Fusion Research Operator: High-Energy Pulse Systems

Helion; Everett (WA); On-site; USD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, Dental, Vision plans

31 Days PTO (vacation + sick)

401(k) with company match

Disability & life insurance

Parental leave

Wellness stipend

Job summary

Helion in Everett, WA seeks a hands-on engineer/physicist to operate and advance pulsed-fusion experiments within the Research and Development team. You will oversee high-energy systems, perform pre-shot checks, and troubleshoot to maintain safe, repeatable operations.

The role requires strong experience with high-vacuum and high-voltage systems, plus a proven track record of solo and collaborative problem-solving in a fast-paced environment.

Qualifications

• BS with 4+ years (or MS with 2+ years) 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.
• Proven ability to execute complex experiments with emphasis on repeatability, safety, and continuous improvement.
• Able to rapidly learn new technologies and take ownership of operational systems.

Responsibilities

• Operate and support day-to-day FRC fusion experiments, ensuring safe and repeatable machine performance.
• Control and monitor pulsed power systems, including mega-joule capacitor banks and high-energy infrastructure.
• Own system readiness for experiments, including pre-shot setup, system checks, troubleshooting, and analysis.
• Identify, diagnose, and resolve issues in high-energy and large-scale vacuum systems to minimize downtime and improve efficiency.
• Apply plasma physics concepts to support experiment execution and interpret diagnostics.
• Drive continuous improvement of machine operations, including refining procedures, improving robustness, and reducing variability in results.
• Collaborate cross-functionally with engineering, science, and production teams to improve system performance and throughput.

Skills

High vacuum systems

High-voltage capacitor systems

Experiment execution

Diagnostics interpretation

System uptime & troubleshooting

Team collaboration

Mentoring or training

Rapid learning of new tech

Education

B.S. in Aerospace/Mechanical Engineering/Physics

M.S. in Aerospace/Mechanical Engineering/Physics

Tools

High-vacuum chamber systems

High-voltage capacitor systems

Job description

Helion in Everett, WA seeks a hands-on engineer/physicist to operate and advance pulsed-fusion experiments within the Research and Development team. You will oversee high-energy systems, perform pre-shot checks, and troubleshoot to maintain safe, repeatable operations.

The role requires strong experience with high-vacuum and high-voltage systems, plus a proven track record of solo and collaborative problem-solving in a fast-paced environment.