Electrical Engineer (Generalist)

Company Overview:

Second Order Effects (SOE) is an engineering consultancy that transforms uncertainty into fully functional hardware and software. We work on projects at various stages of development and scope; we perform analysis, build prototypes, and take products to market. Our cross-disciplinary team solves critical problems across numerous industries, including automotive, aerospace, consumer electronics, industrial automation, biomedical, green energy, and marine. Our designs control rocket engines, manage satellite communications, generate safety-overrides for self-driving cars, and are enjoyed by consumers around the world.

Founded in 2016, Second Order Effects has 90+ employees (and counting!) in offices in El Segundo, California and Redmond, Washington. We've worked with 90+ clients on 250+ projects as a partner, on a retainer, or on demand, all of which have no involvement with weapons.

How do we do this? We prioritize others, build the right thing, welcome difficulty, and play the long game. Learn more at soeffects.com!

Team Overview:

The Advanced Projects team is a cross-functional, multidisciplinary group that handles requirements-driven hardware development projects. We are focused on engineering design, developing custom electronics to fulfill our clients' needs, and identifying the best components and techniques to implement the desired functionality, while emphasizing quality and reliability. Our projects tend to be larger, longer-term engagements, though team members often split time across multiple projects.

We are looking for people who know how to get things done, who are always looking to grow their capabilities and deepen their knowledge, and who challenge assumptions, constantly pushing for better solutions and finding novel approaches to problems old and new. If that sounds like you, you've come to the right place.

Job Overview:

As an Electrical Engineer (Generalist), you will find the best solutions and implementations for the problems at hand by considering both hardware- and software-based approaches. Ideally, you have a background in electronic hardware design and embedded firmware or HDL development and are an enthusiastic problem solver who can learn, invent, and execute creative solutions to drive forward difficult projects to ensure success.

(SOE also has openings for more specialized engineers, and we encourage you to apply to whichever role best suits your background and experience.)

What You Will Do:

• Drive design efforts for electronic systems, including architecture and implementation details of circuitry and software/firmware
• Perform component selection and trade studies of different implementation options to best generate and satisfy design requirements
• Capture schematics and design PCB layouts, create component symbols and footprints
• Circuit simulation and thermal analysis of designs, including sizing of thermal management systems
• Develop firmware in C/C++ for microcontrollers, or digital design in Verilog HDL for FPGAs
• Write and execute test plans for device validation and performance characterization
• Take ownership of the design, development, testing, and end-to-end technical support for projects
• Assess design risks and develop mitigation strategies
• Create documentation for hardware, software and systems
• Interface with internal teams and external clients to conduct design reviews for hardware/electronic systems and code reviews for software/firmware/HDL

What You Will Need:

• Bachelor's Degree (Electrical Engineering, Computer Science, Physics, Math, or related field)
• 3+ years of applied experience with a demonstrated passion for engineering and technology development
• Excellent written and verbal technical communication skills; ability to explain technical concepts and their implications to non-technical audiences
• Experience in any common ECAD tool, such as Altium Designer, KiCad, Cadence, PADS, EAGLE, etc.
• Experience with C/C++ firmware development or Verilog HDL development
• Experience in modeling, simulation, and testing of electronics
• Familiarity with standard digital communication methods including serial / UART, SPI, and I2C
• Expertise with one or more of the following: analog circuits, mixed-signal designs, embedded programming, RF, power electronics, or optical systems development

What Would Be Useful:

• Master’s degree (Electrical Engineering, Computer Science, Physics, Math, related field) or 5+ years of relevant experience
• Experience in team-based design and build projects (e.g., Formula SAE, Solar Car, CubeSat, Ro