--- title: 'Capacitor R&D Supervisor at Helion' canonical: 'https://feeny.ai/job/capacitor-r-d-supervisor-helion-everett-84wr6r3pknjj' type: 'job' last_seen: '2026-09-05' --- # Capacitor R&D Supervisor at Helion - **Company:** [Helion](https://feeny.ai/companies/helion) - **Location:** Everett, WA - **Compensation:** $111k–$140k - **Employment:** full-time - **Work type:** onsite - **Posted:** 2026-03-04 - **Last confirmed live:** 2026-09-05 - **Apply:** https://jobs.ashbyhq.com/helion/e8e70c75-ebb7-4c93-8b9d-b0cf076a293d/application **Skills:** Electro-mechanical manufacturing, Precision manufacturing, Capacitor R&D, Manufacturing operations, Process development, Data analysis, EHS compliance, Quality assurance > 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 ## #LI-TS1 ## 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. ## About Helion ## Company Overview - **One-liner**: Helion is building the world’s first fusion power plant to deliver clean, reliable, and affordable baseload electricity. - **Entity Type**: Private (Series G – $465M raised in 2026 at a $15.5B post-money valuation, led by Thrive Capital) - **Headquarters**: Everett, Washington, USA (with additional facilities in Chelan County, WA) - **Founded**: 2013 - **Founders**: David Kirtley (CEO), Anthony Pancotti, and others ## Core Business - **Primary industry**: Fusion energy generation (clean energy / climate tech) - **Target customers**: B2B – utilities, large-scale energy buyers (e.g., Microsoft, Nucor), and data center operators - **Mission**: Build the world’s first fusion power generators to provide clean, reliable, and affordable electricity for everyone. ## Products & Services - **Polaris**: The latest prototype fusion machine – a 19‑meter device with 50 MJ capacitor banks that demonstrated deuterium‑tritium fusion in early 2026. It is a pulsed, field‑reversed configuration (FRC) reactor designed to directly convert fusion energy into electricity (no steam turbine). - **Orion**: The planned first commercial fusion power plant, targeting 50 MW of electricity to Microsoft data centers by 2029. Modular, factory‑built generators that can be shipped to customers. - **HERCULES Program**: A $4M initiative funding 20 research institutions to develop enabling technologies for scaled fusion deployment. ## Market Standing - **Valuation**: $15.5 B (post‑money Series G, 2026) - **Key Metric**: Total funding raised – $465 M (Series G) plus prior rounds (undisclosed total). Annual revenue not applicable (pre‑revenue). - **Notable Investors/Partners**: Sam Altman (early backer, recently stepped off board), Thrive Capital (lead Series G), Microsoft (first PPA for fusion energy), Nucor (500 MW development deal) - **Growth Signals**: ~600 employees (up from 51‑200 in earlier years); Polaris achieved first privately‑developed DT fusion demonstration; signed first ever fusion power purchase agreement (Microsoft); expanding manufacturing capacity in Washington. ## Competitive Advantages - **Direct energy conversion**: Helion’s pulsed FRC design recovers electricity directly from the expanding plasma at >95% efficiency, skipping the inefficient steam cycle used by most fusion concepts. - **Pulsed approach**: The reactor pulses rapidly (sub‑second), producing fusion energy in bursts that can be synchronized to the grid, and uses solid‑state switches capable of hundreds of millions of pulses. - **Simpler magnets**: FRC plasma is self‑confining, requiring fewer and lower‑field magnets than tokamaks or stellarators, reducing cost and complexity. - **Fuel flexibility**: Uses deuterium and tritium (with tritium breeding planned) and ultimately can burn advanced fuels (D‑D, D‑He3) as the technology matures. ## Strategic Focus - **Commercial deployment**: Delivering 50 MW to Microsoft by 2029 (Orion plant); scaling up manufacturing to produce modular generators in factories. - **Technology maturation**: HERCULES program to solve tritium breeding, materials, and other enabling challenges; advancing Polaris toward net electricity generation. - **Partnership growth**: Expanding power purchase agreements and development deals with industrial and tech customers to meet surging demand (especially AI data centers). ## Why Work Here - **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. ## Sources 1. [helionenergy.com](https://www.helionenergy.com/) – Company overview, funding, technology, updates 2. [helionenergy.com/careers](https://www.helionenergy.com/careers) – Careers page, values, benefits 3. [helionenergy.com/careers/open-positions](https://www.helionenergy.com/careers/open-positions) – Current job listings 4. [scientificamerican.com](https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/helion-energy-is-building-a-fusion-power-plant-can-its-technology-deliver/) – In‑depth profile, 600 employees, Microsoft PPA, Polaris details 5. [indeed.com](https://www.indeed.com/cmp/Helion-Energy?campaignid=mobvjcmp&from=mobviewjob&fromjk=9e3fd74c2e72805f&tk=1jrv4ci0di9cp800) – Company size, revenue, 108 jobs ## Other roles at Helion - [Manufacturing Engineer](https://feeny.ai/job/manufacturing-engineer-helion-everett-2151ykfwt769) — Everett, WA - [Senior Manufacturing Engineer](https://feeny.ai/job/senior-manufacturing-engineer-helion-everett-ajdszzvj4trq) — Everett, WA - [Manager, Electrical Engineering](https://feeny.ai/job/manager-electrical-engineering-helion-everett-xc30n5x0s4vt) — Everett, WA - [Inventory Control Technician](https://feeny.ai/job/inventory-control-technician-helion-everett-g22e4r5tjwjb) — Everett, WA - [Senior Production Controller](https://feeny.ai/job/senior-production-controller-helion-everett-r0kjhce1yjvs) — Everett, WA - [Senior Mechanical Engineer, Thermal](https://feeny.ai/job/senior-mechanical-engineer-thermal-helion-everett-m44yqpk3g3z5) — Everett, WA - [Mechanical Engineer, Fluids](https://feeny.ai/job/mechanical-engineer-fluids-helion-everett-fc4xnhqynnvh) — Everett, WA - [Principal Applied Plasma Data Scientist](https://feeny.ai/job/principal-applied-plasma-data-scientist-helion-everett-33tnj2pdtxam) — Everett, WA - [Senior Applied Plasma Data Scientist](https://feeny.ai/job/senior-applied-plasma-data-scientist-helion-everett-ymgakadsjxcf) — Everett, WA - [Senior Manager, Software Engineering, Plant Control](https://feeny.ai/job/senior-manager-software-engineering-plant-control-helion-everett-sd9dj8ccv09g) — Everett, WA