Pros
R&D is still a somewhat small group of working individuals where people share an enthusiasm for the betterment of the company. Contributions on an individual level can still have a big impact on company practices. Also, interdepartmental conversation is quite common and usually well received. There is a still a sense of excitement as the company reaches new milestones.
Cons
For individuals with a focus on scientific advancement and ground breaking discovery R&D may fall short of their expectations. The opportunity to publish in the literature are few and far between and some of the resources that would be commonly found at many academic core facilities are not available at R&D. That said, the expectation to do this kind of work is not common in industry (nor should it be expected) and R&D does not hesitate to send samples elsewhere to get results that cannot be obtained in-house. The benefits package offered by R&D is outstanding. Their salary offerings could stand to be more competitive both locally and nationally. This may affect their ability to attract the most competitive candidates for new positions.