Plasma Diagnostic 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 $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.

You Will

• Conceptualize, design, construct, and deploy optical spectroscopic tools for plasma diagnostics. This may include:
  • Time-gated soft or hard x-ray emission such as streak cameras
  • Pulsed laser systems for Thomson Scattering or Fluorescence Spectroscopy
  • Precision spectroscopy of highly ionized impurities
  • Magnetically sensitive optical probes
• Develop data analysis routines that incorporate several spectroscopic probes to extract relevant plasma parameters
• Participate as a diagnostic subject matter expert during experimental campaigns.
• Support fellow scientists in optical and non-optical diagnostics techniques
• Document diagnostic methodologies

Required Skills

• PhD. or M.S. in physics or aerospace engineering, or related field with relevant experience in plasmas
• 3-5 years of experience in a laboratory environment with hands-on experience with plasma probes
• Development, deployment, and commissioning of optical or x-ray diagnostics
• Proficiency with bench top optical alignment

We Value

• Experience using data from diagnostic instruments to accomplish research goals or achieve mission goals
• Experience with plasma physics and plasma diagnostic principles and participating in the design of a new instrumentation packages that analyze low density pre-ionization plasmas
• Developed diagnostics to study fully and partially ionized plasmas, in the range of 10^16 – 10^19 m^3, such as physical probes like Langmuir or double/triple probe and optical diagnostics, such as interferometry and laser induced fluorescence
• Experience with deploying diagnostic instrumentation onto large scale experiments such as third or fourth generation light sources

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

$117,000 - $156,000 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.