Pros
Take home message: Work is work and, if anything, Acumen will make you feel ready to take on the world. -If you're competent and show initiative, you'll be placed in positions to lead/grow. -Can see various projects with true impacts. -Flexible hours (depending on the Dept. you can choose roughly what time to come in the mornings and leave at night) -Great coworkers -Great managers and senior management as long as everyone is on the same page. -Company subsidizes tuition for classes related to work (caveat being that you'll be hard pressed to find that kind of time). -Great food in downtown San Mateo/Burlingame.
Kontras
-The company is too busy to restructure the working dynamics (this seems to be getting better in parts of the company). -Hard to see the overall picture (direction/goals of projects and the company) -Overtime is expected, particularly due to strict Government deadlines. -Stressful due to unrealistic expectations by management. -Difficult to manage work/life balance (unless you don't mind being at the bottom of the worker bees) -Due to above mentioned stress, people burn out quickly and/or become irritable and harder to work with. -Several weeks of paid vacation per year, but depending on your position/department, you can expect to work remotely on your vacation.
