Pros
My experience at Helbling, where I worked for many years as a mechanical engineer within the medical device sector, was undeniably engaging. The projects were diverse and provided ample opportunities to contribute to the design and development of a wide range of medical devices. Throughout my tenure, I had the privilege of working on projects such as insulin pumps, surgical tools, robots, and more. It's important to acknowledge, however, that the nature of the work often limits one's involvement in a project from its inception to its final stages (ranging from concept to V&V or production). Consequently, your experience tends to encompass the early stages (A-B-C) and not much beyond. This realization led me to reconsider whether this aligned with the career path I had envisioned for myself. While consulting firms like Helbling offer an exciting environment for young engineers, it's crucial to contemplate your long-term career goals.
Cons
During my time at Helbling, I had the opportunity to work in both of the company's U.S. offices. I found my colleagues to be genuinely pleasant individuals. However, it's worth noting that the organizational structure is quite flat, providing limited prospects for vertical growth. Additionally, I observed a lack of ethnic diversity throughout the company, from Switzerland to the U.S.