Senior Experimental Scientist

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 and 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). Now, we're turning up operations for Polaris, working towards delivering the world's first fusion power plant.

More than ever, it's a pivotal time to join us and have the opportunity to solve real challenges to create a better energy future. You will see first-hand how we value urgency, rigor, ownership, and hard truths, knowing it will take each to do what no one has before. Joining us, you will push the boundaries of what's possible and transform humanity for the better - because the world can't wait.

As a Senior Experimental Scientist on Helion's Advanced Concepts team, you will lead cutting-edge projects in plasma generation and heating for fusion energy. You’ll manage rapid prototyping and proof-of-concept technologies, oversee multiple emerging systems, and contribute to the development of advanced fusion generator concepts. Over time, you'll mentor junior scientists, lead more complex projects, and grow into other subject matter. You will report to the Director of Radiation Safety and Nuclear Science at our Everett, WA office.

You will

• Lead the design, prototyping, and testing of major approaches to pre-ionization systems for field-reversed configurations
• Develop and test heating systems to achieve keV ions and 10-100 eV electrons. Systems may include cathodes, barrier antennas, LTDs, and MPDs
• Formulate detailed design criteria for full-system integration and manufacturing
• Work with high-energy pulsed power systems to support the development of next-generation fusion technologies

Required Skills

• Extensive Technical Experience: Hands-on expertise in working with electrical systems with stored energy of more than 40 J
• Ion Heating Expertise: Proven experience heating ions to temperatures between 500 - 5000 eV at densities greater than 1e19 m^-3 in multiple machines (e.g., gridded ion thrusters).
• Electron Heating Expertise: Expertise in heating electrons at densities >1e19 m^-3 to temperatures between 10 - 100 eV, utilizing methods such as cathodes, linear transform drivers, RMF, and MPD
• Project Management: A strong track record of managing and successfully delivering multiple R&D projects on tight timelines (week- and month-scale) that have led to technology used in commercial products or major project subsystems
• Data Analysis & Communication: Proficiency in data analysis and technical communication, with experience using coding languages like Python, MATLAB, or C++

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

$150,000 - $200,000 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

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.