Pros
You get to work on big and highly complex aircraft. You can do this in VERY few companies around the world, and they are hard to get into. There is a very international flavour. You will get to work with people from many different cultures, countries, languages, religions, etc. That makes life very interesting. There are veried opportunities for travel. Some travel hardly ever, others are on the road every week. It all depends on your role and project. You will have some opportunity to cross-train in different departments and skill sets, or hunker down and concentrate on just one specialism - it's your choice. The vast, vast, vast majority of engineers in all departments, in all cities, are honest, hard-working, competent engineers, who can be trusted.
Cons
Airbus is a very political company, in many ways. To get almost anything done requires you to play political games. If you are a techie, who just wants to get the job done, this will be very frustrating. A LOT of managers find their way into the position because they are naturally manipulative, or not technically competent, or VERY technically competent but can't get a better salary unless they go for a manager's position (where they are not so competent). The Peter Principle. The general salary and career progression system encourages mediocrity. They certainly don't want stupid engineers, but they also don't want you to be too bright and ambitious either, because then you are harder to control and manage. They want nice, average, dependable, unassuming engineers who don't rock the boat. Ever. So if you arrive on the scene full of ideas and enthusiam, they will smile and pat you on the back . . . . . and then slowly beat it out of you. At least that's how it feels. Everntually you will be so disillusioned that you will look for the exit, but by then you might be too attached yo your pension, so you stay.
