Pros
MITRE is a Federally Funded R&D Center that takes on challenging technical jobs working in the national interest. Therefore, it has the ability to do important work that can do things for all Americans for national security without being distracte by "make money on it for shareholders" is very satisfying. Working technologies like UAS, Satellites sensing and comm, IT infrastructure, bio-tech etc keeps me growing professionally and working with colleagues and senior Government leaders keeps me growing personally. It is wonderful to work with people who think about our country more than themselves. Seeing and working with them is really inspiring. You go home feeling good about yourself and your career choices.
Cons
My biggest downsides are: 1. MITRE is limited in how much work it can perform and this limit has been pretty fixed for the last 15 years by Congress. There are so many new and important problems we could help on yet are unable to contribute in war on terror, security, technology modernization (mobile wireless, unmanned vehicles, integrated sensors, etc.) due to this limitation. 2. If your career ambitions include making lots money, then MITRE has a limited salary range and little opportunity for entreprenurial financial success no profit that becomes a bonus (think stock brokers). 3. While MITRE has made great strides in diversity in the more junior ranks more needs to done at senior technical leadership areas.