Director of Experimental Science
About The Position
Helion is 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.
Requirements
- Advanced degree in physics, or a related physical science discipline
- A minimum of 10 years of scientific research experience
- At least 5 years of experience managing a team of scientists or engineers in a research, development, or technology setting
- Demonstrated experience building and leading multidisciplinary teams
- Experience managing complex inter-departmental projects (including schedule ownership)
- Demonstrated experience in applied physics, building and designing hardware
Responsibilities
- Build, grow, and lead a team of scientists and engineers who will apply their knowledge and expertise in plasma physics to optimize Helion’s fusion devices
- Provide clear and concise summaries of experimental campaign results, enabling stakeholders to make informed decisions and adjustments as needed
- Work with Helion’s leadership to establish organizational roadmap, goals, and balance risks for the team that align with our strategy and take full ownership of accomplishing these goals
- Oversee projects specific to experimental plasma science such as E&M probes; plasma pre-ionization; plasma-material interaction; device design and requirements; full device data collection, analysis and interpretation in coordination with other teams
- Drive schedule ownership and optimization by team members to accelerate milestones
- Drive experimental plasma and fusion deliverables to completion in collaboration with Mechanical Engineers, Electrical Engineers, R&D, and Production teams.
Benefits
- 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
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Director
