Interesting products, mediocre management
Pros
Used to be a senior software engineer there. Covidien, formerly Tyco Healthcare, is a conglomerate which grew by acquisition. This brings interesting technologies into the mix, but unfortunately doesn't always have the mettle to take it to the market the right way. Pay is decent, work-life balance depends on who you work for. Time-off policies standard.
Cons
The management many times doesn't believe in the products. Some would see products as just vehicle to advance their careers. This then translates to all engineering department as just something that drags down the expense sheet instead of recognizing that good engineering is what make medical devices safe and sells for years to come. Promotion is hard to get unless you do 150% your normal workload. Working harder (more hours), not smarter (more output) is rewarded. Also they believe all engineers are interchangable, regardless background and expertise.
