Deputy Director of State Affairs

Job Description

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 $600 million from investors such as Sam Altman, Mithril, and Capricorn Investment Group 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).

Now we are working toward Polaris, which will be the first machine to demonstrate electricity from fusion, making this a great time to join Helion! Bring your skills, experiences, and determination to make a difference in the world. Together, we can make a future with unlimited clean electricity from fusion a reality.

What You Will Be Doing

The Deputy Director of State Affairs will help advance the Helion's legislative and regulatory agenda. The initial focus will be in the state of Washington, with the scope expanding to several additional states throughout 2025. This role is ideal for someone with a interest in regulatory affairs, and clean energy. You will report to the Director of Public Affairs and sit in our Everett, WA location.

You Will

• Develop and implement strategies to achieve state-level policy and regulatory objectives
• Engage with regulatory bodies and other partners in Washington and, progressively, in other NRC agreement states
• Analyze state regulatory developments and provide recommendations
• Support the site selection process by assessing regulatory environments and engaging with local partners
• Prepare and deliver briefing materials, presentations, and reports on regulatory and policy issues
• Foster relationships with state government officials, industry groups, and policy makers
• Coordinate with other teams to ensure a unified approach to external engagement

Required Skills

• Bachelor’s degree in Public Affairs, Political Science, Law, or related field
• Experience with public affairs, policy advocacy, or regulatory affairs at the state level
• Understanding of the legislative and regulatory process in Washington and other NRC agreement states
• Excellent legal writing, negotiation, and communication skills
• Ability to travel to support policy and regulatory objectives
• Demonstrated experience managing and keeping organized complex legal projects
• Operate within high pressure environments

The pay range for this position is $100-160k. This pay range may be inclusive of several career levels and will be narrowed based on several factors, including the candidate’s experience and qualifications.

Benefits and Compensation

Our total compensation package includes generous equity and 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)
• 13 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

NOTE: Underrepresented people are less likely to apply unless they meet 100% of the job's requirements. We believe in hiring people, not checklists, and encourage you to apply even if you do not check all of the boxes. If this job isn't the one, we have many other openings that may be a fit.

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, disability, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, veteran status, or genetic information. If we reach out to you to begin an interview process, we will also ask if you require any reasonable accommodation at that time.