Vantaggi
I like my direct managers and weekend and late-night work is rare. Very busy but expectations were reasonable when I started. Very smart people with proprietary systems so there is plenty to learn and small enough to feel like your contribution will make a difference. Bought by Qiagen, the upper management has ambitious goals for products. There is enough latitude within my position to do novel work if it aligns with general team goals.
Svantaggi
Because of the small size, and management/senior staff who have been around 10 years, there really is no path for moving up in this company. Even lateral movements into other departments was explicitly discouraged when I interviewed--they made it clear I was hired to do one thing, and I had no other options--which is strange, as I have had many interviews elsewhere where managers boast of the opportunities to move around. It's indicative of the general paralysis in the company culture. The people I work with are great, there is a layer of management I have never spoken to that sit 20 feet away... why is that? I have no idea what they do.