New

Engineering Technician

El Segundo, California

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, performing evaluations, building prototypes, and bringing products to market. Our team solves high-impact problems across various 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 over 130 clients on more than 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:
SOE’s Technical Operations (TOPS) team is a multidisciplinary group that is responsible for the implementation of complex and diverse designs. From the first prototype through production and delivery, we take ownership of hardware and ensure every product meets performance, quality, and reliability standards. TOPS members take the lead on advising groups on subjects such as quality standards and Design for Manufacturing (DFM) & Assembly (DFA).

Job Overview:
As an Engineering Technician, you will partner with engineering teams to design and prototype innovation solutions, subsequently bridging the gap between engineering and hands-on execution. In this role, you will work on a variety of projects, including prototyping, low volume production, modifying designs, and testing. The execution of SOE projects often need to be learned, invented, and executed on the spot, so you must have tenacious analytical problem-solving skills and a passion for taking ownership of tasks and carrying them through project completion. Your experience will help to build out our capabilities through mentoring and creating process improvements.

What You Will Do:

  • Translate detailed technical specifications into manufacturable hardware and scalable processes
  • Support the full product lifecycle from New Product Introduction (NPI) through Final Assembly Test and Pack Out (FATP), including bring-up activities and production scaling
  • Inspect, solder, and assemble PCBAs, wiring harnesses, electro-mechanical, systems, and electronic components, ensuring compliance with quality and traceability requirements 
  • Conduct quality control inspections, create manufacturing documentation, and manage material tracking systems, logistics, and inventory flow
  • Maintain, calibrate, and troubleshoot lab equipment (tools, oscilloscopes, power supplies, E-loads, etc.) while cultivating safe work practices 
  • Perform secondary operations, reworks, and repairs as needed

What You Will Need:

  • High school diploma or GED with:
    • Some application of technical skills outside of the classroom (examples: laboratory, research, extracurricular project teams, volunteering, personal projects, or internships) 
    • Associate's/Bachelor's Degree or Trade School certification
      • OR 5+ years of experience in a professional or Military technical role (please submit Military Occupational Specialty (MOS) document if this applies to you)
  • Expertise with testing electronic systems and familiarity with environmental test systems
  • Experience with soldering surface mount (SMT) and through hole components down to 0201 package size
  • Proficiency in constructing flight quality wire harnesses
  • Ability to read, understand, and edit technical drawings & reports and identify trends in failure modes
  • Proficiency in creating process, technical instructions, and documentation for engineering systems    
  • Experience with manufacturing processes (e.g., PCB fabrication, PCBA manufacturing, machining, conformal coat, etc.)

What Would Be Useful:

  • Bachelor’s Degree in a STEM field with experience applying skills outside of the classroom and equivalent technical certifications (IPC CID, CID+)
  • Understanding of cross-disciplinary engineering interactions (Hardware, Mechanical, Firmware, Software) and Design for Manufacturing (DFM/DFA) principles
  • Experience with automated test systems, qualification testing for aerospace/automotive industries, and advanced manufacturing processes
  • Knowledge of quality management systems (ISO 9001, AS9100), lean manufacturing, and statistical process control
  • Familiarity with export control regulations, industry standards (MIL-STD, DO-160), and ERP/MES systems

 Benefits

  • Compensation range of $70,490-$97,110 + 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.

Equal Opportunity Employer
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.

Create a Job Alert

Interested in building your career at Second Order Effects? Get future opportunities sent straight to your email.

Apply for this job

*

indicates a required field

Resume/CV*

Accepted file types: pdf, doc, docx, txt, rtf

Cover Letter

Accepted file types: pdf, doc, docx, txt, rtf

Education

Select...
Select...
Select...
Select...
Select...
Select...
Select...
Select...

To conform to U.S. Government space technology export regulations, including the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR) 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.

Select...
Portfolio

Accepted file types: pdf, doc, docx, txt, rtf

Attach additional content you'd like us to review with your application.

If applicable, please submit a Military Occupational Specialty (MOS) document.

Accepted file types: pdf, doc, docx, txt, rtf

Voluntary Self-Identification

For government reporting purposes, we ask candidates to respond to the below self-identification survey. Completion of the form is entirely voluntary. Whatever your decision, it will not be considered in the hiring process or thereafter. Any information that you do provide will be recorded and maintained in a confidential file.

As set forth in Second Order Effects’s Equal Employment Opportunity policy, we do not discriminate on the basis of any protected group status under any applicable law.

Select...
Select...
Race & Ethnicity Definitions

If you believe you belong to any of the categories of protected veterans listed below, please indicate by making the appropriate selection. As a government contractor subject to the Vietnam Era Veterans Readjustment Assistance Act (VEVRAA), we request this information in order to measure the effectiveness of the outreach and positive recruitment efforts we undertake pursuant to VEVRAA. Classification of protected categories is as follows:

A "disabled veteran" is one of the following: a veteran of the U.S. military, ground, naval or air service who is entitled to compensation (or who but for the receipt of military retired pay would be entitled to compensation) under laws administered by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs; or a person who was discharged or released from active duty because of a service-connected disability.

A "recently separated veteran" means any veteran during the three-year period beginning on the date of such veteran's discharge or release from active duty in the U.S. military, ground, naval, or air service.

An "active duty wartime or campaign badge veteran" means a veteran who served on active duty in the U.S. military, ground, naval or air service during a war, or in a campaign or expedition for which a campaign badge has been authorized under the laws administered by the Department of Defense.

An "Armed forces service medal veteran" means a veteran who, while serving on active duty in the U.S. military, ground, naval or air service, participated in a United States military operation for which an Armed Forces service medal was awarded pursuant to Executive Order 12985.

Select...

Voluntary Self-Identification of Disability

Form CC-305
Page 1 of 1
OMB Control Number 1250-0005
Expires 04/30/2026

Why are you being asked to complete this form?

We are a federal contractor or subcontractor. The law requires us to provide equal employment opportunity to qualified people with disabilities. We have a goal of having at least 7% of our workers as people with disabilities. The law says we must measure our progress towards this goal. To do this, we must ask applicants and employees if they have a disability or have ever had one. People can become disabled, so we need to ask this question at least every five years.

Completing this form is voluntary, and we hope that you will choose to do so. Your answer is confidential. No one who makes hiring decisions will see it. Your decision to complete the form and your answer will not harm you in any way. If you want to learn more about the law or this form, visit the U.S. Department of Labor’s Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs (OFCCP) website at www.dol.gov/ofccp.

How do you know if you have a disability?

A disability is a condition that substantially limits one or more of your “major life activities.” If you have or have ever had such a condition, you are a person with a disability. Disabilities include, but are not limited to:

  • Alcohol or other substance use disorder (not currently using drugs illegally)
  • Autoimmune disorder, for example, lupus, fibromyalgia, rheumatoid arthritis, HIV/AIDS
  • Blind or low vision
  • Cancer (past or present)
  • Cardiovascular or heart disease
  • Celiac disease
  • Cerebral palsy
  • Deaf or serious difficulty hearing
  • Diabetes
  • Disfigurement, for example, disfigurement caused by burns, wounds, accidents, or congenital disorders
  • Epilepsy or other seizure disorder
  • Gastrointestinal disorders, for example, Crohn's Disease, irritable bowel syndrome
  • Intellectual or developmental disability
  • Mental health conditions, for example, depression, bipolar disorder, anxiety disorder, schizophrenia, PTSD
  • Missing limbs or partially missing limbs
  • Mobility impairment, benefiting from the use of a wheelchair, scooter, walker, leg brace(s) and/or other supports
  • Nervous system condition, for example, migraine headaches, Parkinson’s disease, multiple sclerosis (MS)
  • Neurodivergence, for example, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), autism spectrum disorder, dyslexia, dyspraxia, other learning disabilities
  • Partial or complete paralysis (any cause)
  • Pulmonary or respiratory conditions, for example, tuberculosis, asthma, emphysema
  • Short stature (dwarfism)
  • Traumatic brain injury
Select...

PUBLIC BURDEN STATEMENT: According to the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 no persons are required to respond to a collection of information unless such collection displays a valid OMB control number. This survey should take about 5 minutes to complete.