Avantages
The subject matter is super-diverse. The product is fundamentally a knowledge engineering platform for research, and the larger customers tend to be pharma and various other bioprocess companies. So the work involves a heady mix of science, knowledge engineering, industrial process standards (S88/S95), regulatory standards (like 21CFR11) and so forth .. all layered on a full-stack web services platform. To paint a picture of any given day at work, select from the palette above. Everyone I have worked with is conscientious and considerate. At least two of my "top-ten days at work" have occurred here. Absolutely amazing given that my tenure here is a relatively short fragment of my total work history.
Inconvénients
I can't claim this is a heavenly domain, free of problems and strife. It's a startup, there are large customers, sometimes there are technical problems and the occasional fire-drill and so forth. But everyone is in the same boat, and it's very collegial .. so it can be challenging, but help is always available. It would be nice if the entire code base had sprung from someone's head, fully formed, and perfect in every respect .. but again, this is a startup. It is in far better shape with regard to technical debt and so forth than most .. especially remarkable given the inherent complexity of it services. If I had to level any criticism whatsoever, it would be that sometimes folks get overextended, so there are occasions where you can't get "quality time" with a "quality person". I'm not sure there is any solution to this for a dynamic growth company. I do know that there are plenty of companies where you can book a meeting of any duration you like with folks you'd prefer to avoid. Having overly busy, talented colleagues seems like the better deal.. There are various other growing issues, characteristic of startups. As the customer landscape changes and as the company scales, it requires constant growth. The organization seems fully aware of these issues, and seems fully capable of managing them. Basically, if you like your work environment settled, steady, and highly specific, this may not be your cup of tea. Even by growth company standards, I think this is a pretty dynamic environment,