Pros
Great site. Good opportunities for early career engineers to be involved in some very diverse and exciting projects across different industries and at this level you will be largely protected from the 'cons'. There's a very diverse workforce at this level too.
Cons
As a catapult centre the MTC should exist to support industry to overcome challenges and thrive. There are some amazing projects (and many amazing people), but a lot of the show is smoke and mirrors. The primary drivers here are income and empire building. There isn't anything wrong with growth ambition, but there is when it is at the expense of quality and morality, and realised through questionable expenditure of grant funding or industry investment. The culture has become more and more toxic over recent years and no amount of smoke and mirrors has stopped the huge loss of previously loyal members of staff. The MTC will speak of the high turnover as a result of the type of work they do. This is true, to an extent, but over recent years, many have left (or been pushed out) because they were unwilling to work under such conditions. And these intolerable behaviours are not just in relation to business management. Sexual harassment and bullying has been condoned and indeed conducted by those at the most senior levels and swept under the carpet despite complaints. A new CEO is due soon. I sincerely hope they have the resilience and hold values that will be able to reset the compass for this organisation.