Senior Manager, Plasma Diagnostics

Fusion Energy Base; Everett (WA); On-site; USD 150,000 - 210,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, Dental & Vision

PTO 31 days

Holiday break

401(k) match

Disability & Life Insurance

Parental leave

Wellness stipend

Job summary

Helion in Everett, WA is seeking a Lead Scientist to guide a team of physicists and engineers, shaping research programs and translating findings into milestones.

You will own schedules, present progress at internal meetings, and collaborate on experimental instrumentation and procedures across disciplines.

Qualifications

• Advanced degree in physics or related physical science discipline.
• Hands-on knowledge of plasma physics and hardware design.
• Experience leading scientists or engineers in R&D settings.

Responsibilities

• Lead a team of scientists and engineers working on various projects.
• Present scientific progress updates during internal meetings and conferences.
• Create the team roadmap and strategic vision for subsystem integration.
• Collaborate on development and testing of experimental instrumentation and procedures.
• Drive schedule ownership and optimization to accelerate milestones.
• Drive design, analysis and process improvements to increase throughput.

Skills

Team leadership

Project management

Experimental instrumentation

Multidisciplinary collaboration

Education

Advanced degree in physics or related physical science

Tools

Hardware design

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 $1.5billion 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 150million degrees Celsius (13keV). Helion is continuing to iterate and is 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.

Responsibilities

• Lead a team of scientists and engineers working on various projects and initiatives.
• Present scientific progress updates during internal meetings and conferences.
• Create the team roadmap taking into consideration how the physics of different subsystems work together to create a strategic vision.
• Collaborate with other scientists and engineers in the development and testing of experimental instrumentation and procedures.
• Drive schedule ownership and optimization by team members to accelerate milestones.
• Drive design, analysis, and process improvements to increase throughput.

Required Skills and Experience

• Advanced degree in physics or related physical science discipline.
• 5+ years of scientific research experience with 3+ years managing scientists or engineers in research, development, or technology settings.
• Knowledge of applied plasma physics with hands‑on experience in hardware design and development.
• Experience leading multidisciplinary teams and managing complex interdepartmental projects, including schedule ownership.

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 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.