Jobs at First Order Effects

Lead end-to-end Pacific Rim defense business development: convert pursuits into captures via FMS pathway, build U.S. Embassy ODC and host-nation defense relationships, author country-specific capture plans, and travel in-region (30%+) to advance and close contracts.

Design and own high-power inverter and DC/DC conversion stages end-to-end: topology, device selection (MOSFET/GaN/SiC), gate drives, magnetics, thermal, EMI/EMC, and ruggedization. Take converters from schematic through prototype, bring-up, and real-load testing; collaborate on control loops with firmware; select components and define protections for maritime and expeditionary deployments.

Hands-on operations engineering internship building, integrating, testing, and deploying hardware systems. Own projects end-to-end, write and run test procedures, source parts and manage supply chain, and improve tooling/processes to unblock engineers. Work is on-site and may include waterfront field tests and fast-paced seed-stage responsibilities.

Design and own LFP battery packs and BMS from cell selection through mechanical, thermal, and safety design. Implement cell monitoring, balancing, protection, and state estimation; integrate with power electronics and firmware. Lead build, test, and abuse testing, and qualify vendors and cells to applicable battery standards.

Lead design and delivery of a containerized deployable dock: size and analyze maritime structures, design hinges/latches/actuation, address corrosion and fatigue, drive fabrication and vendor relationships, and oversee in-water deployments.

Own full-cycle technical recruiting for hardware, defense, and deep-tech roles. Build proactive sourcing pipelines, stand up Ashby ATS and metrics, partner with founders to define scorecards, close senior engineers and skilled technicians, and manage candidate experience and offers while meeting ITAR/EAR hiring constraints and Austin on-site requirements.

Design and implement firmware for MCUs and embedded Linux to control power systems: real-time sequencing, telemetry, safety interlocks, drivers, deterministic timing, and hardware debugging. Establish toolchain, HIL, build systems, and interfaces to inverters and batteries for reliable fielded systems.