Facilities Operations Manager

Helion; Everett (WA); On-site; USD 143,000 - 168,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, Dental, and Vision plans

PTO 31 days

10 paid holidays

401(k) match

Disability & life insurance

Parental leave

Wellness stipend

Job summary

Helion in Everett, WA is seeking a Facilities Operations Manager to drive day-to-day reliability and long-term infrastructure strategy across multiple sites. You will partner with Facilities leadership to push operational rigor, vendor performance, and capital planning.

The role demands hands-on leadership, strong judgment, and accountability, reporting to the Director of Facilities at our Everett headquarters while coordinating with technical experts to keep sites safe and productive.

Qualifications

• 8+ years in facilities operations with direct people management.
• Experience in startup/high-growth environments with accountability.
• Knowledge of HVAC, electrical, mechanical, fire/life safety systems.
• CMMS ownership, preventive maintenance, asset management, vendor oversight.
• Ability to adapt to changing priorities and make sound decisions.
• Strong written and verbal communication with diverse stakeholders.
• Experience with manufacturing, hardware development or complex facilities.

Responsibilities

• Lead and develop the facilities operations team across sites.
• Oversee day-to-day operations, maintenance, vendor performance and issues.
• Manage CMMS, asset records, and preventive maintenance programs.
• Oversee inspections and actions for building systems with EHS and Security.
• Build scalable processes and use metrics to drive improvements.
• Represent Facilities in standups and executive discussions with updates.

Skills

Facilities operations

People management

Startup environment

Building systems

CMMS

Asset management

Vendor oversight

Communication

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

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

• 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.

Compensation Range: $143K - $168K