Senior Mechanical 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!

Team Overview:
Mechanical engineering at SOE is a growth discipline but still rooted in the pioneering spirit that has driven us from the start. From our early innovations like RF combiners featuring custom copper-tungsten elements and phased-array speakers in acoustically-optimized enclosures, the close coupling between electrical and mechanical design persists as a cornerstone of our company. As our projects become more ambitious and complex, our mechanical engineering team continues to rise to the challenge.

Being part of the mechanical engineering team is an opportunity to contribute to a dynamic, growth focused environment, where we thrive on collaboration, interdisciplinary learning, continuous personal and professional development. We take ownership of our work and support one another through that growth. We look forward to welcoming you to the team!

Job Overview:
As a Senior Mechanical Engineer, you will be part of a core SOE team and support all of the projects by designing enclosures, mechanisms, and custom parts for customers. Ideally, you are forward thinking and have solid experience carrying projects from whiteboard design through fabrication and test. Additionally, you must effectively communicate technical concepts to all audiences and balance creativity and technical foundations, as innovation requires both.

What You Will Do:

• Own the technical direction of mechanical projects, aligning different engineering disciplines (Electrical, Embedded, Integration & Test, etc.) and customers towards shared solutions 
• Guide the design, development, prototyping, and testing of mechanical systems and components, ensuring they meet all performance, quality, and safety standards
• Provide hands-on guidance to the engineering team, offering technical support, mentorship, strategic planning, resource management
• Perform complex mechanical assessments (Structural, Thermal, and Fluid Dynamics), design and model complex integrated 3D assemblies, and produce robust engineering drawings
• Partner with Business Development (BD) to identify new opportunities and scope new business

We aim to provide a profile of someone who would thrive in this role. Even if this doesn’t perfectly match your background, we encourage you to apply! SOE values diverse experiences and non-traditional career paths.

What You Will Need:

• Bachelor's Degree in Mechanical Engineering, Physics, Math, or a related field
• 7 years of experience in mechatronics engineering, including design, analysis, and project management
• Expertise in electro-mechanical systems, including kinematics, dynamics, sensors, actuators, controllers, motor-driven mechanisms, and robotics
• Strong design and spatial reasoning skills, proficiency in CAD software, GD&T frameworks, and exposure across multiple manufacturing processes such as machining, injection molding, and 3D printing
• Ability to analyze and characterize electro-mechanical systems using classical and computational methods
• Hands-on experience with microcontrollers, PLC programming, and integrating instruments  (IMUs, encoders, power systems, etc.) for control and automation
• Proven ability to manage projects, lead teams, and collaborate cross-functionally with mechanical, test, and electrical engineers
• Strong problem-solving, communication, and leadership skills to drive technical execution, optimize designs, and deliver robust, scalable solutions in a fast-paced environment

What Would Be Useful:

• Proven ability to lead team-based design and project management, working across disciplines to drive technical execution.
• Experience with firmware/embedded aspects of robotic systems, including motor controllers, ROS, and signal integration (GPIO, serial, analog, digital)
• Strong analytical skills in back-of-the-envelope calculations, FEA, and CAD modeling for design validation
• Ability to assess and estimate structural loading from environmental factors
• Experience with structural and thermal testing of electro-mechanical assemblies
• Proficiency in cabling, wiring, power, communications, and monitoring components for complex system integration

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.