Pros
If you have the education, you get a respected title pretty quick If you have a good idea that matches a hot topic in the DoD space and aligns well with a current research group, fairly easy trajectory to move up in the company Average pay for the industry, good medical, has semi-flexible work schedules even pre-pandemic Company is what you make it Company is an SBIR farm. It produces a lot of interesting research and development Company easily handled pandemic due to funding structure
Cons
Old boys club vibe is strong. If you have friends and make them easy, you'll have a much easier time. If not, prepare to fight twice as hard for things that you need to get your job done. Reliance on FMLA tells you all you need to know about the gender disparity/equity People without PhD have a harder time at advancement If you get in the wrong group for your expertise, it's hard to make any progress. Company is more internally competitive than it is internally collaborative. Some people are nice, but the ones who do well don't often play well with others. Company is an SBIR farm. This is part of where the harder than average culture comes from.