Company D: A fortress undisturbed: Here the research engineers are well insulated from distracting pressures and free to pursue their interests. But is the real world too remote?

This is the fifth article in the Spectrum series on electrical-engineering work environments and the bench-level and managing engineers who work in them. Four companies-manufacturers of semiconductors, computers, military equipment, and consumer products - are the focus of the study. All were guaranteed anonymity in exchange for granting Spectrum freedom in interviewing and observing their employees at work.