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: Good work-life balance. Can grow really fast if you are working in the right team.

Cons: Paygrade is very low compared to other software firms.

Pros: Modern workplace, with nice facilities including a gym and offices. Free breakfast on Wednesdays.

Cons: Poor management at EDG. The managers tend to micromanage people and create a kindergarten-like atmosphere. EDG is a ruse for them to get technical support done by highly qualified people, and their values have diverged from the company's core values. Work/life balance is screwed up since you frequently have to work 12-hour days, and the hard work you put in is not appreciated but rather seen as standard expectations. None of the managers have technical skills, so they frequently try to evade questions by asking the same questions back to people. "What do you think?" is the most commonly used phrase here, and there is never any logical explanation for anything.