Senior 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 Senior Electrical Engineer, you’ll play a pivotal role in shaping the design, architecture, and implementation of cutting-edge electrical systems across a diverse range of projects. Joining a growing organization, you will have the unique opportunity to mentor and guide early-career engineers while directly influencing and improving engineering processes. If you’re passionate about being a technical mentor, tackling mission-critical challenges, and driving innovation across industries, this is your chance to make a lasting impact and grow in a dynamic environment.

What You Will Do:

• Own the technical direction of project teams ranging from 3-10 engineers, aligning different disciplines towards shared solutions 
• Mentor early-career engineers, dedicating 30-50% of your time to skill development and feedback
• Provide technical leadership in mixed-signal design, power electronics, digital design, or electrical systems integration
• 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
• 5+ years of experience designing custom electronics, with a track record of developing high-performance electronic products or systems.
• Proven ability to lead project teams and deliver complex hardware design projects
• Experience mentoring early-career engineers and facilitating their technical growth
• Excellent 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

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 
• 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 $151,100-$183,400 + 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
• Electric Vehicle (EV) charging ports
• Daily catered lunches, snacks, and accessible kitchen

Additional Requirements: 

• Applicant must be willing to work 40 hours a week on-site in El Segundo, California, 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.