Pros
I joined Altimate AI about 6 months ago specifically because it's a small team, and that turned out to be exactly what I wanted. The connection you get with your peers here just isn't possible in big orgs. There are no managers — everyone is a senior IC — and the flat hierarchy has two real benefits. First, you get feedback directly from leadership, so you always know what actually matters to the org instead of guessing. Second, you get constant room to upskill yourself. I can connect with the CTO, product, or anyone directly, and that access means problems move fast instead of getting stuck. It has the fast startup energy I've thrived on before, but without the noise — I come in, I do my work, I see its impact, and I don't have to worry about office politics.
Cons
With no managers and an all-senior team, you're expected to self-manage and own your priorities. Nobody is going to hand-hold you. If you need a lot of structure or direction, the ambiguity might take some getting used to — but if you're senior and self-driven, it's a big plus.