Senior Plasma Data Scientist

Apply; Everett (WA); On-site; USD 110,000 - 140,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, Dental, and Vision plans

31 Days of PTO

401(k) match up to 5%

Paid parental leave

Annual wellness stipend

Job summary

Helion in Everett, WA, is looking for a Senior Plasma Data Scientist specializing in synthetic diagnostics to drive the development of advanced machine-learning frameworks for fusion energy. Your work will center on increasing the accuracy of plasma diagnostic models and improving overall plasma performance.

This role involves collaboration with experts in plasma physics and requires a PhD in a relevant field, along with experience in machine learning applications. The position offers a range of benefits, including comprehensive medical plans and generous PTO.

Qualifications

• 3+ years of experience in R&D environments applying machine learning.
• Experience integrating ML with scientific computing or experimental diagnostics.
• Familiarity with plasma-dynamics modeling.

Responsibilities

• Develop and validate machine-learning frameworks for plasma dynamics.
• Integrate ML models with simulation tools and experimental pipelines.
• Communicate results through reports and presentations.

Skills

Machine learning expertise

Physics-informed ML methods

Scripting for data parsing

Collaboration skills

Education

PhD in Physics, Engineering, or related field

Tools

MATLAB

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 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

Helion is hiring a Senior Plasma Data Scientist specializing in synthetic diagnostics to improve how we measure, interpret, and model FRC plasma behavior. In this role, you will develop and validate synthetic diagnostic models that connect experimental diagnostic signals with simulation outputs, helping improve diagnostic accuracy and plasma performance interpretation. In your first year, you will focus on integrating these models with experimental and simulation data pipelines to support faster, more reliable experimental analysis. This position reports to the Experimental Science Manager at our Everett, WA office and plays a key role in advancing Helion’s path toward fusion electricity.

You Will

• Develop and validate machine‑learning frameworks for FRC plasma‑dynamics, leveraging physics‑grounded ML approaches (e.g., differentiable physics, PINNs, surrogate modeling, or hybrid physics+ML systems)
• Integrate ML models with existing simulation tools and experimental‑diagnostic pipelines to enable hybrid physics + data‑driven validation workflows
• Reproduce experimental plasma conditions within ML modeling workflows to support interpretation of magnetic diffusion, circuit response, and diagnostic measurements
• Generate analysis scripts for post‑processing, parsing model outputs, and visualizing correlations between ML‑based predictions and experimental results
• Collaborate with plasma‑physics, pulsed‑power, and transient‑magnetics experts to expand the fidelity and fusion‑relevance of ML‑enabled modeling frameworks
• Communicate results with rigor and clarity through reports, presentations, and technical visualizations for research stakeholders

Required Skills

• PhD in Physics, Engineering, Applied Math, Computational Science, Machine Learning, or related field with emphasis on physics‑grounded modeling
• 3+ years of industry or research‑lab experience applying machine learning in experimental, simulation‑driven, or scientific R&D environments
• Expertise with physics‑informed or physics‑constrained ML methods, such as differentiable physics, PINNs, scientific ML, surrogate modeling, or reduced‑order models for complex physical systems
• Experience integrating ML models with scientific‑computing workflows, simulation tools, or experimental diagnostics
• Proficiency scripting for data parsing, model analysis, and visualization (MATLAB, Python, or similar; Fortran or HPC exposure valuable)
• Familiarity with magnetic diffusion, circuit coupling, or plasma‑dynamics modeling in pulsed‑power or electromagnetics systems

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 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.