Pros
1) Numero uno company to work on linux. And by linux, I mean enterprise grade, performance choking linux. Not fancy fanboy stuff (though it's still there). Put it simply, you put effort. You will reap astonishing benefit of the technology. 2) Incredible technology stack and unparalleled learning curve. You will meet and work with folks you never would have anticipated. 3) Outstanding people from all over the globe. And most of those guys (not the petty, mediocre sacks) are hell-bent to help you - provided you put the genuine effort. Result - A far better, improved technologist and probably better skilled, paid engineer. 4) It's open source baby (it's still now - subjected to change with the way of growth). 5) Add all four.
Cons
1) In India, the management is all squeaky and engaged in skirmish. The micromanagement has been induced to a great painstaking level and it irritates the good guys at work. People who are technically less adept will listen to those bs talks but guys who know their knowledge, will not care. Therefore, you will see good attrition rate of good employees. Don't trust me, ask the existing employees. 2) Bad, bad hiring. Right now, they are only inclined to hire technically inferior people/folks with no aspiration. That is demotivating. 3) Not everyone likes to work in weekend, night shift, holidays. It should be made _crystal-clear_ to everyone at the point of hiring that 'hey, this is support. All the unholy sum up will be there, as long as you are here'. 4) Once you are technically good and have achieved STSE/TSE/TAM level, it is *hard* to progress much. Because, with given workload, you won't be able to pursue own studies, unless you spend sleepless nights alone with a computer. And the management folks won't let you pursue higher. 5) IMPORTANT - please let an engineer be another engineer's manager. I have had lots of managers and I don't think one of them was better than me, either technically or academically. For a company of the standard of Red Hat, that is pathetic. In fact, I know that most of them weren't engineers at all. Some mere team leads here and there with some management jargon which they blurb on the new guys.