Process Engineer, Fuel Cycle

Helion; 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

10 Paid holidays

Up to 5% employer 401(k) match

Short term and long term disability

Paid parental leave

Annual wellness stipend

Job summary

Helion in Everett, WA is looking for an experienced engineer to design the world's first continuous fusion fuel cycle. This role involves owning process design and implementation, leading projects from concept to commissioning, and collaborating with an interdisciplinary team. Required is a Bachelor's degree in Chemical, Mechanical, or Nuclear Engineering and 5+ years of project management experience. The position offers an attractive compensation package including medical benefits and generous PTO.

Qualifications

• 5+ years of experience delivering full-scope chemical engineering projects.
• Experience taking engineering ideas from concepts to reality.
• Proven ability to apply methodical problem-solving in complex systems.

Responsibilities

• Own engineering for fuel cycle design units, from inception to integration.
• Perform detailed design for process equipment under varied conditions.
• Produce key deliverables including PFDs, P&IDs, HMBs, and HAZOPs.

Skills

Chemical process design

Mechanical engineering

Nuclear engineering

First-principles thinking

Problem-solving

Education

Bachelor's degree in Chemical, Mechanical, or Nuclear Engineering

Tools

Process simulation tools

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 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’ll Be Doing

You will be at the forefront of designing the world’s first continuous fusion fuel cycle – an opportunity to redefine the future of clean energy for the modern world. You will own process design and implementation for major systems in our fuel cycle, taking systems from concept to commissioning. You'll work collaboratively with engineers, scientists, and technicians across the company, with a focus on scaling up and integrating these systems into our commercial fusion platform. You will report to the Fuel Cycle Manager and work onsite at our Everett, WA office.

You Will

• Own inception-to-integration engineering for fuel cycle design units, including system process design, procurement, installation, and commissioning
• Perform detailed design for process equipment such as columns, reactors, membranes, heaters, pumps, and piping under varied conditions (ambient, cryogenic, and vacuum)
• Use process simulation tools to support design development, integration, and case studies
• Produce key deliverables including PFDs, P&IDs, HMBs, HAZOPs, and sizing calculations
• Interact with multidisciplinary teams such as mechanical, electrical, controls, operations to deliver fully integrated process designs
• Lead high-level design reviews to validate solutions and incorporate feedback into systems

Required Skills

• Bachelor’s degree in Chemical, Mechanical, or Nuclear Engineering or equivalent experience in chemical process design or development
• 5+ years of experience delivering full-scope chemical engineering projects, including managing technical deliverables and schedules
• Experience taking engineering ideas from abstract concepts to physical reality, demonstrated by delivering first-of-a-kind hardware solutions
• Proven ability to apply first-principles thinking and methodical problem-solving as demonstrated by leading design and troubleshooting in complex engineering systems
• Experience performing detailed process equipment sizing calculations including chemical, fluid, thermal, mechanical, and relief systems
• Demonstrated success working on and contributing to multidisciplinary engineering projects

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.