Principal Materials Scientist, Ceramic Materials

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 contribute to the development of new ceramic materials, driving efforts in design, prototyping, testing, and scale-up to meet the demands of extreme environments. You will report to the Director of Materials Science, in this onsite role located at our Everett, WA office.

You Will

• Own a strategic technical domain to develop new ceramics materials that can withstand fusion generator conditions including high neutron radiation. Define technical roadmaps and risk plans.
• Contribute to the delivery of Helion's inorganic materials needs such as plasma containment vessels, insulators, and resistors.
• Take ownership of ceramics at Helion, acting as subject matter expert across the company.
• Operate in an environment with obstacles and changing requirements. Balance risks without compromising the delivery.
• Partner with other internal Helion teams, external vendors, national laboratories, and universities to gather the required capabilities. Develop your network and represent Helion at technical meetings and conferences

Required Skills

• A professional understanding of ceramic materials and demonstrated broad achievements of performing R&D for ceramic currently used in commercial products or integral to large, single-unit projects (e.g., a large engine or turbine project).
• 15+ years of materials-related industry experience, including experience delivering projects cradle-to-grave (including design reviews) for commercial products.
• Experience leading and planning R&D efforts guided by a milestone schedule.
• Hands-on experience with material testing and characterization. Desired-not-required: experience with radiation effects testing and characterization.
• The ideal candidate would have a bias for action, know how to execute with urgency and favor learning through rapid prototyping.

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.

Compensation Range: $236K - $272K