Experimental Scientist at Helion (Everett, WA)
Helion· Everett, WA· $150k–$200k·
Role details
Medical, Dental, And Vision Plans · 31 Days Of PTO · 10 Paid Holidays · Company-Wide Winter Break · Up To 5% Employer 401(K) Match · Short Term Disability · Long Term Disability · Life Insurance
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
Helion Energy is hiring an Experimental Scientist to support the design, build, and operation of plasma diagnostics for fusion generators. The role involves hands-on experimental work, data analysis, and cross-functional collaboration to advance fusion technology.
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: Helion is hiring an Experimental Scientist to support the development, deployment, calibration, and operation of plasma diagnostics for Helion’s fusion generators. In this role, you will contribute to hands-on experimental work across plasma diagnostics, test campaigns, and high-vacuum systems while partnering closely with scientists, engineers, machine operators, and data teams. This is an onsite role that reports directly to our Director of Plasma and Nuclear Science at our Everett, WA office. You Will:
- Support the design, build, deployment, calibration, and commissioning of plasma diagnostic systems for Helion’s fusion generators, operating with autonomy on defined tasks and workstreams while escalating technical risks or tradeoffs when appropriate
- Contribute to the operation and troubleshooting of plasma diagnostics used to evaluate plasma parameters such as density, temperature, current profiles, and other key performance indicators
- Work cross-functionally with plasma physics, machine operations, controls, mechanical engineering, electrical engineering, and data science teams to support diagnostic readiness for experimental campaigns and testbeds
- Develop hands-on expertise in pre-ionization plasma diagnostics, helping establish consistent methods and practices that support next-generation fusion device development
- Analyze diagnostic data to identify trends, support experimental interpretation, and inform operational tuning, hardware improvements, or follow-up testing
- Document experimental procedures, calibration methods, test results, and lessons learned to improve consistency, reliability, and knowledge sharing across Helion’s experimental programs
Required Skills:
- Ph.D. in physics, electrical engineering, aerospace engineering, or a related discipline, with a focus on plasma science, diagnostics, or high-vacuum instrumentation
- Relevant hands-on experience with plasma systems, advanced laboratory environments, high-vacuum systems, pulsed-power systems, or complex experimental hardware
- Experience supporting the design, build, calibration, troubleshooting, or operation of plasma diagnostics such as interferometry, spectroscopy, Langmuir probes, magnetic coils, electrostatic diagnostics, optical diagnostics, or related measurement systems
- Ability to operate autonomously on day-to-day technical tasks, apply critical thinking across multiple inputs, and escalate issues appropriately when technical risk, scope, or priority requires broader alignment
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.