LabVIEW Controls Engineer

Fusion Energy Base; Everett (WA); On-site; USD 90,000 - 140,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, Dental, and Vision plans for…

31 Days of PTO (vacation + sick)

10 Paid holidays, + winter break

Up to 5% employer 401(k) match

Disability and life insurance

Paid parental leave

Annual wellness stipend

Job summary

Helion in Everett, WA is seeking a Controls & Data Acquisition Engineer to design, develop, and support control/DAQ systems for fusion tech R&D and manufacturing. You will build LabVIEW-based systems with PXI/PXIe/cRIO hardware, develop GUIs, and implement robust state-machine control architectures.

The role covers integration of sensors, high-speed data acquisition, and device interfaces, plus documentation and stakeholder communication.

Qualifications

• B.S. in CS/EE/ME or related field with 3+ years of experience, or M.S. with 1+ years of experience.
• Strong proficiency in LabVIEW, including control system and GUI development.
• Experience owning end-to-end development of complex control and DAQ systems.
• Hands-on experience with NI hardware (PXI/PXIe, cRIO), including Real-Time and/or FPGA.
• Experience programming industrial and automation hardware (PLCs, cRIOs, microcontrollers).
• Familiarity with common protocols (UART, RS-232, TCP/IP, Modbus).
• Experience integrating laboratory and industrial equipment (flow controllers, gauges, pumps, oscilloscopes, power supplies).
• Experience with power supply control, timing, voltage monitoring, and high-speed DAQ.

Responsibilities

• Design, develop, and maintain LabVIEW-based control and DAQ systems.
• Develop GUIs for machine control, health monitoring, and data visualization.
• Implement state-machine-based control architectures and integrate subsystems.
• Integrate sensors and instrumentation into high-speed data acquisition systems.
• Implement and maintain network communications and device interfaces.
• Perform system verification, bench testing, and deployment.
• Provide troubleshooting and sustainment support.
• Produce documentation including schematics and block diagrams.
• Communicate progress, risks, and tradeoffs to stakeholders.

Skills

LabVIEW proficiency

Control system development

End-to-end DAQ development

Industrial hardware programming

Technical documentation

Continuous learning mindset

Education

B.S. in Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, or related field

M.S. in relevant field

Tools

National Instruments hardware (PXI/PXIe/cRIO)

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.

What You Will Be Doing:

We are seeking a Controls & Data Acquisition Engineer to design, develop, and support control and DAQ systems for fusion technology R&D and manufacturing. These systems enable operation of development test bays, manufacturing automation, and end-of-line quality and acceptance testing.

You Will:

• Design, develop, and maintain LabVIEW-based control and DAQ systems using PXI/PXIe/cRIO/RIO hardware in Windows and/or Linux RT environments
• Develop intuitive GUIs for machine control, health monitoring, and data visualization
• Implement state-machine-based control architectures and integrate modular subsystems (cRIOs, PLCs, industrial controllers)
• Integrate sensors and external instrumentation into high-speed data acquisition systems
• Implement and maintain network communications and device interfaces using industry protocols (e.g., RS-232, TCP/IP, VISA, Modbus)
• Perform system verification, bench testing, commissioning, and deployment
• Provide operational troubleshooting and sustainment support
• Produce clear, complete system documentation, including schematics, block diagrams, and well-documented code
• Communicate technical progress, risks, and tradeoffs to stakeholders

Required Skills:

• B.S. in Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or related field with 3+ years of relevant experience, or M.S. with 1+ years of experience
• Strong proficiency in LabVIEW, including control system and GUI development
• Experience owning end-to-end development of complex control and DAQ systems
• Hands-on experience with National Instruments hardware (PXI, PXIe, cRIO), including Real-Time and/or FPGA environments
• Experience programming industrial and automation hardware (PLCs, cRIOs, microcontrollers)
• Familiarity with common communication protocols (UART, RS-232, TCP/IP, SPI, I2C, Modbus)
• Experience integrating and controlling laboratory and industrial equipment (e.g., flow controllers, gauges, pumps, oscilloscopes, power supplies)
• Experience with power supply control, precision timing, voltage monitoring, and high-speed data acquisition
• Experience developing and maintaining detailed technical documentation, including electrical schematics and system diagrams
• Strong learning mindset and desire to innovate

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.