Director of Fusion Plant Engineering

Reposted 20 Days Ago
Be an Early Applicant
Everett, WA, USA
In-Office
270K-320K Annually
Expert/Leader
Energy
The Role
Lead the design and execution of critical plant systems for fusion power generation, overseeing multidisciplinary teams and ensuring integration and safety.
Summary Generated by Built In

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 $1 billion from long-time investors such as Sam Altman, Mithril, and Capricorn Investment Group as well as 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). We are now operating Polaris, our next prototype on the path to the world's first fusion power plant.

This is a pivotal time to join Helion. You will tackle real-world challenges with a team that prizes urgency, rigor, ownership, and a commitment to delivering hard truths – values essential to achieving what no one has before. Together, we will change the future of energy, because the world can't wait.

About The Role

In this role, you will own the design and execution of critical plant systems that make fusion power possible - from radiation shielding and gas handling to thermal management and heat recovery. This role is at the heart of translating fusion physics into practical power generation. You’ll build and lead teams that integrate Helion’s fusion generators with the systems that extract, move, and manage energy at scale. It’s a rare opportunity to lead multidisciplinary engineering at the edge of what’s possible and you'll have direct ownership of the systems that will define the world’s first fusion power plant. This is an onsite role that reports directly to the VP of Engineering at our Everett, WA office.

What You Will Be Doing:

  • Build and lead high-performing engineering teams across mechanical, thermal, and fluid systems

  • Own the design and delivery of critical plant systems — radiation shielding, fuel and exhaust gas systems, vacuum infrastructure, and thermal management

  • Partner with nuclear, magnet, and systems engineering teams to integrate fusion generators into a cohesive power plant

  • Drive cross-functional engineering execution — from early concept to detailed design, manufacturing, and test

  • Set the technical bar for rigor, documentation, and accountability, ensuring safety, scalability, and reliability

  • Continually raise the standard for ownership, execution pace, and design clarity across your teams

  • Develop the next generation of Helion engineering leaders through mentorship and example.

Required Skills

  • A degree in engineering or sciences

  • 10+ years of multidisciplinary engineering experience, including 5+ in technical leadership or management

  • Proven success leading complex system design from concept through deployment

  • Expertise in one or more of the following: mechanical systems, heat transfer, vacuum systems, or process engineering

  • Demonstrated ability to build structure and focus in fast-moving, high-ambiguity environments while building teams that execute

  • A leadership style that aligns with Helion's values - ownership, urgency, rigor and truth

#LI-Onsite

#LI-MT1

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

Helion is an equal opportunity employer and value diversity at our company. We do not discriminate based on race, religion, color, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, or disability status. If you need assistance or an accommodation during the interview process, please let us know.

Skills Required

  • Degree in engineering or sciences
  • 10+ years of multidisciplinary engineering experience
  • 5+ years in technical leadership or management
  • Expertise in mechanical systems, heat transfer, vacuum systems, or process engineering
  • Proven success leading complex system design from concept through deployment

Helion Energy Compensation & Benefits Highlights

The following summarizes recurring compensation and benefits themes identified from responses generated by popular LLMs to common candidate questions about Helion Energy and has not been reviewed or approved by Helion Energy.

  • Fair & Transparent Compensation Compensation is considered competitive for many roles, with employer materials emphasizing competitively benchmarked pay. Total rewards commonly include salary plus equity and benefits that align with market expectations.
  • Healthcare Strength Health coverage includes medical, dental, and vision with options for fully employer‑paid premiums, HSA support, and core protections like life and disability. This breadth signals robust medical benefits for a growth‑stage company.
  • Equity Value & Accessibility Equity is broadly offered through stock options for all employees, positioning ownership as a meaningful part of total rewards. Employer communications consistently highlight equity participation as a differentiator.

Helion Energy Insights

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The Company
Everett, WA
100 Employees
Year Founded: 2013

What We Do

Helion is a fusion power company based in Everett, WA, with the mission to enable a future with unlimited clean energy. Our vision is a world with clean, reliable, and affordable electricity for everyone. Currently, we are scaling up our latest fusion prototype to make our vision a reality. We’re hiring brilliant scientists, engineers, and builders passionate about developing world-changing technologies. If that sounds like you, check out our open positions.

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