Technical Program Manager - HERCULES

Helion•Everett, WA

3d•Onsite

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. The Technical Program Manager will be responsible for projects on the Nuclear Science team, including HERCULES (Helion External Research Collaboration for Universities, Labs, and Enterprise Scientists). This program will fund impactful research at universities, national labs, and research companies, totaling over $20M over three years in a phased approach. The role involves reviewing proposals, managing the transition from proposal to funded project, guiding technical work in partnership with internal PIs through the project lifecycle, and ensuring scientific alignment with Helion's objectives. This is an onsite role reporting directly to the Director of Nuclear Science.

Requirements

PhD in science or engineering, or equivalent experience delivering impactful research through the scientific lifecycle in an academic or national lab setting.
Technical breadth to understand projects spanning nuclear science, materials science, chemical engineering, experimental and computational plasma physics, and electrical engineering (pulsed power). Demonstrated by delivery of multidisciplinary projects and/or publications spanning multiple disciplines.
Ability to communicate effectively with scientists and business executives, condense information into short memos, understand key information from technical reports, and communicate business value to leaders and executives.
Experience managing multi-year budgets totaling over $1M, regularly reporting progress to stakeholders, driving schedule, and accelerating projects.
Experience managing multiple projects, keeping an eye on both the big picture and the details.
Proven delivery experience, having brought a product from technological readiness level (TRL) 3 to TRL 6 on an accelerated timeline.

Responsibilities

Lead the HERCULES program, totaling over $20M over three years.
Work on the cutting edge of research, contributing to Helion's science and R&D spanning nuclear, materials, fuel, and pulsed power science.
Partner with internal PIs across all of Helion's technical teams.
Evaluate proposal submissions, navigate contracts, disperse funds to research partners, guide technical work, and ensure on-track deliverables.
Communicate externally to potential partners to advertise the program, and internally to leaders and executives on progress and impact.
Act as a bridge between Helion leadership, PIs, business units, and external partners.
Teach partners how to move fast and accelerate by identifying and solving blockers (supply chain, legal, technical).
Ensure the delivery of internal Nuclear Science projects in parallel to external projects.