Vantaggi
Amazing people to work with (however YMMV depending on the team). Direct managers are experienced and understanding people who get the need for proper work / life balance. Work assignments are interesting and challenging. Pay is generally higher than at other companies in the area. Additional compensation through RSU awards, bonuses, and ESPP make working at Akamai financially rewarding for great performance. Tom Leighton is awesome, smart, likable. He is fantastic for the job and really cares about the company and the people within it. Health Care / Dental / Vision Options are good. Not outstanding, but good. Deals with other companies allow for some decent discounts.
Svantaggi
Politics are hard to overcome and can become frustrating. Meritocracy is sometimes overridden with politics - this is especially notable in groups where negative practices are ignored and promotions are illogically granted. The speed at which new technologies are accepted feels glacial at times. Politics can cause better techniques, policies, and software to get trashed simply because they scare those who don't want change.