Facilities Operations Manager

U.S. Fusion Energy; Energy (IL); On-site; USD 143,000 - 168,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical/Dental/Vision

PTO 31 days

401(k) match

Disability & life insurance

Parental leave

Wellness stipend

Job summary

Helion, based in Everett, WA, is seeking a Facilities Operations Manager to lead the facilities operations team across multiple sites and partner with Facilities leadership on reliability and long-term infrastructure strategy.

You will own day-to-day operations, oversee CMMS and asset records, and coordinate with EHS to maintain safe, ready sites. This onsite role reports to the Director of Facilities in Everett, WA.

Qualifications

• 8+ years in facilities operations or related roles with direct people management
• Experience leading operations in a startup or high-growth environment
• Knowledge of building systems (HVAC, electrical, mechanical, fire/safety)
• Experience with CMMS ownership and preventive maintenance
• Ability to navigate changing priorities and make decisions with incomplete info
• Strong written and verbal communication with diverse audiences
• Experience supporting manufacturing, hardware development, or R&D facilities preferred

Responsibilities

• Lead the facilities operations team across sites with clear expectations and accountability
• Own day-to-day facilities operations and serve as primary contact for issues; oversee staffing and vendor performance
• Own and improve the CMMS, asset records, and preventive maintenance programs
• Oversee inspections and corrective actions for critical building systems with EHS coordination
• Build scalable operational processes and use metrics to drive continuous improvements
• Represent Facilities in standups and executive discussions with clear risk updates

Skills

Facilities leadership

Startup experience

Building systems

CMMS ownership

Decision making

Communication

Manufacturing exposure

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.

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.

Location

Everett, WA

Employment Type

Full time

Location Type

On-site

Department

Facilities

Compensation

• $143K - $168K

Compensation Range: $143K - $168K

What You Will Be Doing

As our Facilities Operations Manager, you'll lead the planning and execution of facilities operations across our growing portfolio - bridging day-to-day reliability with long-term infrastructure strategy. You'll serve as a key partner to Facilities leadership, driving operational rigor, vendor performance, and capital planning support.

We are looking for an engaged leader who thrives in a high-growth environment and balances urgency with disciplined execution. You will bring strong people leadership, sound operational judgment, and high standards for accountability and follow-through. This is an onsite role reporting directly to our Director of Facilities in our Everett, WA headquarters.

You Will

• Lead and develop the facilities operations team, setting clear expectations, balancing workloads, and strengthening performance through coaching and accountability
• Own day-to-day facilities operations across multiple sites, serving as the primary point of contact for operational issues; overseeing Maintenance and Environmental Services delivery, staffing coverage, vendor performance, stakeholder communication, and timely issue resolution through closeout
• Own and improve the CMMS, asset records, and preventive maintenance programs, using equipment condition and performance data to inform maintenance and replacement priorities
• Oversee inspections, servicing, and corrective actions for critical building systems and industrial equipment, partnering with EHS and Security to maintain safe, ready sites
• Build scalable operational processes and use performance metrics to identify recurring issues, remove roadblocks, and coordinate lasting improvements with technical experts and Facilities leadership
• Apply building-systems knowledge to assess issues and recommendations, and represent Facilities Operations in standups and executive discussions with clear updates on risks, trade-offs, and next steps

Required Skills

• 8+ years of experience in facilities operations or related roles, including direct people management and demonstrated success coaching and developing teams
• Experience leading operations in a startup, high-growth, or similarly rigorous environment, with high standards for accountability and execution
• Working knowledge of building systems, including HVAC, electrical, mechanical, and fire/life safety systems, with the ability to assess issues, evaluate technical recommendations, and engage the appropriate expertise
• Experience with CMMS ownership and configuration, preventive maintenance program development, asset management, and vendor oversight
• Demonstrated ability to navigate changing priorities, make sound decisions with incomplete information, and resolve recurring problems without compromising safety or quality
• Strong written and verbal communication with frontline employees, technical partners, and executives, including the ability to tailor technical detail to the audience, create clear operational documentation, and constructively challenge assumptions
• Experience supporting manufacturing, hardware development, R&D, or other technically complex facilities is preferred. Hands-on maintenance or trade experience is helpful but not required

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.