Pros
I love working at Element 84. I'm a software engineer there. There are many great things about working there: * Small company - I know everyone there. I like the people with which I work. Because it's a small company it isn't hard to get to speak to the leadership. I can directly make an impact on the direction of the company through making suggestions or leading the direction of new initiatives. You don't have to deal with the bureaucracy of a larger company. * Excellent work - The work is hard and technically challenging. It's also rewarding in that I feel like I'm making the world a better place. Part of the company's mission is to do this. It's so rare to find a place where you get both challenging computer science/design problems but also a chance to work on something that makes a real difference in people's lives. * Talented, intelligent coworkers - I work with some of the smartest people I've ever met. The biggest thing for me is trust. I feel like I can trust the company leadership. They're good people. I know them well. I feel like they care about me, my family and our future. When I've made mistakes I've received honest critical feedback. If I work hard and do a good job I'm recognized for that.
Cons
The cons are minor but worth mentioning: * Contracting with other companies - Depending on the project you may be working with other companies that do not have the same small company feel. * Small company limitations - Smaller, younger companies have less resources than larger ones. Sometimes when you ask about a particular policy you may be the first person to do so and they have to work out the details. There's some risk with working for a smaller company but the management seems very conservative about taking risks and preparing for problems. We seem to be in very high demand so work shortage isn't something I would worry about. * Growing pains - As a small company that's growing there's going to be some growing pains where they work out how to handle a larger number of employees and contracts. Most of those problems have been passed already. The flip side of this is I can directly help shape the company as it's growing.