Mechanical Engineer, Early Career

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 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.

What You Will Be Doing

Helion is hiring an entry-level Mechanical Engineer to oversee hardware designs for Helion's fusion generator prototypes. You will help solve versatile engineering problems that are important to deploying fusion energy to the world, and be a culture-driver on a small but expanding team. You will report directly to a Mechanical Engineering Manager at our Everett, WA office.

You Will

• Own and understand subsystem designs such as electromagnetic, structural, fluid, thermal, and control systems, and improve their requirements
• Learn from historical engineering approaches, design novel hardware, test your solutions, and integrate them into our fusion devices
• Apply both engineering first-principles and method-based thinking to challenging problems
• Use 3D CAD software (e.g., NX, Solidworks) to design fusion hardware
• Perform analysis with tools like ANSYS and hold design reviews to gather feedback and iterate to a fully functioning system
• Learn from experts to expand your engineering skillset and domain knowledge
• Work hands-on alongside experienced technicians to improve your hardware designs
• Fix hardware issues as they arise on integrated fusion generators

Required Skills

• 1-2 years of collegiate internship or project team experience (e.g. SAE, Rocket Club) that includes working with versatile teams managing complex engineering projects and schedules
• Bachelor's degree in engineering
• Hands-on exposure to a variety of engineering disciplines (mechanical, electrical, fluids)
• Experience with 3D CAD software (e.g. NX, Solidworks) and GD&T

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

$90,000 - $108,000 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.