Pros
Cross disciplinary interactions between teams. Supportive and organized HR department. Good experience for new college grads or entry level employees. A good way to get foot in the door. Friendly coworkers. Free lunch every day, although I wish there were healthier options. Healthcare is 100% covered for employee. Not sure about dependents.
Cons
Micromanaged to the extreme. Many projects cut short before breakthroughs due to lack of patience with the scientific process. It’s just how science is and because Ultima is an engineering company, this happens a lot. Toxic work practices, often expected to work outside of normal working hours. No work life balance. Compensation is much lower across the board compared to other companies in the field. Bonuses and “raises” drag down morale, doesn’t even keep up with inflation. Brilliant scientists underutilized or not appreciated for their expertise. Cutthroat and competitive energy from upper management. Extremely disorganized. No LIMS or project management system used. Makes for chaotic progress tracking, inconsistent naming systems between personnel, and near impossible reproducibility. Very little opportunity for career growth.