Rotational Operations Program

Company OverviewSecond Order Effects started in 2016 as a services firm, taking on other companies’ hardest engineering problems from first principles. We grew into a solutions firm that designs and ships complete custom electronics and systems, including power electronics, RF, and control systems. 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 year, we’ve started taking our own concepts and spinning them out into separate companies that we believe will meet the emerging needs of our clients and the industry at large. The work is concentrating in frontier technology, including space, fusion and fission energy, and advanced vehicles. We currently have two spinout companies in stealth that we’re working on.Information about our mission, vision, and values can be found here.Examples of the projects we have worked on can be found here.The RoleThe Rotational Operations Program is a 24-month track for new or recent graduates who are looking to develop a robust operational toolkit and develop clarity on their own goals and interests. Because we're both an engineering solutions firm and a technical incubator, the operators in this role will get exposure to problems most new grads don't see until years into their career: developing operational infrastructure, raising capital, standing up legal entities, building go-to-market from scratch, and managing supply chains for hardware that doesn't exist yet.You'll rotate through three 8-month assignments across SOE's core functions, working directly with the operators who run them. By the end of each rotation, you will confidently be able to stand up and operate the core work of that function and will have delivered a major infrastructure effort or external deliverable. You will report directly to functional leadership and interface regularly with the executive team.At the end of 24 months, you'll be positioned for one of two paths:Move into a permanent role at SOE or one of our portfolio companies, with more context on the business than anyone else at your level.Move into your next role elsewhere (whether corporate strategy, ops, business school, or a startup you want to build yourself) with a concrete, well-rounded operating skill set and real, results oriented work to point to.Available RotationsFinance & Modeling: Build and maintain financial models, support budgeting and forecasting, help prepare board and investor materials, get exposure to how a portfolio of companies at different stages actually manages cash and runway.People Ops & Recruiting: Develop, improve, and implement first principles based policies and programs, facilitate the recruiting pipeline for key roles end to end (sourcing, screening, interview coordination), and support employee programing from onboarding to offboarding.Business Development & Client Success: Interface directly with clients ranging from high profile fortune 500's to solo startup operators. Develop proficiency in pipeline management, proposal development, account relationships, and program success, all while developing your own network and understanding of engineering development.Product & Marketing: Work on positioning, content, and go-to-market execution for SOE and portfolio companies. Get exposure to how a technical consulting firm and its spinouts communicate value to very different audiences. Learn to measure market response and pivot rapidly to deliver results.Biz Ops & Supply Chain: Get into the operational mechanics that keep hardware-adjacent projects moving (vendor management, logistics, and procurement) and the operational problem-solving that doesn't show up in a pitch deck but determines whether things actually ship. Legal, Contracting & Compliance: Support contract review and triage, NDA processing, IP documentation and protection, entity and compliance housekeeping across SOE and its portfolio companies, and get early exposure to how a company protects itself as it scales.Custom: Let us know what you want to learn, and we'll do our best to scope work that allows you to develop proficiency in that function. Minimum RequirementsBachelor's Degree (Business, Psychology, Economics, Computer Science, Physics, Math, or related field) or equivalent experienceDemonstrated ability to manage multiple priorities and deliver under ambiguity (coursework, prior internships, campus leadership, or work experience all count)Proficiency with core productivity tools (Excel/Sheets, Word/Docs, presentation software) at a level sufficient to produce professional deliverables without heavy oversightWillingness and ability to relocate to the El Segundo area for the duration of the programEligible to work on ITAR projectsAuthorized to work in the U.S. without current or future sponsorshipPreferred RequirementsPrior internship, co-op, or part-time work experience in any of the six rotation areas (finance, recruiting/HR, business development, product/marketing, operations/supply chain, or legal/compliance)Coursework or independent projects involving financial modeling, data analysis, or basic scripting (Excel modeling, SQL, Python, or similar)Experience in a fast-paced, resource-constrained environment: a startup, small business, family operation, or founder-run student organizationExposure to hardware, deep tech, or space/telecom industriesTrack record of self-directed learning: picking up a new tool, process, or subject area quickly without a formal training programITAR RequirementsTo 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.BenefitsSalary range of $71,900 – $107,850 dependent on previous experience and educationEquity (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 coverageFlexible paid time off policy + 11 paid holidays + 12 paid sick days401(k) retirement account and employer matching (Safe Harbor 4%)Up to 22 weeks of paid parental leave dedicated to new child bondingRelocation assistance available if 50+ miles away from the officeElectric Vehicle (EV) charging ports at our LAX officeDaily catered lunches, snacks, and accessible kitchenIf 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.