Pros
The crystal growth department has some of the most intelligent, hard working, capable scientists, engineers, and R&D operators that I have ever worked with. I had the pleasure of working along side of them for 3 years. I absolutely loved what I was doing at Cree, in part because I was able to work with some great people. There are few things more gratifying than breaking down an experimental crystal that is virtually flawless. Don't get me wrong, the stress was incredible. However, those high pressures forges strong bonds of comradery. If you can make it at Cree for a few years, you can make it anywhere.
Cons
As with most companies, the disconnect between upper management and those that actually get the work done is breathtaking. My first manager at Cree was an absolute nightmare. This individual's only goal was to climb the corporate latter. She had no concept of what it meant to teach, nurture, guide, or shield those that she was managing. The worst part is that the company rewards her for it. Work/life balance is virtually nonexistent. Many individuals can't enjoy their PTO because they are constantly checking in on their projects during their time away. That's assuming that people actually take time off. Company culture encourages workers to blame problems on someone else, rather than working together to prevent that problem from happening again. My second manager, who was exceptional , once told me "make it someone else's problem". Not his brightest moment, but it was the best advice he could have given me at the time. Additionally, rather than guiding the scientists down the road of innovation, management had them focusing all of their time trying to squeeze 0.1% more out of production yields. In doing so, Cree was left behind as the world leader in SiC growth and development. The worst thing Cree ever did was make me doubt myself.