R&D Manager - Development Operations
Helion Energy
Company Overview
Helion Energy
Everett, WA, United States
2013
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).
Last updated on Feb 23, 2026 | Report an issue
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 $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
As the R&D Manager of Development Operations, you will manage a diverse team of R&D engineers with a broad array of technical backgrounds and expertise, whose mission is to collaboratively support the development, testing, and delivery of the technology needed to provide fusion energy to the world.
Your team works closely with all other technical organizations including Engineering, Production, Radiation and Nuclear Safety, and Science. R&D Dev Ops engineers drive testing and development initiatives needed to close and validate engineering designs and advance next generation technologies. Projects range from pulsed HV testing of electromagnets to materials characterization in high radiation environments. You will report to our R&D manager, onsite at our Everett, WA office.
You Will
- Oversee the design and execution of technology test and development initiatives, allocating engineering bandwidth and ownership as needed to ensure the team is delivering testing results on time and to sufficient rigor.
- Partner with peer leaders to drive cross-functional development initiatives, setting the standard for effective collaboration and ensuring communication across teams meets a high bar.
- Champion your team's initiatives with senior leaders, clearly articulating their value and securing stakeholder alignment and buy-in.
- Support individual contributors in their career growth, guiding development of both technical and soft skills.
- Proactively identify resource constraints and scale the team through targeted hiring and growth to ensure mission success.
Required Skills
- B.S. in Engineering and 8+ years or M.S. with 4+ years of relevant experience
- Minimum 2+ years managing engineers doing technology testing and development
- Experience using first principles thinking to develop test initiatives, perform root cause failure analysis, and solve complex technical problems
- Proven track record of delivering technology testing and development results
- Experienced at driving rapid iterative testing to inform design
- Excellent communication skills that drive effective cross-team collaboration
- Ability to anticipate, strategically plan for and grow a team to meet the needs of future scope
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: $150K - $200K
Apply now
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Apply now
Job expired?Please let Helion Energy know you found this job on Rejobs. This will help us grow and get more people to work on renewable energy!
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About the role
April 30, 2026
Full time
Company
- Everett, United States
8+ years or 4+ years with a Master's degree
UTC-07:00
