Capacitor R&D Supervisor at Helion (Everett, WA)
Helion· Everett, WA· $111k–$140k·
Role details
Medical, Dental, And Vision Plans · 31 Days Of PTO · 10 Paid Holidays · Up To 5% Employer 401(K) Match · Short Term Disability · Long Term Disability · Life Insurance · Paid Parental Leave
Helion at a glance
Helion is building the world's first fusion power plant to deliver clean, reliable baseload electricity straight from fusion, no steam turbine required.
Helion designs and builds pulsed, field-reversed-configuration fusion machines that fire and compress plasmas to fusion temperatures and then recover the energy directly as electricity, skipping the steam-turbine step used by most other fusion and nuclear designs. Its long-term fuel is deuterium plus helium-3, aimed at smaller, cheaper, factory-buildable plants that supply always-on carbon-free power to the grid.
$1.5B raised · latest: Series G · $465M · 2026 · backed by Thrive Capital, Sam Altman, Dustin Moskovitz (Good Ventures), Reid Hoffman
Summary
The Capacitor R&D Supervisor leads the execution of capacitor development and R&D manufacturing activities, overseeing engineering technicians and coordinating with production and EHS teams. This role ensures technical rigor, safe execution, and transition to manufacturing readiness while managing priorities and dri...
Job description
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
This is a newly created role driven by rapid growth and increasing R&D demand. It’s a unique opportunity to join at a pivotal moment, helping shape how capacitor technologies scale from development into manufacturing while building the systems, teams, and processes that will define future success. You will lead the execution of capacitor R&D builds and pilot manufacturing, translating evolving engineering concepts into safe, repeatable processes. In this role, you will serve as a critical bridge between R&D and production, identifying manufacturability risks early, driving process improvements, and ensuring new technologies are ready to scale.
This role will provide leadership and operational oversight for a growing team of Engineering Technicians supporting first-shift manufacturing and R&D activities (Monday - Friday, 6:00 AM - 2:30 PM).
You Will
- Responsible for R&D builds, prototypes, and pilot runs to meet aggressive development timelines
- Translate engineering intent into practical, high-quality manufacturing processes
- Make real-time technical decisions in fast-paced, ambiguous development environments
- Analyze data to identify process gaps, risks, and opportunities for improvement
- Lead and develop a team of Engineering Technicians, building capability and accountability
- Partner with engineering, production, and EHS to ensure aligned, safe, and effective execution
- Drive readiness for manufacturing through documentation, process definition, and knowledge transfer
Required Skills
- 5+ years in manufacturing, R&D, or technical operations, including hands-on process development or NPI
- 2+ years leading or supervising technical teams in fast-paced environments
- Proven ability to troubleshoot and improve manufacturing processes under ambiguity
- Strong data-driven mindset with the ability to translate results into actionable improvements
- Experience working closely with engineering teams on early stage or rapidly evolving technologies
- Ability to adapt schedule and onsite presence to support team leadership, cross-functional coordination, and critical development activities
- Strong communication, organization, and execution skills
#LI-Onsite
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.
Why work at Helion
- Culture: “Urgency, rigor, ownership, and hard truths” – a mission‑driven environment focused on solving the hardest problems in fusion engineering.
- Work: Hands‑on with real hardware (capacitors, magnets, plasma diagnostics) across mechanical, electrical, and physics disciplines.
- Location: Based in the Pacific Northwest (Everett & Chelan County) with immediate access to skiing, hiking, and water sports.
- Benefits: Premier medical/vision/dental (fully employer‑paid options), HSA contributions, wellness stipend, 5% 401(k) match, stock options, up to 12 weeks paid parental leave + 4 weeks for birthing parents, 21 vacation days, 10 sick days, 11 holidays + winter break.
- Hybrid/Remote: Not explicitly stated; roles appear to be on‑site in Washington (given the hardware‑focused nature).
- Open Roles: Engineers (mechanical, electrical, simulation, controls), magnet analysts, experimental scientists, technicians, machinists – over 100 positions listed.