Lab manager and research associate managing 2 research labs and a multiuser instrument facility. - Lab Manager NASA Employee Review

5.0
Sep 25, 2015
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

Great research and researchers, flexible schedule and variety of responsibilities. Benefits (medical and vacation/holidays) are generous at my contract employer, and the work culture allows for time off and work/life balance.

Cons

Number and variety of responsibilities can be overwhelming. Lack of funding leads to a lot of DIY that is extremely inefficient. Lack of management support and lack of desire to make institutional changes to create efficiencies is very frustrating. Lack of communication between management/support organizations creates additional work. Dynamic bureaucracy means that once you have the vagaries of the organization figured out, it changes and you have to start all over figuring things out.

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5.0
Jun 19, 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

Incredible WLB, impactful work, sense of pride when talking about what you do.

Cons

Have to work with legacy codebases often (like Fortran).

4.0
Jun 19, 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

They tend to have managers who were engineers. And, "we're going to the freakin Moon!"

Cons

Government bureaucracy stuff, and residues of DOGE

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