Electrical Engineering Intern (Summer 2027)

Second Order Effects started in 2016 as a services firm tackling complex engineering problems from first principles. We’ve grown into a solutions firm designing and shipping complete custom electronics and systems—power electronics, RF, and control systems—across industries like aerospace, energy, and consumer products. To date, we’ve completed over 250 projects for more than 100 clients. Our designs control rocket engines, manage satellite communications, instrument fusion reactors, and are used by consumers worldwide. Recently, we’ve begun spinning out our own concepts into separate companies focused on frontier technology, including space, fusion and fission energy, and advanced vehicles.

About the role

As an Electrical Engineering Intern, you’ll take a hands-on role in designing, developing, and testing solutions for customer-facing projects. You’ll own key technical components, rapidly prototype ideas, and participate in the full hardware development lifecycle—from ideation to production. This internship is designed to accelerate your technical growth, letting you make measurable contributions while building a strong foundation in professional engineering practices.

Responsibilities

• Contribute to the design of electrical and embedded systems for customers across various industries
• Perform schematic capture, PCB layout, component selection, and electrical prototyping
• Utilize standard lab equipment (oscilloscopes, logic analyzers, multimeters, etc.) to perform board bring-up, troubleshooting, and system-level debugging
• Write and debug embedded C code or HDL (e.g., Verilog/VHDL)

Requirements

• Current enrollment in college (Electrical Engineering, Computer Science, Physics, Math, or related field)
• First or second year circuits classes and knowledge of electrical engineering fundamentals
• Familiarity with at least one programming language (e.g., Python, C, C++, R) or hardware description language (e.g., Verilog, VHDL)
• Demonstrated passion and curiosity for electrical engineering
• Strong problem-solving skills and initiative to overcome technical challenges
• Strong written and verbal technical communication skills; ability to explain design decisions and component selections

Skills

• Experience with one or more of the following: analog circuits, mixed-signal designs, embedded programming, RF, power electronics, or optical systems development
• Experience in team-based design and build projects (e.g., Formula SAE, Solar Car, CubeSat, Rover Challenge, etc.)
• Experience with analog small-signal circuit design (filters, op-amp circuits, signal conditioning) and/or power electronics designs: regulators, load drivers, supply filters, protection circuitry
• Experience with any common ECAD tool, such as Altium Designer, KiCad, Cadence, PADS, or EAGLE
• Experience with circuit simulation using LTspice, Pspice, or similar programs

Benefits

• 100% employer-paid health insurance (Medical, Dental, Vision) for employees + 50% dependent coverage
• Accrued paid time off policy, accrued sick days policy, and paid company holidays
• 401(k) retirement account with employer matching (Safe Harbor 4%)
• Housing stipend bonus
• Electric Vehicle (EV) charging ports
• Catered lunches, snacks, and accessible kitchen

Pay

$70,400 annual salary, prorated for length of internship.

Schedule

Flexible work hours and work-from-home policy.