Pros
Pretty talented special force, resilient multi-faceted engineering team that's been through a lot together - multiple ASIC spins, debugging, sprints, CM manufacturing releases. Developed both lidar products and lidar manufacturing equipment from scratch (no such thing as off-the-shelf Lidar testing/manufacturing equipment). Multifaceted technology packed into sensors. If you are ever bored from shipping just pure tablet like embedded linux consumer electronics, this is the chance to spread your wings. Definitely a place where relatively junior members are encouraged/able to make huge visible impacts. No politics yet. Has a good mixture of manufacturing veterans + engineers with new thoughts/approaches. Multiple well disciplined office dogs from employee owners - Cooper is a real therapy dog. Great with socializing at company dinners everyday - intense Nintendo Smash sessions after dinner. Pretty reasonable long term product architecture strategy: up-scaling number of lidar channels is a straight forward process for Ouster. Have sizable revenue. SF private parking. Great for SF trips on weekends. The upper management members are still learning and very open to straight talk/feedback/suggestions. I get to play with lidars for hobby projects. Coming from corporate engineering lab previously, it's been a huge learning/positive experience.
Cons
A bit easy to find yourself working and playing smash on weekends with the team (work/life balance) if you don't discipline yourself. Typical growing challenges for 200+ people startup. Growing the small engineering team further in quantity and quality is always an uphill battle in SV