About Helion

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 Experimental Research Scientist or Engineer to help scale up the size of the FRC formation section of its fusion generators. You will be part of a small group of scientists, engineers, and technicians responsible for designing, building, and testing the world’s largest FRC. You will report directly to our Director of Research at our Everett, WA office.

You Will:

Provide design and test engineering support in vacuum systems, gaseous fuel systems, high-voltage power electronics, inductively coupled plasma sources, plasma diagnostics, and data acquisition systems
Develop and validate technical specifications to comply with project requirements
Prepare laboratory test plans and procedures, and present at test readiness reviews
Install and operate high density plasma sources (e.g. helicon, ECR, ring theta) and diagnostics
Maintain vacuum facilities and related support equipment such as gas fuel feed systems, high-voltage power electronics, data acquisition systems, and diagnostics
Analyze diagnostic test data, write reports, and present results
Use critical reasoning to identify strengths and weaknesses with different technical solutions

Required Skills:

M.S with 3+ years of experience or Ph.D. in Plasma Physics, engineering, or related field of study
1+ years of experience with plasma physics in a hands-on laboratory environment
Hands-on hardware experience with vacuum systems, high pressure gas flow systems, plasma diagnostics, and data acquisition systems
Experience in the design, build, and test approach of seeing a project from conception to completion

The pay range for this position is $91k-160k. This pay range may be inclusive of several career levels and will be narrowed based on several factors, including the candidate’s experience and qualifications.

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Benefits and Compensation

Our total compensation package includes generous equity and 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)
13 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.

Compensation Overview

6 month growth

1 year growth

2 year growth

Benefits