Materials Engineering Summer Intern

Fusion Energy Base; Everett (WA); On-site; USD 25,000 - 33,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, Dental, Vision plans

PTO and holidays

401(k) match

Disability and life insurance

Parental leave and support

Wellness stipend

Job summary

Helion seeks a Materials Engineering Intern for a 12-week onsite program in Everett, WA. You will assist in literature reviews, perform material characterization, and help analyze data for ongoing fusion material research.

Collaboration with senior staff provides hands-on experience and exposure to cutting-edge lab techniques. The role targets graduate students in Materials Science/Engineering (MS/PhD) with a strong fundamentals in materials properties, thermodynamics, and mechanics, plus

Qualifications

• Must be enrolled in a graduate degree (MS/PhD) in a related field.
• GPA of 3.0 or above.
• Fundamental materials science knowledge: properties, thermodynamics, mechanics.
• Experience with lab techniques and material characterization.
• Ability to analyze data with MATLAB, Python, or Origin.

Responsibilities

• Assist in literature reviews to guide experiments.
• Perform material characterization tests and data acquisition.
• Analyze data to identify trends and optimize properties.
• Present results during team meetings and intern showcase.

Skills

Full-time onsite

12 weeks

Data analysis

Lab techniques

Education

Graduate degree in relevant field

Tools

MATLAB

Python

Origin

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

The materials engineering team at Helion is responsible for developing novel metals, ceramics, polymers, and composites necessary to successfully operate current and next generation nuclear fusion systems. As a Materials Engineering Intern, you'll assist in literature reviews to guide laboratory experiments and perform material characterization tests, including sample preparation, instrument operation, and data acquisition. Your work will support ongoing research and includes presenting results during weekly team meetings and at the year-end intern showcase. This role offers a unique opportunity to develop technical skills, collaborate with industry experts, and play an active part in shaping the future of clean energy. This is a 12-week onsite internship at our Everett, WA office.

You Will

• Assist in the research and development of new materials, including polymers, metals, ceramics, and composites
• Conduct experiments to test the properties and performance of materials under various conditions
• Analyze data from material tests and experiments to identify trends and optimize material properties
• Support the characterization of materials using techniques such as microscopy, spectroscopy, and mechanical testing
• Contribute to the documentation and reporting of research findings, including technical reports and presentations
• Participate in cross-functional team meetings to discuss project progress and challenges

Required Skills

• Ability to work full time, onsite for a minimum of 12 consecutive weeks during summer 2027 in Everett, WA
• Currently enrolled in Graduate (Master's or PhD) degree in Materials Science, Materials Engineering, Chemical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Chemistry or a related field
• GPA of 3.0 or above
• Fundamental background in materials science principles, including material properties, thermodynamics (incl. phase diagrams), and mechanics
• Experience with laboratory techniques and material characterization tools and a willingness to learn
• Proficiency in data analysis and familiarity with software tools (e.g., MATLAB, Python, or Origin)

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.