Senior Manager, Materials Science

Helion; Everett (WA); Hybrid; USD 150,000 - 210,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical/Dental/Vision

31 PTO days

10 holidays + winter break

401(k) match up to 5%

Disability & life insurance

Parental leave

Wellness stipend

Job summary

Helion in Everett, WA is seeking a senior leader for Materials Interactions and Diagnostics to guide design, testing, and monitoring of materials for extreme fusion environments. You will oversee R&D tool delivery and mentor a team of subject matter experts, reporting to the Director of Materials Science.

This onsite role requires strategic vision, autonomous execution, and a proven track record leading high-impact technologies in demanding environments.

Qualifications

• 10+ years of materials-related industry experience
• 3+ years of management experience
• Master's or PhD in Materials Science/Materials Engineering/Mechanical/Chemical Engineering or related fields
• Proven experience leading R&D organizations delivering complex technologies
• Deep expertise in materials characterization, degradation mechanisms, and lifetime prediction
• Experience with multiphysics modeling (Matlab, COMSOL, Python)
• Expertise in NDT and in-situ diagnostics
• Demonstrated success in hiring, mentoring, and developing managers and senior talent
• Ability to operate with high autonomy in ambiguous, fast-paced environments

Responsibilities

• Set the strategic vision for Materials Interactions and Diagnostics across characterization, modeling, monitoring, and lifetime prediction in fusion environments
• Lead and support SMEs in developing lab infrastructure and monitoring technologies
• Own end-to-end delivery of infrastructure and platforms for advanced materials characterization and modeling
• Build collaborative internal and external relationships to develop materials for fusion environments
• Translate annual goals into actionable tasks and manage timelines to milestones

Skills

Materials characterization

Management experience

R&D leadership

Team development

Autonomous work style

Education

Master's or PhD in Materials Science/Materials Engineering/Mechanical/Chemical or related fields

Tools

Matlab

COMSOL

Python

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:

You will lead Helion’s Materials Interactions and Diagnostics team with a strong focus on developing and deploying critical capabilities that enable the design, testing, and monitoring of materials for extreme environments. You will oversee the delivery of key R&D tools and guide a team of subject matter experts to meet Helion’s materials innovation goals. This onsite position is based in our Everett, WA office and reports to the Director of Materials Science.

You Will:

• Set the strategic vision for Materials Interactions and Diagnostics, establishing long-term technical roadmaps spanning characterization, modeling, monitoring, and lifetime prediction in fusion-relevant environments.

• Lead, develop, and support subject matter experts driving the development and deployment of new lab infrastructure, driving materials monitoring technologies and developing predictive models and simulations to extend material performance and reliability.

• Own end-to-end delivery of infrastructure and platforms, including advanced materials characterization systems, in-situ monitoring technologies, and integrated modeling frameworks.

• Build and manage a network of collaborative relationships, both internally and externally, to develop new materials that can survive a fusion environment.

• Translate annual goals into objective tasks and manage month-to-month planning towards completing goals and objectives. Drive schedule ownership to accelerate the completion of milestones.

Required Skills:

• 10+ years of materials-related industry experience and 3+ years of management experience

• Master's or PhD in Materials Science, Materials Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Chemical Engineering or related fields

• Proven experience leading R&D organizations delivering complex, high-impact technologies in demanding environments.

• Deep expertise in materials characterization, degradation mechanisms, and lifetime prediction, including high temperature, and stress-driven phenomena.

• Experience with multiphysics modeling (e.g., Matlab, COMSOL, Python), with the ability to integrate modeling into decision-making frameworks.

• Expertise in NDT and in-situ diagnostics, with a track record of advancing monitoring capabilities for critical systems.

• Demonstrated success in hiring, mentoring, and developing managers and senior technical talent.

• Ability to operate with high autonomy in ambiguous, fast-paced environments, balancing rapid execution with long-term strategic thinking.

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.