Broadcom

Austin has few opportunities for design engineering, despite all the hype of being a tech center. Being a traffic-choked city, there are very few opportunities where your commute is reasonable.

If you're coming from California to Austin, your salary will go a long way. But if you're hired directly from Austin, expect to get a Texas salary. There's a big delta between native Texan and California import salaries.

Good health benefits and stock grants (RSUs) can be great if the company is doing well.

Lots of work that cycles between normal full-time and extreme weekends and long days. Schedules do not take personal life into consideration--when the project is hot, you'd better be ready despite kids, school, wife, or other life commitments.

Very low commitment on the part of the company to employee development. Lots of recognition if you file a patent, but that's about it.

Company policy is vacation at the manager's discretion. Nerve-wracking for shy people with managers that never say "take time off." You've got to ask, and the vacation has to meet your project's schedule (see above).

Go back to normal industry vacation with comp-time at manager's discretion.

Find innovative ways for employee development.