Senior Manager of People Operations

We are a fusion power company based in Everett, WA, with the mission to build the world's first fusion power plant, enabling a future with unlimited clean electricity. Our vision is a world with clean, reliable, and affordable energy for everyone.

Since Helion's founding in 2013, we have raised over $1 billion from long-time investors such as Sam Altman, Mithril, and Capricorn Investment Group as well as new investors SoftBank and Lightspeed to propel us forward. Our last prototype, Trenta, completed 10,000 high-power pulses and reached plasma temperatures of 100 million degrees Celsius (9 keV). We are now operating Polaris, our next prototype on the path to the world's first fusion power plant.

This is a pivotal time to join Helion. You will tackle real-world challenges with a team that prizes urgency, rigor, ownership, and a commitment to delivering hard truths – values essential to achieving what no one has before. Together, we will change the future of energy, because the world can't wait.

What You Will Be Doing

You will lead the team responsible for building and scaling people programs that power our mission. From onboarding to offboarding, benefits to systems, you will ensure our programs are delivered with urgency, built to scale, and executed with rigor. You will also play a key role in shaping our people infrastructure—helping us create a best-in-class employee experience that supports Helion’s growth. You will report to the Director of People Operations and Talent and this is an onsite role located at our Everett, WA office.

You Will

• Lead a team of People experts driving programs across the entire employee lifecycle—from onboarding to offboarding
• Own the design and execution of core programs including performance management, engagement, recognition, and total rewards
• Oversee compliance, policy, payroll, and benefits with a focus on operational rigor and employee experience
• Build and optimize systems, workflows, and processes to support scale, automation, and accuracy
• Design and deliver high-impact L&D and manager development initiatives to grow leadership and core capabilities
• Partner cross-functionally to ensure People programs are aligned, adopted, and drive meaningful impact
• Use data to evaluate program effectiveness, guide decisions, and iterate quickly
• Stay ahead of evolving workforce trends, compliance needs, and HR tech to ensure we’re future-ready

Required Skills

• 10+ years of experience in the People function, with 3+ years in a leadership role
• Experience across multiple areas of People Operations, including compensation, compliance, L&D, total rewards, and more
• Strong program and stakeholder management skills—able to drive complex, cross-functional initiatives from idea to execution
• Skilled in implementing and managing HR tech systems, with a process-oriented and systems-thinking approach
• Experience using data to build reporting infrastructure and improve programs over time
• Proven success leading and scaling people programs in high-growth or startup environments

Total Compensation and Benefits

Helion's compensation package includes a competitively benchmarked base salary, meaningful equity grants, and comprehensive benefits. Final compensation is determined through a holistic evaluation of your experience, qualifications, and our commitment to internal equity - ensuring fairness and transparency across our teams. We are committed to fostering a fair and equitable environment in every aspect of our operations, including compensation.

This is an exempt salaried role.

Annual Base Pay

$170,000 - $195,000 USD

Benefits

Our total compensation package includes benefits, including but not limited to:

• Medical, Dental, and Vision plans for employees and their families
• 31 Days of PTO (21 vacation days and 10 sick days)
• 10 Paid holidays, plus company-wide winter break
• Up to 5% employer 401(k) match
• Short term disability, long term disability, and life insurance
• Paid parental leave and support (up to 16 weeks)
• Annual wellness stipend

Helion is an equal opportunity employer and value diversity at our company. We do not discriminate based on race, religion, color, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, or disability status. If you need assistance or an accommodation during the interview process, please let us know.