Equipment Safety Engineer

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 do

As an Equipment Safety Engineer at Helion, you will play a critical role in ensuring the safety, compliance, and operational readiness of our rapidly scaling manufacturing and R&D environments. You'll collaborate across engineering, operations, and safety teams to ensure new and modified equipment meets rigorous design, regulatory, and performance standards. As the Equipment Safety Engineer you will also help stand up our equipment safety sign off process and support manufacturing process design. This is an onsite role that reports to the Senior EHS Manager at our Everett, WA office.

You Will

• Conduct Risk Assessments for new and modified equipment in accordance with ISO 12100 and ANSI B11 standards
• Create and stand up our equipment safety sign off process and support manufacturing process design
• Partner with engineering, operations, and vendor teams to review and approve equipment designs, ensuring safe integration and lifecycle performance
• Develop and maintain equipment safety standards, SOPs, and training programs to support safe operations
• Manage regulatory compliance and documentation, including CE marking, UL/NRTL certification, and coordination with third-party testing agencies.
• Support control system safety integration for new machinery, including safety PLCs, interlocks, and emergency stop systems
• Advise cross-functional teams on best practices for equipment design, guarding, and risk mitigation
• Provide technical leadership in machine safety engineering, helping scale Helion's equipment safety framework across new facilities and production lines

Required Skills & Experience

• Bachelor's degree in Mechanical, Electrical, Industrial, or Safety Engineering, or related field
• 5+ years of experience in equipment safety, machine design, or industrial automation within manufacturing, energy, or R&D environments
• Deep understanding of ISO 12100, ANSI B11, and OSHA 1910 Subpart O standards
• Experience with control system safety integration, including functional safety (SIL/PL) concepts
• Familiarity with CE, UL, and NRTL certification processes
• Proven ability to collaborate across disciplines to deliver safe, compliant equipment designs
• Strong analytical and communication skills with the ability to translate technical safety requirements into practical solutions
• Preferred certifications: CSP, CMSE??, T??V Functional Safety Engineer, or equivalent machine safety credential

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

$118,000 - $157,000 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.