Pros
There is so much to be done in the defense industry that the Laboratory has a wide array of projects and activities. Because these are problems that no one else has solved, you often have to start from the bottom up, which provides you with a great learning opportunity. Everyone is friendly and supportive and openly shares their knowledge and skills. The environment is very laid back, but the work is still challenging. Also, because of the nature of the business, projects are always rotating, which allows employees to tackle on a huge range of problems in their time there.
Kontras
I honestly have very few complaints about MIT Lincoln Laboratory. It was a great place for me to work, but it may not be for everyone. If you thrive on the corporate competitiveness, you may not thrive at the Laboratory; it is a semi-academic environment that relies in shared knowledge and cooperation instead of competition. The salaries are fair and the benefits are amazing, but they may not pay quite as much as the private sector; this doesn't seem to be an issue for many people who find the benefits and flexibility to be more important than the exact pay.