Fuel Cycle Operations Lead

Join Helion Energy as a Fuel Cycle Operations Lead in Everett, USA. Oversee fuel delivery and analytics for the Polaris fusion prototype. Enjoy competitive salary, equity grants, and 31 days of PTO. Become the Fuel Cycle Operations Lead at Helion Energy in Everett, USA, and oversee the fuel delivery, recovery, and analytics for the Polaris fusion prototype. This role involves leading a multidisciplinary team, driving R&D testing for Orion, and ensuring operational excellence in tritium processing. Enjoy a competitive salary, equity grants, comprehensive benefits, and 31 days of PTO in a dynamic environment focused on clean energy solutions.

Helion Energy Everett, United States On-site Full Time USD 115k–150k yearly UTC-08:00

Helion Energy

Company Overview

Name

Helion Energy

Headquarters

Everett, WA, United States

Founded

2013

Size

Approximately 350 employees (source: linkedin.com). No public revenue figures disclosed as the company is pre-commercialization.

What They Do

Helion Energy is a pioneering private fusion energy company that specializes in magneto-inertial fusion (MIF) technology. This innovative approach combines magnetic confinement for stability with inertial confinement for heating, enabling controlled fusion reactions that utilize deuterium from water and self-generated helium-3 in a closed-fuel cycle. This technology allows for direct electricity generation without the need for steam turbines, significantly enhancing efficiency (source: tsginvest.com). The company’s flagship product, the Fusion Engine, includes notable prototypes such as Trenta, which became the first private company to achieve a fuel temperature of 100 million degrees Celsius, and the seventh-generation Polaris, which aims to demonstrate net electricity generation from fusion (source: nucnet.org). Helion targets high-demand sectors, particularly tech data centers, and has secured over 50 industrial clients, focusing on long-term power purchase agreements (PPAs) rather than hardware sales (source: vizologi.com). The company differentiates itself through its compact design, aneutronic fusion for low radioactivity, and a faster commercialization timeline compared to competitors like Commonwealth Fusion Systems (source: equityzen.com).

Projects & Track Record

While Helion Energy has not yet completed any fully commercial projects, it has made significant strides with its prototypes, Trenta and Polaris, the latter of which is operational and aims to demonstrate net electricity generation from fusion (source: tsginvest.com). The company is currently focused on the Orion fusion power plant, a 50 MW facility under construction in Chelan County, Washington, which is expected to connect to the grid by 2028. This plant will supply power to Microsoft data centers through the state's primary power networks after a one-year ramp-up period (source: nucnet.org). Helion's client base includes Microsoft, with whom they announced the world's first fusion PPA in May 2023, and they have expressed interest from other major players like OpenAI's Sam Altman for large power purchases (source: equityzen.com). The company’s geographic presence is primarily in Washington state, with future expansion linked to the Orion project and potential data center grids (source: tsginvest.com).

Recent Developments

In the past two years, Helion Energy has made notable advancements, including the announcement of a 50 MW power purchase agreement with Microsoft in May 2023 (source: equityzen.com). The company began site work on the Orion plant in Chelan County in 2025, marking a significant step towards its goal of commercial fusion energy (source: nucnet.org). Additionally, Helion raised $425 million in a Series F funding round in January 2025, achieving a valuation of $5.4 billion and bringing its total funding to over $1 billion (source: tsginvest.com). Recent milestones also include a behind-the-scenes tour of the Polaris prototype and progress towards manufacturing fusion power at scale, with the fusion market projected to reach $572.75 billion by 2032 (source: equityzen.com).

Working There

Helion Energy offers a variety of roles across research and development, engineering, plasma physics, manufacturing, and leadership positions, including scientists and executives. Departments focus on critical areas such as accelerator development, E-BEAM optics, and laboratory operations (source: vizologi.com). The company is headquartered in Everett, WA, where open positions are listed, although no current jobs were shown on Y Combinator as of the latest data. The culture at Helion emphasizes rapid iteration and a transition from academic research to commercialization, fostering a team of experts in a high-stakes environment as they work towards the 2028 deployment of their fusion technology (source: tsginvest.com). While specific employee benefits are not detailed in available sources, the private nature of the company and its substantial funding suggest competitive perks typical of tech-sector startups in Washington's innovation ecosystem (source: aceventurefunds.com).

Contact

Website · Careers · LinkedIn

Last updated on 2025-12-26 | Report an issue

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 Helion's Fuel Cycle Operations team, overseeing end-to-end fuel delivery, recovery, purification, and analytics operations that directly support Polaris, Helion's 7th fusion prototype. You'll also drive R&D testing for Orion and lead commissioning activities for next-generation fuel cycle systems. Your leadership will shape the team's operational excellence in tritium processing, system reliability, and readiness for future fuel cycle deployments. This is an onsite role that reports directly to Fuel Cycle Manager at our Everett, WA office.

You Will

Lead and develop a multidisciplinary team of operations engineers responsible for the commissioning, operation, and maintenance of fuel cycle systems supporting Polaris, including fuel management, exhaust processing, and gas analytics
Drive pilot-scale R&D programs to test, evaluate, and scale fuel cycle systems for Orion - defining testing strategies, guiding campaign execution, and translating results into design improvements and risk reduction for full-scale systems
Collaborate cross-functionally with Radiation Safety, R&D, Mechanical, Electrical, and Controls teams to ensure safe, efficient, and high-uptime operations while implementing process improvements
Establish operational excellence by developing key performance metrics, standardizing procedures and protocols, and ensuring all tritium operations remain within regulatory and safety requirements
Translate strategic goals into actionable objectives, managing month-to-month planning, schedules, and priorities to deliver reliable performance across both operational and development projects
Mentor and grow engineers, fostering technical depth, accountability, and career development

Required Skills

Bachelor's degree in Engineering or related field
5+ years of engineering experience, including 2+ years in an operations or engineering leadership role
Experience commissioning, operating, and maintaining pilot- to commercial-scale process systems
Experience managing a multidisciplinary engineering team in a fast-paced environment resulting in the on-time delivery of high-impact work
Experience balancing priorities between routine operations, maintenance, and engineering development projects
Strong record of mentorship with demonstrated ability to coach and develop engineers
Hands-on familiarity with chemical, mechanical, and fluid systems engineering
Comfort operating in a startup environment with change, ambiguity, and rapid execution

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

$115,000 - $150,000 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.