Pros: MathWorks creates some of the best (and in some cases, only) scientific computing tools in the industry and is very well recognized. There is an impressive base of engineering grads (an MS is basically required for entry-level positions). In the large majority of cases, people work well together, and there is a cooperative atmosphere. Honesty is placed in very high esteem, and people try hard to conform to that standard. Benefits are very good (401k match percentage is almost unheard of in the industry). EDG/ASE does provide a good opportunity to try out different departments before making a transfer. If you do a good job and are well-liked, you will move up in the ranks fairly quickly.

Cons: In EDG, if you are given the wrong manager (basically assigned by luck), then your career is doomed. Too many mandatory meetings and micromanagement. In some cases, I was asked to write a "plan" for a project that took as long as the actual project itself. There is a strict culture of doing things "the MathWorks way," even if there are better ways out there. Because of this, it takes forever for new features, and even bug fixes, to make their way into the customer's hands. Transferring between jobs inside the company is way more difficult than at other companies that I've worked at. The CS grads tend not to be as talented as engineering grads, yet they are courted more aggressively due to a lack of these types of people. Top-notch engineering grads will come here, whereas top-notch CS grads tend to turn down offers here because they would rather work for Google, Microsoft, Facebook, etc. Base salary is very mediocre. My starting salary at my new job was 25% higher.

Pros: Great platform for fresh graduates to learn. A decent amount of freedom to choose what you want to do.

Cons: Downsides of this role? Well, after a year, maybe your learning curve becomes stagnant, and you want to move out of this role. Unfortunately, the organization is very conservative, so positions in your field of choice might not open up at all. You are literally wasting half of your time doing technical support and talking to customers who mostly can't get anything done on their own. More than half of the management is non-technical, so they have no idea of what they are talking about most of the time. Just smile and take it. Huge disparity in pay scales for the same role. If you went to a branded school, you get a lot more than you deserve; performers are not rewarded aptly.

Pros: Great work/life balance, great perks, care for employees, nice workplace, supportive colleagues.

Cons: Slow pace, not good for aspiring young people.