Senior Systems 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:
We are seeking a creative Senior Systems Engineer to join our firm and take on the pivotal role of a high-fidelity translator. In this position, you will operate at the critical front-end of our product development lifecycle, bridging the gap between client vision and engineering execution. You will act as the technical lead across multiple projects and will transform clients’ ambitious business objectives into creative, coherent architectures and concrete requirements. The ideal candidate is a T-shaped professional with deep expertise in electrical engineering, a passion for systems thinking, and who thrives on seeing their direct impact on mission-critical projects.

What You Will Do:

• Act as the primary technical interface for customers from initial qualification through architectural design review, leveraging consultative problem-solving strategies to capture a client's true underlying needs
• Translate high level client goals into high-level system architectures that balance technical, cost, and schedule constraints
• Define clear, concise, and verifiable requirements that form the technical baseline for the engineering team. A key outcome is a successfully negotiated and agreed-upon scope that creates mutual value for both the client and the firm
• Support the growth of early-career engineers by providing mentorship, cultivating systems thinking, helping them develop more robust problem-solving strategies, and fostering a collaborative, constructive feedback centered environment that raises the bar for quality and execution across the company
• Tackle complex, early-stage challenges by identifying technical risks, developing mitigation strategies, and ensuring proposed engineering solutions are robust and buildable
• Bridge client vision and internal engineering execution to ensure seamless handovers from the architectural concept into the detailed design and implementation phases

What You Will Need:

• Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering, Physics, Mathematics, or a related field.
• 5+ years of experience in a systems engineering or hardware development role, preferably in the aerospace, medical, industrial, or consumer electronics industries.
• Demonstrated ability to apply systems engineering principles and analyze complex problems to create and define system architectures, interfaces, and requirements for new, hardware-centric products.
• Proven expertise to apply advanced concepts within a specific domain of electrical engineering (e.g., power electronics, analog/digital design, embedded systems, RF) and analyze their use in solving complex, real-world design challenges.
• Demonstrated ability to apply written and verbal communication skills to technical communication

What Would Be Useful:

• Exceptional client-facing communication skills, including experience facilitating technical workshops, leading requirements negotiations, and translating complex technical information for non-technical stakeholders

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.