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 $1.5 billion from long-time investors such as Sam Altman, Mithril, and Capricorn Investment Group as well as new investors including Thrive Capital, LightSpeed Venture Capital, SoftBank, and others to propel us forward. Our current prototype, Polaris, has reached record-breaking plasma temperatures of 150 million degrees Celsius (13 keV). Helion is continuing to iterate and on the path to the world's first fusion power plant, Orion.
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:
As the R&D Hardware Test & Development Manager, you will manage a diverse team of R&D engineers with a broad array of technical backgrounds and expertise, whose mission is to collaboratively support the development, testing, and delivery of the technology needed to provide fusion energy to the world.
Your team works closely with all other technical organizations including Engineering, Production, Radiation and Nuclear Safety, and Science. R&D Dev Ops engineers drive testing and development initiatives needed to close and validate engineering designs and advance next generation technologies. Projects range from pulsed HV testing of electromagnets to materials characterization in high radiation environments. You will report to our R&D manager, onsite at our Everett, WA office.
You Will:
Oversee the design and execution of technology test and development initiatives, allocating engineering bandwidth and ownership as needed to ensure the team is delivering testing results on time and to sufficient rigor.
Partner with peer leaders to drive cross-functional development initiatives, setting the standard for effective collaboration and ensuring communication across teams meets a high bar.
Champion your team's initiatives with senior leaders, clearly articulating their value and securing stakeholder alignment and buy-in.
Support individual contributors in their career growth, guiding development of both technical and soft skills.
Proactively identify resource constraints and scale the team through targeted hiring and growth to ensure mission success.
Required Skills:
B.S. in Physics or Engineering and 8+ years or M.S. with 4+ years of relevant experience
Minimum 2+ years managing engineers doing technology testing and development
Experience using first principles thinking to develop test initiatives, perform root cause failure analysis, and solve complex technical problems
Proven track record of delivering technology testing and development results
Experienced at driving rapid iterative testing to inform design
Excellent communication skills that drive effective cross-team collaboration
Ability to anticipate, strategically plan for and grow a team to meet the needs of future scope
Preferred Skills:
Technical expertise in one of the following areas: vacuum systems, pressurized systems, high-voltage systems, or pulsed-power technologies
#LI-Onsite #LI-TM1
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
- B.S. in Engineering
- 8+ years or M.S. with 4+ years of relevant experience
- Minimum 2+ years managing engineers
- Experience developing test initiatives
- Proven track record of delivering testing results
- Excellent communication skills
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.
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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.
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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.
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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
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.
