R&D Engineering Manager - Fusion Machine Operation

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.

What You Will Be Doing:

You will lead the development of engineers and scientists that will bring the most powerful, controlled pulsed-fusion device ever constructed online, to generate electrical power. As a leader within the Research and Development team, you will grow and lead a high-performance operating team in the research and development of fusion technology and experiments, control high-energy systems, and design diagnostics for advanced plasma devices. You will report to the Senior R&D Manager, and this is an onsite role located at our Everett, WA office.

You Will:

• Grow and mentor a team of multidisciplinary engineers and scientists

• Drive schedule ownership and optimization across the team to accelerate milestone achievement

• Collaborate with Engineering, Science, and Production teams to derive system requirements and meet program goals

• Contribute to the testing and operation of Field-Reversed Configuration (FRC) fusion devices

• Lead engineers and scientists in the design and execution of plasma and high-energy experiments

• Educate and facilitate work performed by the team on large-scale vacuum systems greater than one meter in diameter

• Apply plasma physics concepts to support your team in creating FRCs and implement diagnostics to measure magnetic fields, fusion products, and plasma characteristics

• Mentoring Operators in using critical reasoning to evaluate and improve technical solutions

Required Skills:

• B.S. with 8+ years of engineering experience, or M.S. with 4+ years of relevant experience in Aerospace, Nuclear Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Physics, or a related field

• 1+ years in a technical leadership or management role

• Proven ability to mentor engineers and positively impact their career progression

• Experience leading multidisciplinary teams with full project ownership

• Proven experience designing, building, and operating complex experiments with a focus on diagnostics and continuous improvement

• Hands-on experience across multiple engineering disciplines

• Ability to apply first-principles thinking to solve complex technical problems

• Demonstrated ability to rapidly learn new technologies and take ownership of project areas

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.