balance. Individuals seem to take on the extra responsibilities voluntarily. I feel this may stem from previous academic research environment where long work weeks were the norm.