I worked part time at LBNL in Berkeley for a few years around 2000, writing software and working closely with physicists (related to my PhD/postdoc work).
The fact that they would hire me half time (with benefits) should already say something positive about the place. It's a beautiful location and they have fascinating things going on. Sadly, I was laid off after a few years during a RIF, but got hired back six months later as a consultant (for more $$), which set me on quite a good career path for awhile after that.
I think the national labs (and similar scientist/engineer positions at universities) can be a good option compared to industry jobs, if you can find them and your salary requirements aren't too high. You generally don't have to teach, though depending on where you are, they may like to see academic-adjacent measures of progress like publications, talks, etc. My experience involved far less corporate-style BS than I later experienced in industry, but some very big egos. YMMV.
Good luck w/ your change of pace, I hope it goes well for you.
The fact that they would hire me half time (with benefits) should already say something positive about the place. It's a beautiful location and they have fascinating things going on. Sadly, I was laid off after a few years during a RIF, but got hired back six months later as a consultant (for more $$), which set me on quite a good career path for awhile after that.
I think the national labs (and similar scientist/engineer positions at universities) can be a good option compared to industry jobs, if you can find them and your salary requirements aren't too high. You generally don't have to teach, though depending on where you are, they may like to see academic-adjacent measures of progress like publications, talks, etc. My experience involved far less corporate-style BS than I later experienced in industry, but some very big egos. YMMV.
Good luck w/ your change of pace, I hope it goes well for you.