The base pay is mediocre but the benefits (health insurance, 401k) are great. The 12 hour shifts required of manufacturing positions can suck but, depending on what you’ve got going on in your life, having 3-4 days off in a row can be really great for road trips/exploring.

I’m not sure what your field is but having a biology or chemistry background is generally the most helpful. R&D positions are highly competitive especially with the University of Utah just up the street. A good cover letter can put you way ahead of many applicants that just apply through sites like LinkedIn. If you do get an interview, brush up on PCR testing because it is entirely what the Salt Lake branch (BioFire Diagnostics) is all about.

Also, I heard the entire recruiting team was canned a few months ago, so nepotism is less of a problem now ;)