R&D 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 $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

We are looking for an R&D Engineer to help bring the most powerful, controlled pulsed-fusion device ever constructed online with the goal of generating electrical power. We know this hasn't been done before, so we are looking for individuals who have translatable experience that can help us accomplish our goals. As an R&D Engineer on the Test Ops team, you will report to our Fusion Test Lead at our Everett, WA office.

You Will

• Contribute to the development of technology and knowledge of how to optimally design, build, and measure FRC fusion devices
• Control pulsed power, high-energy systems, including mega-joule capacitor systems
• Design and build or support design and build of plasma and high-energy experiments and tests
• Work with large scale vacuum systems, including vacuum cycling quartz vacuum chambers that are 1+ meters in diameter, and handle modifications
• Understand plasma physics, including how to create FRC's and how to design, build, and interpret magnetic, fusion product, and plasma diagnostics
• Control Fusion generators using LabView-based control systems and PXIe-NI chassis-based systems, and solve data collection problems in a fast-pulse EMI environment
• Use critical reasoning to identify strengths and weaknesses of different technical solutions
• Work collaboratively with members of other teams to develop technical solutions

Key Qualifications and Skills

• B.S. with 5+ years of relevant experience or M.S. with 2+ years of relevant experience in aerospace, mechanical engineering, physics, or a related field
• Extensive hands-on hardware experience building, fixing, and modifying high vacuum chamber systems or high-voltage capacitor/power supplies
• Proven experience in designing, building, and operating complex experiments, including upgrading, diagnosing, and improving systems
• Experience working with and around fusion plasmas or electric propulsion thrusters
• Preferred experience with large-scale experiments or testing on devices such as pinch devices, accelerators, stellarators, tokamaks, power plants, or rocket launches
• Demonstrated ability to rapidly learn new systems and technologies and take ownership of portions of larger projects
• Strong track record of tackling complex problems, defining, and accomplishing challenging objectives with some supervision
• Proven ability to work collaboratively and communicate effectively as a member of a team, with experience in mentoring junior team members

Compensation and Benefits

At Helion, we are committed to fostering a fair and equitable environment in every aspect of our operations, including compensation. We ensure all our roles are competitively benchmarked and our total compensation package includes a base salary, comprehensive benefits, and equity grants, giving you a true stake in Helion's success. Final compensation is determined through a holistic evaluation of your experience, qualifications, and our commitment to maintaining internal equity, ensuring fairness and transparency across our teams.

This is an exempt salaried role.

Annual Base Pay: $115,000 - $170,000 USD

Benefits

• 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

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.