Pros
SOLUTE is a small business so there is room for growth (if you are in the right position). You get the opportunity to work on a lot of innovative/forward thinking projects. There is not a lot of micromanaging that goes on in the business unit that I am in so I have the flexibility to work on multiple tasks without someone breathing down my neck. You work on contracts as a small team (1-6 people) so you can learn new technologies quickly. Pay is average for DoD; you need to negotiate just like at any company...If you come from commercial you will be let down by the salary but you are leaving your old job for a reason if you come to a new business anyways. The company is experiencing a big growth currently as new contracts have been won in the last few months. If you want to grow your skill-set you definitely will have that opportunity since the teams are so small you can become well rounded in many areas. New managers are trying to change the attitude at solute and are trying to make the work/life balance more acceptable. No one is 'on call' as in no coming into the office at 2am if something goes down! Work hours are flexible; you don't have to be in your chair working at 8:01...if you come in at 9 you work an hour later, that's fine. Dress code is fairly casual; jeans and a polo or button-down is the office norm.
Cons
I'll repeat my first pro...SOLUTE is a small business; I came from a 'big business' at my last job and budgets are smaller, compensation is smaller, benefits are smaller. The company has under 80 employees but the 'C Suite Titles' and 'Directors' have multiplied since I started even though the company size stayed the same; I'm worried of a potential top heavy organization. If you are a person that needs someone to tell you what to do DO NOT COME HERE. People like to think they are independent and can give self direction then they start and just sit around and aren't sure why they are asked to pack up...You have to be a self starter to work here. Since I started the benefits have gone down, but that is because DoD companies have taken a hit across the board, but it would be nice to see the benefits rise again. There isn't an annual 2-3% raise that is typical for cost of living increases so you have to negotiate otherwise you will be left wishing instead of getting. TURN OVER IS INCREDIBLY HIGH; management sees this now and are trying to fix it but there has been so many people leaving the over 1/2 the company has been there less than 12 months; hopefully people stick around longer. The mentality is that everyone is replaceable but I believe that is changing...or I hope it is.