Mechanical Engineering Intern (Fall 2024)

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:

As the mechanical team rapidly expands, each addition to the team has an immediate and meaningful impact on the team and company. Our work often entails learning and inventing over the course of a project, and you will be awarded support, trust, and autonomy to do so. The mechanical team is a collaborative group with a passion for wading into uncharted territories. 

Job Overview:

As a Mechanical Engineering Intern, you will be part of a core SOE team and support all of the projects by performing design and analysis of enclosures, mechanisms, and custom parts for customers. You will need to balance your creativity and technical knowledge, as innovation requires both. Ideally, you can effectively communicate technical concepts to all audiences. 

What You Will Do:

• Report to a mentor who will be responsible for candidate feedback and learning— mentors will also assign tasks and projects to work closely with the teams
• Perform mechanical system analysis and architecture on a variety of projects
• Design and analyze active and passive thermal management systems for custom electronic systems and packaging solutions
• Perform analyses on electro-mechanical components for environmental strain, such as vibe, shock, thermal, and acceleration
• Develop thermal, structural, and tolerance analyses for electro-mechanical assemblies using both hand calculations and finite element analysis (FEA)
• Test electro-mechanical assemblies and perform failure analysis of components
• Work with multidisciplinary engineering teams to design, test, and create new mechanical systems

What You Will Need:

• Current enrollment in college (Electrical Engineering, Computer Science, Physics, Math, or related field)
• First or second year circuits classes and knowledge of electrical engineering fundamentals
• Experience in modeling, simulation, and testing of electro-mechanical components or assemblies
• Familiarity with manufacturing processes, such as machining, injection molding, water jetting, electro-discharge machining, and 3D printing
• Familiarity with generating thermal models for electronic assemblies and analyzing both active and passive cooling systems

What Would Be Useful:

• Experience in team-based design and build projects (e.g., Formula SAE, Solar Car, CubeSat, Rover Challenge, etc.)
• Experience with thermal analysis of electronic devices with FEA and CFD modeling
• Experience with high-precision 3D printing processes and design for complex systems
• Proficiency in frequent use of hand calculations, finite element analyses (FEA), and computer-aided designs (CAD)
• Ability to analyze and estimate structural loading from environmental sources
• Experience with fatigue and thermal testing of electro-mechanical assemblies
• Understanding and application of GD&T
• Understanding of Electrical Engineering fundamentals and design experience with simple circuits using op amps, ICs, and discrete components

Additional Requirements:

• Applicant must be available to work for the entire duration of the internship, September 9, 2024 to December 20, 2024
• Applicant must be willing to work 40 hours a week on-site in El Segundo, California, USA
• Applicant must be eligible to work on ITAR projects (Read the requirements below)
• Job Type: Full-time (Salary)

ITAR Requirements:

• To conform to U.S. Government space technology export regulations, including th