Principal Electrical Engineer - RF

Fusion Energy Base; Everett (WA); On-site; USD 100,000 - 140,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, Dental, and Vision plans

31 days of PTO

401(k) match

Paid parental leave

Job summary

Fusion Energy Base in Everett, Washington is seeking a skilled Electrical Engineer specializing in RF and plasma systems. This pivotal role involves the design and deployment of high-voltage electrical systems and collaboration with interdisciplinary teams to drive advancements in fusion energy.

The ideal candidate will hold an advanced degree in Electrical Engineering or a related field, with over 10 years of relevant experience. The position offers comprehensive health benefits, generous PTO, and a supportive work environment committed to diversity.

Qualifications

• 10+ years of advanced laboratory and experimental engineering experience.
• Significant hands-on experimental experience with RF systems.
• Expertise in high-voltage measurement hardware.

Responsibilities

• Lead design, deployment, and operation of RF and plasma systems.
• Collaborate with engineers and scientists to align diagnostic capabilities.
• Mentor junior scientists and promote engineering practices.

Skills

RF systems

High-voltage electrical systems

Collaboration and leadership

Education

Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering, Physics, or Plasma Science

Tools

High-speed digitizers

Sensor networks

Job description

About Helion

Helion is a fusion power company based in Everett, WA, with a 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 over $1 billion from long‑time investors such as Sam Altman, Mithril, and Capricorn Investment Group, as well as new investors SoftBank and Lightspeed, to propel us forward. Our last prototype, Trenta, completed 10,000 high‑power pulses and reached plasma temperatures of 100 million degrees Celsius (9 keV). We are now operating Polaris, our next prototype on the path to the world’s first fusion power plant. 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

• Lead the end‑to‑end design, deployment, calibration, and operation of RF and plasma systems, ensuring robust instrumentation that meets experimental and operational performance needs.
• Design, test, and troubleshoot high‑voltage electrical systems including power delivery to pulsed magnets, energy recovery circuits, and internal power networks used during pulsed generator operation.
• Develop and integrate electrical measurement hardware (probes, magnetic coils, high‑speed digitizers, sensor networks) into diagnostic platforms that capture key plasma and power system behaviors.
• Collaborate with plasma physicists, electrical engineers, controls engineers, and data scientists to align diagnostic capabilities with live experimental needs and long‑term scientific and engineering milestones.
• Own the assembly, installation, and commissioning of diagnostic and electrical subsystems across multiple test campaigns, ensuring high data fidelity and compliance with safety and operational standards.
• Analyze real‑time and post‑shot electrical and diagnostic data to extract actionable insights, driving performance improvement and design iteration for both hardware and diagnostics.
• Guide the development of high‑throughput experimental workflows, instrumentation architecture, and internal methodologies that scale with generator performance and facility growth.
• Provide technical leadership in strategic planning and cross‑functional roadmap discussions that shape the future of Helion’s fusion experimentation and electrical systems architecture.
• Mentor junior scientists and engineers, driving excellent engineering practices, documentation standards, and experimental rigor.

Required Skills

• Advanced degree (Ph.D. preferred) in Electrical Engineering, Physics, Plasma Science, or a closely related discipline with significant hands‑on experimental experience.
• 10+ years of advanced laboratory and experimental engineering experience, including design and deployment of RF systems and high‑voltage measurement hardware in plasma, fusion, or comparable environments.
• Deep experience in high‑voltage electrical systems, including design, test, troubleshooting, and commissioning of pulsed systems and power electronics.
• Demonstrated subject‑matter expertise with the ability to operate independently, lead cross‑disciplinary technical efforts, and provide technical mentorship.
• Strong collaboration, communication, and leadership capability to drive work with engineers, scientists, and technical teams.

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.

Equal Opportunity Employer

Helion is an equal‑opportunity employer and values 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.