Pros
Close to the mission. Engaged on the top IT-related national challenges in partnership with the top government players. Unlike contractors, who compete for work, the government competes for MITRE support. MITRE puts the public interest and the mission first, along with its people. Sharing and teaming are remarkable. Helping each other is the corporate culture. Numerous nationally known experts. Challenging technical problems. Opportunities to make a difference. Great retirement benefits.
Cons
Occasional overconfidence at the top. Sometimes slow to change. Some old-time seniors need to be shuffled along to make way for young blood. In some areas, you have to become a manager to get promoted past the middle ranks. Others areas have rubust, career-long technical promotions with no need to become a manager to move up.