Pros
In a small (but rapidly growing) company like Zapata, individuals matter. You are hired because your colleagues believe your background and personality are great and that you can make a difference. While there are certain directions that the company is moving in, you are able to explore you own ideas as a researcher. Everybody I have got to know is extremely nice, fun and respectful of each other's domains of expertise. If you are looking for scientist positions in quantum computing industry, I can only recommend you give Zapata a try.
Kontras
Research positions may come with more parallel responsibilities than expected, including attending meetings, supervising interns, advising marketing, assisting with high-quality code, and planning yearly goals and road maps. Depending on the person, this can be distracting or a great opportunity to grow.