Fusion R&D Test Engineer: High-Energy Systems

Fusion Energy Base; Everett (WA); On-site; USD 140,000 - 180,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, Dental, and Vision plans for

31 Days of PTO (21 vacation days and

Job summary

Helion, based in Everett, WA, seeks a skilled engineer to operate and advance its pulsed-fusion experiments. You will manage high-energy systems, pre-shot checks, and diagnostics, ensuring safe, reliable, and repeatable operation of the research platform.

The role emphasizes ownership, rapid learning, and collaboration within a multidisciplinary team to push toward the world’s first fusion power plant.

Qualifications

• B.S. with 4+ years of relevant experience in aerospace, mechanical engineering, physics, or related field.
• Hands-on experience operating, maintaining, or improving high-vacuum chamber systems or high-voltage capacitor systems.
• Experience owning system uptime, reliability, and performance, including troubleshooting and root cause analysis.
• Proven experience executing complex experiments or operations with emphasis on repeatability, safety, and continuous improvement.
• Demonstrated ability to rapidly learn new technologies and take ownership of operational systems.
• Strong problem-solving skills and ability to respond effectively to real-time issues with minimal supervision.
• Proven ability to collaborate within a team and contribute to a high-performance operating environment.
• Experience mentoring or training others in system operation is a plus.

Responsibilities

• Operate and support day-to-day execution of FRC fusion experiments with safe, repeatable machine performance.
• Control and monitor pulsed power systems and high-energy infrastructure for reliability.
• Own system readiness for experiments, including pre-shot setup, checks, and troubleshooting.
• Diagnose and resolve issues in high-energy and vacuum systems to minimize downtime.
• Apply plasma physics concepts to support experiment execution and diagnostics interpretation.
• Drive continuous improvement of machine operations and reduce variability in results.
• Collaborate cross-functionally with engineering, science, and production teams to improve throughput.

Skills

High-vacuum systems

High-voltage capacitor systems

Root cause analysis

Troubleshooting

Experiment execution

Rapid learning

Autonomy

Team collaboration

Mentoring

Education

B.S. in Aerospace/Mechanical Engineering or Physics

M.S. in a related field

Job description

Helion, based in Everett, WA, seeks a skilled engineer to operate and advance its pulsed-fusion experiments. You will manage high-energy systems, pre-shot checks, and diagnostics, ensuring safe, reliable, and repeatable operation of the research platform.

The role emphasizes ownership, rapid learning, and collaboration within a multidisciplinary team to push toward the world’s first fusion power plant.