Lead Electrical Engineer

Company Overview:
Second Order Effects (SOE) is an engineering consulting firm that transforms uncertainty into fully functional hardware and software. We work on projects at all stages of development; we perform analysis, build prototypes, and take products to market. Our team solves high-impact problems across numerous industries, including automotive, aerospace, consumer electronics, industrial automation, biomedical, and green energy. Our designs control rocket engines, manage satellite communications, instrument fusion reactors, and are enjoyed by consumers around the world. The only thing we won’t build is weapons.

Founded in 2016, Second Order Effects has 50+ employees (and counting!) in offices in El Segundo, California and Redmond, Washington. We've worked with >130 clients on > 300 projects as a partner, on retainer, or on demand.

How do we do this? We empower others, build the right thing, lead with curiosity, and own the outcome. Learn more at soeffects.com!

Job Overview:
As a Lead Electrical Engineer, you’ll help shape the design, architecture, and implementation of cutting-edge electrical systems across a diverse range of projects. Joining a growing organization, you’ll have the opportunity to guide small teams, drive quality in electrical engineering deliverables, and ensure alignment between design decisions and project goals. This position is ideal for engineers ready to take on more leadership responsibility, mentor others, and contribute to process improvement—while still staying hands-on with hardware.

What You Will Do:

• Provide technical leadership on project teams, aligning different disciplines towards shared solutions 
• Contribute to the design, architecture, prototyping, and validation of electrical systems 
• Mentor early-career engineers and interns by reviewing designs and providing feedback 
• Drive the project lifecycle from inception to customer success, ensuring alignment with customer needs
• Support business development efforts by engaging in early-stage calls and reviewing cost and labor estimates

What You Will Need:

• Bachelor's Degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Physics, Math, or a related field
• 3+ years of experience with end-to-end electronics design, including requirements generation, schematic design, board layout, design verification and acceptance testing
• Experience leading small technical teams in the delivery of complex hardware design projects 
• Strong problem-solving skills and initiative to overcome technical and non-technical challenges
• Strong communication skills to explain complex technical concepts to both technical and non-technical stakeholders
• Expertise in mixed-signal design, power electronics, digital design, or electrical systems integration

What Would Be Useful:

• Master’s degree or graduate research experience in a relevant field
• Experience in startup, tech, or consulting environments, managing multiple responsibilities simultaneously 
• Experience mentoring early-career engineers and/or engineering interns 
• Flexibility to pivot between projects and balance workload across teams 
• Passion for tackling diverse technical challenges across industries
• Experience designing PCBs for high-reliability applications (e.g., aerospace, automotive, medical)

Benefits:

• Compensation range of $129,480-$161,850 + equity incentive plan
• Flexible work hours and work from home policy 
• 100% employer-paid health insurance (Medical, Dental, Vision) for employees + 50% dependent coverage
• Unlimited paid time off policy, 11x paid company holidays, 12x paid sick days
• 401(k) retirement account and employer matching (Safe Harbor 4%)
• Generous paid parental leave
• Relocation assistance available if 50+ miles away from the office
• Daily catered lunches, snacks, and accessible kitchen

Additional Requirements: 

• Applicant must be willing to work 40 hours a week on-site in Redmond, Washington, USA
• Applicant must be eligible to work on export controlled projects
• Job Type: Full-time (Salary)

Export Control Requirements:

• To conform with U.S. Government export control regulations, including the Export Administration Regulations (EAR), you must be a U.S. citizen, lawful permanent resident of the U.S., protected individual as defined by 8 U.S.C. 1324b(a)(3), or eligible to obtain the required authorizations from the U.S. Department of State. Unfortunately, we are unable to provide sponsorship at this time.

If you don’t meet 100% of the preferred skills and experience, we encourage you to still apply!
Second Order Effects is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer; employment with SOE is governed on the basis of excellence and will not be influenced in any manner by race, color, religion, gender, national origin/ethnicity, veteran status, disability status, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, mental or physical disability, or any other legally protected status.