I was able to work on a project in a small group and had lots of creative freedom. It was cool to be the one who got to decide how features would be implemented rather than following a rigorous spec. Also, the work hours were very flexible so I was able to take breaks when I got overwhelmed and enjoy life outside of work.
What I wish was different
I wish I was able to pair program with a mentor that could teach me fundamentals before having to move on to independent projects. MRSL's employees are all very educated so it would be interesting to have them teach lessons.
Advice
I worked for MRSL for two summers and was able to develop good connections with a most of its employees. If you like to go on runs you will fit in perfectly. Lots of the employees like to take a break in the middle of the day and run around the hiking trails near the office. Also, you'll probably get hands-on experience with some form of signal processing, which you might find interesting.
