Rotational Operations Program

Job Description

Rotational Operations Program | Second Order Effects

The Tone:
This is a full-time rotational program at Second Order Effects, located in the El Segundo area. Second Order Effects started as a services firm solving complex engineering problems and has evolved into a solutions firm designing custom electronics and systems. The company also acts as a technical incubator, spinning out concepts into separate companies focused on frontier technology like space and fusion energy. This role is designed for new or recent graduates to develop a comprehensive operational toolkit, gain early exposure to high-level business challenges, and clarify their career goals, ultimately making a significant business impact across the firm and its portfolio companies.

The TL;DR
• Role: Rotational Program
• Type: Full-time
• Location: In-person El Segundo area
• Pay: $71900–$96850 yearly
• Team: Reports directly to functional leadership and interfaces regularly with the executive team.
• Mission: To develop a robust operational toolkit and clarity on personal goals by making business-level impact across the company and its spinouts.
• Tech Stack: Excel/Sheets, Word/Docs, presentation software, SQL, Python

What You’ll Actually Do
• Develop a robust operational toolkit through three 8-month assignments across various company functions.
• Collaborate directly with leadership to solve complex operational challenges, including infrastructure development, capital raising, and legal entity setup.
• Design and implement go-to-market strategies and manage supply chains for cutting-edge hardware.
• Confidently establish and operate the core work of a function, delivering a major infrastructure effort or external deliverable within each rotation.
• Gain unparalleled business context by interacting regularly with the executive team and contributing to the growth of SOE and its spinout companies.

The Must-Haves
• Background: Bachelor’s Degree (Business, Psychology, Economics, Computer Science, Physics, Math, or related field) or equivalent experience. Entry-level for new or recent graduates.
• Experience: Demonstrated ability to manage multiple priorities and deliver under ambiguity; eligible to work on ITAR projects; authorized to work in the U.S. without current or future sponsorship.
• Skills: Proficiency with core productivity tools (Excel/Sheets, Word/Docs, presentation software) at a professional level without heavy oversight.
• Bonus: Prior internship, co-op, or part-time work experience in 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 like a startup or small business; exposure to hardware, deep tech, or space/telecom industries; track record of self-directed learning.