R&D Test Engineer
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. Their vision is a world with clean, reliable, and affordable energy for everyone. Since Helion's founding in 2013, they have raised $1.5 billion from investors to propel them forward. Their current prototype, Polaris, has reached record-breaking plasma temperatures of 150 million degrees Celsius. 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, they will change the future of energy, because the world can't wait.
Requirements
- B.S. with 4+ years of relevant experience, or M.S. with 2+ years of relevant experience in Aerospace, Mechanical Engineering, Physics, or a related field
- Extensive hands-on experience operating, maintaining, or improving high-vacuum chamber systems or high-voltage capacitor systems
- Experience owning system uptime, reliability, and performance, including troubleshooting and root cause analysis
- Proven experience executing complex experiments or operations with a focus on repeatability, safety, and continuous improvement
- Demonstrated ability to rapidly learn new technologies and take ownership of operational systems
- Strong problem-solving skills and ability to respond effectively to real-time issues with minimal supervision
- Proven ability to collaborate effectively within a team and contribute to a high-performance operational environment
Nice To Haves
- Experience mentoring or training others in system operation is a plus
Responsibilities
- Operate and support the day-to-day execution of Field-Reversed Configuration (FRC) fusion experiments, ensuring safe and repeatable machine performance
- Control and monitor pulsed power systems, including mega-joule capacitor banks and high-energy infrastructure, with a focus on operational reliability and readiness
- Own system readiness for experiments, including pre-shot setup, system checks, troubleshooting, and analysis
- Identify, diagnose, and resolve issues in high-energy and large-scale vacuum systems to minimize downtime and improve operational efficiency
- Apply plasma physics concepts to support experiment execution and interpret diagnostics for magnetic fields, fusion products, and plasma characteristics
- Drive continuous improvement of machine operations, including refining procedures, improving system robustness, and reducing variability in experimental results
- Collaborate cross-functionally with engineering, science, and production teams to improve system performance and operational throughput
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
Mid Level
