Pros
Good interesting work to be done, when assigned/ allowed. Minimal supervision of work, trusted to get on with it.
Cons
Psychotic bad tempered managers - this is no exaggeration. I was screamed at more than once for minor transgressions, such as being 5 mins late, while others in the team got away with much more. This is blatant victimisation. Also experienced direct side-lining. Forced to do nothing for months while team I was supposed to be a part of were extremely busy. Cronyism rife - frequently saw other less experienced colleagues promoted to more senior tech. positions/ management, because they were in favour. Over reliance on contractors, to the detriment of permanent staff. Contractors were frequently hired to do work that others, with little to do could do with ease/ minimal handover or training. This appeared to be cronyism again. Lack of promotional/ developmental opportunities for those not part of the in-crowd. Wage rises small and infrequent. Staff performance appraisals seem to be paper ticking exercises. Management did not use these to seriously develop/ progress staff, in my experience. The get-out clause for them seems to be "your development is your responsibility". However if blocked from training or promotion to more interesting teams, while seeing colleagues routinely moved between teams to fill new positions, or promoted to new positions, which were never advertised, this feels extremely unfair.