Pros
This role is the perfect combination of technical and customer-facing engineering work. I'm blown away by the projects my customers work on, and I know I'm contributing to something bigger, because I'm helping to further innovation in this region. National Instruments is a consistent, predictable employer, and with a good manager (which I'm very lucky to have) it's easy to grow very quickly without being overwhelmed. The role is challenging in terms of enthusiasm and effort, but there's no better way to stretch yourself.
Cons
The role itself is non-trivial. You have to quickly understand what your customers are trying to do, put yourself in their shoes, and then understand what kinds of change would actually make sense for them. It can be lonely if you don't have the right support structure, and it will take as many hours as you give it. You absolutely must be a self-starter, and you have to be able to hold yourself accountable. But for me, it's certainly worthwhile.
