Integration & Test Engineering Intern (Spring 2025)

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 prioritize others, build the right thing, welcome difficulty, and play the long game. Learn more at soeffects.com!

Team Overview:

The Integration and Test team (I&T) is focused on validating, integrating, verifying, and qualifying SOE designs. I&T takes ownership of end-to-end projects and works closely with project teams and customers to learn designs and use cases.  Every team member works to understand a wide variety of problems in new or legacy designs and can architect systematic means of implementing & testing solutions. Team members emphasize reusability, automation, and developing hardware and software infrastructure to serve internal and external customers as efficiently as possible.

Job Overview:

As an Integration/Test Engineering Intern, you will gain a range of hands-on test engineering experience by going through a range of test campaigns for engineering hardware in order to produce impactful results for our team and customers! During a day on the job, you can find yourself operating equipment from thermal chambers to test prototype flight hardware, testing unique electronics to verify performance, or working with our engineers to create custom equipment. 

What You Will Do:

• Report to a mentor who will be responsible for feedback and learning— mentors will also assign tasks and projects to work closely with the teams
• Execute test procedures, troubleshooting, and documentation of result
• Work with data acquisition systems and control systems to continually improve in-test data recording and usability of the systems
• Gain exposure to designing, assembling, and testing custom hardware/electrical systems for our customers
• Generate and use test systems and procedures while operating hardware under environmental tests
• Write automation and interface software in Python for testing, troubleshooting, and production checkouts

What You Will Need:

• Current enrollment in college or Bachelor's Degree (Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Computer Science, Physics, Industrial Engineering, Math, or related field)
• Programming skills with an object-oriented programming language (e.g., Python, C++, Java) and experience generating maintainable code for applications that interface with test equipment
• Basic knowledge of physics with respect to electricity, magnetism, and electronic circuits
• Curiosity and passion about electrical engineering and technology with the ability to learn and take instruction
• Excellent attention to detail, with care and consideration when handling test equipment or hardware

What Would Be Useful:

• Experience in a team-based design and build project (e.g., Formula SAE, Solar Car, CubeSat, etc.)
• Familiarity with Python and/or MATLAB for data parsing and data visualization
• Exposure to automated test systems and test equipment; experience with datalogging, and data processing software
• Experience with control system logic and interfacing with test equipment and hardware
• Familiarity with aerospace environmental testing, such as thermal cycling, vibration, shock, thermal vacuum, and EMI/EMC
• Experience with continuous testing or related high-reliability software development strategies
• Experience with Linux operating systems

Additional Requirements:

• Applicant must be available to work from January 6th, 2025 to April 25th, 2025
• Applicant must be willing to work 40 hours a week on-site i