Opportunity is there but you need to make it happen
Pros
There are many pros over the larger corporate entities in Aviation / Defense but you don't get promoted by just clocking time in a chair. You want to learn, grow, develop, then make it happen. See something you like, think of a great idea -- you can make it happen. Work life balance is what you make it. Just because someone in a different time zone sends you an email doesn't mean you have to answer it in 10 minutes. The company is worldwide. Get over yourself, you aren't that important. If you can't bring yourself to say that to management, I'm sure there are employees there that will help you communicate that message. They don't expect a response they are just trying not to forgot something on their mind. It is also a company that will tell you that you are capable of more. Not quantity of work (although some people probably are), but you are smart and they expect things of you that probably no one has allowed you to explore in all the other corporations you have worked at. These people say show me what you got. Are you ready for that? This is a you thing not a them thing. Are you ready to soar if given the chance?
Cons
For some reason people don't want to take their own career trajectory into their own hands. There is education reimbursement, there are plenty of opportunities to jump in and learn, there are many ways to grow yet some people seem to think chair sitting is pre-qualifying for raises and promotions. Can things be a little better, sure, we all can be. But sitting on the sidelines winching and not doing anything doesn't help. At least here you can talk to the senior leadership team and they will know your name and listen. Each of them will genuinely try to help in any way they can. But if you want to sit back and just complain and expect raises and bonuses, I think you need to be somewhere else. We all know those companies where you can slack off and keep your head down until the next RIF has passed like the angel of death. This is the company where people know your name and expect you to be the best you can be and they make that opportunity available -- if you want it.
