Staff Electrical Engineer (High Speed Digital)

Company Overview:

SOE is an engineering consulting firm that specializes in electrical, electromechanical, and embedded systems. Founded in 2016, we have 30+ engineers across offices in El Segundo, CA and Redmond, WA. In that time, we've completed over 250 projects for more than 100 clients. Our designs control rocket engines, manage satellite communications, instrument fusion reactors, and are enjoyed by consumers around the world.

We approach problems from first principles. We break challenges down to their most fundamental components, which is how we find solutions that hold up across industries, use cases, and engineering functions. We focus on solving the right problems and building the teams to take them on. Because we believe that training and empowering others yields a greater impact than focusing on developing any specific technology, we expect every single member of our team to participate in building up those around them.

In the past two years, we've generated a new avenue of growth. We've started taking our own internal concepts and incubating separate companies that we believe will meet the emerging needs of our clients and the industry at large. We currently have two of these companies in stealth that our team is actively working on, one in nuclear energy and one in space telecommunications.

Information about SOE's mission, vision, and values can be found here.

Examples of the projects SOE has worked on can be found here.

Job Overview:

We are looking for a High Speed Digital Electrical Engineer to work across client programs that demand hardware performing at the edge of what is commercially possible.

This is a hands-on design role. You will own high-speed digital PCB design, signal integrity, and FPGA development across a range of programs - from space avionics and optical communication systems to power electronics and embedded computing platforms. No two programs are identical, and you will bring the same first-principles rigor to each one.

You will work alongside engineers who have shipped flight hardware and know what it takes to close a design in a real program environment. You will have direct client exposure, ownership over your technical deliverables, and access to programs that rarely show up at larger firms.

As SOE grows our incubation model, high-speed digital engineering sits at the center of the most technically demanding programs we take on. This role is a direct line into that work.

Key Responsibilities:

• High Speed Digital Design
  •  Support high speed electrical architecture from concept generation through investigation including key trades, requirement definition, investigations and component selection.
  • Own signal integrity from component selection and schematic capture through layout and post-route simulation: impedance control, differential pair routing, crosstalk analysis, and eye diagram verification.
  • Work with power electronics engineers to inform and design power delivery networks for high-performance ASICs, FPGAs, and multi-channel memory; close power budgets from system architecture through regulator selection and decoupling strategy
  • Develop and execute high-speed board bring-up: BERT testing, TDR characterization, eye mask compliance, and EMC pre-compliance
  • Design in Altium; produce layout-ready packages with full design rule documentation for contract manufacturing
    
• Space Qualification & EMI/EMC
  • Incorporate environmental requirements across programs: radiation tolerance, thermal cycling, vibration, shock, and vacuum outgassing where applicable
  • Select and qualify components for space-grade or radiation-tolerant operation; manage parts lists and evaluate COTS mitigation strategies
  • Select and implement best design practices that minimize the down-stream risk of test failures from EMI/EMC. Familiar with industry standards such as STD-461, DO-160, and MIL-STD-461.
  • Author and maintain design specifications, interface control documents, and test procedures at the level demanding programs require
    
• Client & Team Collaboration
  • Work directly with clients to translate system requirements into board-level hardware specifications
  • Contribute to technical reviews (PDR, CDR) as both a presenter and reviewer across programs
  • Support junior engineers through design reviews and hands-on mentorship
  • Contribute to SOE's internal body of knowledge: reusable design patterns, documentation standards, and lessons learned
    

Minimum Qualifications:

• Bachelor's Degree (Electrical Engineering, Computer Science, Physics, Math, or related field)
• 5+ years of applied experience with a demonstrated passion for engineering and technology development
• Experience with high-speed test equipment and debug tools: BERT, VNA, TDR, high-bandwidth oscilloscopes (20 GHz+), and logic analyzers. 
• Excellent written and verbal technical communication skills; ability to explain technical concepts and their implications to non-technical audiences
• A systems-thinking approach, with the ability to connect engineering execution to business strategy.
• A proven track record of leading technical initiatives, mentoring engineers, and driving process improvements.
• A bias for action, thriving in a fast-paced consulting environment where priorities can shift quickly.
• Willingness to be deeply involved in both high-level strategy and hands-on technical execution.
  

Preferred Qualifications:

• 10+ years of relevant experience
• Experience designing electronics for space-qualified or radiation-tolerant applications, including component derating, single-event effects (SEE) analysis, or environmental test campaigns (thermal vacuum, vibration, shock)
• Familiarity with 400G/800G Ethernet architectures, PAM4 signaling, or co-packaged optics interfaces
• Experience with power integrity analysis tools and multi-phase VRM design for high-current, fast-transient loads
• Background in optical communication systems or the electrical interface between high-speed digital hardware and analog RF or opto-electronic signal chains
• EMI/EMC test experience to MIL-STD-461 or DO-160
• Experience with business development, sales engineering, or technical sales to support the CEO in client engagements.
• Prior work in an engineering consulting or services-based firm, understanding the nuances of client-driven project work.
• Understanding of operations, finance, or project management, helping streamline engineering execution at a business level.
• A history of patents, publications, or open-source contributions, demonstrating thought leadership in the field.
  

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 ITAR projects
• Job Type: Full-time (Salary)

ITAR Requirements:

• 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. Unfortunately, we are unable to provide sponsorship at this time.
  

Benefits:

• Salary range dependent on leveling
  • Senior Engineer: $155,00- $200,000
  • Staff Engineer: $195,000 - $235,000
  • Principal Engineer: $235,000 - $270,000
• Equity (via ISOs) in Second Order Effects, Inc.
• Equity (via PIUs) in our incubated companies (through our holding company, Second Order Holdings, LLC)
• 100% employer-paid health insurance (Medical, Dental, Vision) for employees + 50% dependent coverage
• Flexible paid time off policy + 11 paid holidays + 12 paid sick days
• 401(k) retirement account and employer matching (Safe Harbor 4%)
• Up to 22 weeks of paid parental leave dedicated to new child bonding
• Relocation assistance available if 50+ miles away from the office
• Electric Vehicle (EV) charging ports
• Daily catered lunches, snacks, and accessible kitchen
• & more!

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.