Technical Project Manager

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 250+ 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 Programs team drives project success across SOE with energy and expertise. We support a variety of projects that keep our work challenging, but engaging. Our team strives to unite stakeholders around shared objectives, accurately forecast project trajectories, and collaborate with technical experts to enable our clients success. Beyond project execution, we're passionate about creating an environment where everyone at SOE can develop their skills and grow professionally. We bring enthusiasm to our work while maintaining the focus and precision needed to consistently deliver results.

Job Overview:
As a Technical Project Manager you will be collaborating with a passionate and talented engineering team to untangle the complex web of customer needs, company resources, and the laws of physics. You could be working on next generation spacecraft, technology on the forefront of green energy, best in class consumer products, or any of our other high impact projects. In this role, you will engage with new challenges in unfamiliar fields, where your ability to learn quickly, adapt, and communicate complex topics will be crucial to team success.

What You Will Do:

• Foster accountability with engineers and other team members to ensure successful and on-time project deliveries  
• Evaluate a variety of stakeholder perspectives and use that understanding to facilitate client and internal communication, including conversations on scope, timeline and budget, with the goal of achieving consensus and alignment across SOE and customer teams
• Manage team morale, stress, and time in order to maintain a healthy project culture and client relationship
• Forecast project performance, identify risks, and manage budgets, resourcing, and schedules across multiple projects 
• Partner with SOE’s Business Development (BD) team to create project plans & estimates to capture new business  
• Learn the technology being developed on projects you manage 

What You Will Need:

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Physics, Computer Science, Math, or a related field
• 2-5+ years of experience managing engineering projects
• Proficiency in at least one engineering discipline (Electrical, Mechanical, Systems, Integration & Test, etc.)
• Experience working as an individual contributor (IC) on engineering projects 
• Familiarity with the labor breakdown and execution of engineering projects and project planning
• Proactive communicator with excellent verbal and written abilities on technical topics
• Curiosity about engineering and a passion for tackling diverse technical challenges
• Ability to identify project risk, scope creep, and missing critical requirements
• High level of organization and responsiveness

What Would Be Useful:

• Experience in startup, tech, or consulting environments, managing multiple responsibilities simultaneously
• Navigate ambiguous situations and deliver difficult information to senior leadership, employees and clients
• Experience developing internal project management tools, policies, and best practices 
• Familiarity with formal project accounting and reporting

Benefits: 

• Compensation range of $107,900-$161,850 + 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.