Senior Electrical Engineer – Dielectric Materials Development and Analysis

U.S. Fusion Energy; Energy (IL); On-site; USD 164,000 - 236,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, Dental, Vision plans

PTO 31 days

Holiday pay

401(k) match

Disability & Life Insurance

Parental leave

Wellness stipend

Job summary

Helion, based in Everett, WA, is seeking a Materials Scientist to develop and validate advanced ceramic and dielectric materials for extreme environments in fusion systems. This onsite role reports to the Materials Science Manager, Metals and Dielectrics, and focuses on electrical characterization and scale-up for production.

You will lead multidisciplinary programs, translate test results into design recommendations, and act as the subject-matter expert for dielectric materials used in

Qualifications

• Advanced degree in Electrical Engineering or related field.
• 5+ years hands-on work with insulating and dielectric materials.

Responsibilities

• Lead high-impact projects to develop and evaluate electrical performance of dielectric materials for high-voltage operation.
• Define electrical requirements, test methods, and acceptance criteria for insulating materials used in high-field systems.
• Design and execute experiments to characterize dielectric strength, resistivity, permittivity, and dielectric loss.

Skills

Electrical insulation

Dielectric materials

High voltage

Materials characterization

R&D program leadership

Communication across teams

Education

Electrical Engineering degree

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.

Location

Everett, WA

Employment Type

Full time

Location Type

On-site

Department

Material Science

Compensation

• $164K – $236K

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

You will contribute to the development, validation, and deployment of advanced ceramic and high‑performance dielectric materials for extreme electrical, thermal, mechanical, and radiation environments. You will provide critical support to work spanning material and component design, prototyping, electrical characterization, qualification, and manufacturing scale‑up. This onsite role is based at our Everett, WA, facility and reports to the Materials Science Manager, Metals and Dielectrics.

You Will

• Lead high‑impact, multidisciplinary projects to develop and evaluate the electrical performance of advanced ceramic and dielectric materials for high‑voltage operation under fusion‑relevant conditions.
• Define electrical requirements, test methods, and acceptance criteria for insulating and resistive materials used in high‑field magnet systems.
• Design and execute experiments to characterize properties such as dielectric strength, electrical resistivity, permittivity, dielectric loss, and performance under combined electrical, thermal, mechanical, and radiation loading.
• Translate material‑level test results into actionable engineering requirements and design recommendations for Helion’s next‑generation fusion systems.
• Serve as Helion’s subject‑matter expert for dielectric materials and electrical insulation operating in a high‑voltage environment, providing technical guidance across engineering and R&D teams.
• Own projects from initial concept and material selection through prototyping, design reviews, and qualification for production.
• Work effectively amid evolving requirements and technical uncertainty, balancing risk, rigor, and schedule to maintain program delivery.

Required Skills

• Advanced degree in Electrical Engineering, or a related field
• An extensive understanding of electrically insulating and dielectric materials, typically demonstrated by 5+ years of hands‑on work
• Hands‑on experience with electrical testing and materials characterization, including the design, execution, and interpretation of experiments.
• Demonstrated success developing or qualifying ceramic or dielectric materials for a commercial product or large, integrated engineering system, such as an engine, turbine, generator, magnet, or high‑voltage assembly.
• Experience planning and leading R&D programs governed by defined milestones, technical reviews, and delivery schedules.
• Experience communicating material behavior and test results to multidisciplinary engineering teams and translating findings into design decisions.

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.

Compensation Range: $164K - $236K