Principal Applied Plasma Data Scientist

Socket.dev; Everett (WA); On-site; USD 180,000 - 250,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health plans

PTO 31 days

401(k) match

Disability insurance

Parental leave

Wellness stipend

Job summary

Helion is seeking a Principal Applied Plasma Data Scientist to accelerate experimental FRC plasma modeling through physics‑grounded ML. The role focuses on differentiable physics frameworks, PINNs, and surrogate models, integrated with simulation and diagnostic pipelines, reporting to Experimental Science Manager in Everett, WA.

You will collaborate with plasma physics and pulsed‑power experts to expand model fidelity and support experimental design.

Qualifications

• PhD in Physics, Engineering, Applied Math, Computational Science, Machine Learning, or related field with emphasis on physics‑grounded modeling.
• 10+ years of industry or research‑lab experience applying ML in experimental, simulation‑driven, or scientific R&D environments.
• Expertise with physics‑informed or physics‑constrained ML methods (differentiable physics, PINNs, surrogate modeling, reduced‑order models).
• Experience integrating ML with scientific‑computing workflows, simulation tools, or diagnostics.
• Proficiency in scripting for data parsing, model analysis, and visualization (MATLAB, Python; Fortran or HPC exposure valuable).
• Familiarity with magnetic diffusion, circuit coupling, or plasma‑dynamics modeling in pulsed‑power or electromagnetics systems.

Responsibilities

• Develop and validate ML frameworks for FRC plasma dynamics with physics‑grounded approaches.
• Integrate ML models with simulation tools and diagnostic pipelines for hybrid modeling workflows.
• Reproduce experimental plasma conditions in ML workflows to interpret diffusion, circuit response, and diagnostics.
• Generate analysis scripts for post‑processing and visualization of ML predictions vs experimental results.
• Collaborate with plasma physics and pulsed‑power experts to improve modeling fidelity.
• Communicate results through reports and presentations to research stakeholders.

Skills

Physics-grounded ML

PINNs

Surrogate modeling

Differentiable physics

ML integration with simulations

Data visualization

Scripting: Python/MATLAB

HPC exposure

Education

PhD in Physics/Engineering/Math/CS

Tools

MATLAB

Python

Fortran

HPC toolchains

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

Helion is hiring a Principal Applied Plasma Data Scientist specializing in physics‑grounded machine learning to accelerate experimental FRC plasma modeling. This role will focus on developing and validating advanced ML frameworks—such as differentiable‑physics models, PINNs, surrogate modeling, or hybrid physics+ML systems—while integrating these tools with simulation and diagnostics pipelines. You will support cross‑disciplinary fusion research and contribute to high‑impact modeling that informs experimental design and interpretation. This onsite position reports to the Experimental Science Manager at our Everett, WA office and plays a key role in advancing fusion electricity development.

You Will

• Develop and validate machine‑learning frameworks for FRC plasma‑dynamics, leveraging physics‑grounded ML approaches (e.g., differentiable physics, PINNs, surrogate modeling, or hybrid physics+ML systems)
• Integrate ML models with existing simulation tools and experimental‑diagnostic pipelines to enable hybrid physics + data‑driven validation workflows
• Reproduce experimental plasma conditions within ML modeling workflows to support interpretation of magnetic diffusion, circuit response, and diagnostic measurements
• Generate analysis scripts for post‑processing, parsing model outputs, and visualizing correlations between ML‑based predictions and experimental results
• Collaborate with plasma‑physics, pulsed‑power, and transient‑magnetics experts to expand the fidelity and fusion‑relevance of ML‑enabled modeling frameworks
• Communicate results with rigor and clarity through reports, presentations, and technical visualizations for research stakeholders

Required Skills

• PhD in Physics, Engineering, Applied Math, Computational Science, Machine Learning, or related field with emphasis on physics‑grounded modeling
• 10+ years of industry or research‑lab experience applying machine learning in experimental, simulation‑driven, or scientific R&D environments
• Expertise with physics‑informed or physics‑constrained ML methods, such as differentiable physics, PINNs, scientific ML, surrogate modeling, or reduced‑order models for complex physical systems
• Experience integrating ML models with scientific‑computing workflows, simulation tools, or experimental diagnostics
• Proficiency scripting for data parsing, model analysis, and visualization (MATLAB, Python, or similar; Fortran or HPC exposure valuable)
• Familiarity with magnetic diffusion, circuit coupling, or plasma‑dynamics modeling in pulsed‑power or electromagnetics systems

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.