Pros
The Los Angeles branch of Mayekawa (MYCOM) is actually located in Torrance, which is a great place and full of Japanese restaurants of all varieties - not just your local Asian-run sushi joint. Torrance also has a burgeoning craft beer scene with 3+ microbreweries in the area. My manager did not micromanage and generally let me set my own pace of work. He was very knowledgeable, and as an expert in his field, was a great resource for answering my questions. The product (as is common with Japanese products) was excellent and enjoys wide acceptance in the industry. Opportunities for business travel are ample.
Cons
Unfortunately, morale was low amongst the engineers I worked with and complaints were commonplace during our lunch outings to the local Japanese restaurants. Mostly the low morale could be traced back to the low compensation and subpar benefits. Many people expressed their belief that Mayekawa was a temporary stop where they could pick up skills and move on to bigger and better. Some people may not like the industrial feel of Torrance and the particularly poorly kept building where Mayekawa is located. Often, fumes from the shop downstairs could be noticed.
