Senior Materials Engineer, Dielectrics

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 play a key role in developing dielectric materials suited for high voltage components that maximize efficiency in the extreme environment of a nuclear fusion reactor. Specific responsibilities will include the development and evaluation of novel materials or the assessment and vetting of a wide range of emerging materials with a focus on their extended performance under radiation exposure. In this onsite role, based at our Everett, WA office, you will report to the Director of Materials Science and collaborate closely with cross-functional teams to advance Helion’s mission.

You Will:

Lead high impact and multi-disciplinary projects to develop new high-voltage dielectric insulating materials that can perform under applied high-voltage conditions in an advanced fusion generator

Lead testing campaigns to quantify the electrical properties and behavioral response limits of materials exposed to demanding conditions of heat, stress, and accumulated radiation damage

Perform comprehensive reviews of published research and development efforts in advanced high-voltage dielectric materials and distill the information into summaries for non-nuclear engineers

Operate in an environment with obstacles and changing requirements, balancing risks with rapid delivery requirements

Partner with other internal Helion teams, external vendors, national laboratories, and universities to establish pathways to extended capabilities

Develop a broad collaborative network and represent Helion at technical meetings and conferences

Required Skills:

An advanced degree and/or extensive understanding of electrically insulating and dielectric materials, typically demonstrated by a degree in materials science, electrical engineering, physics, nuclear engineering, or related disciplines and 8+ years of hands-on work

8+ years of industry-related experience, including proven results executing R&D and development projects (including design reviews) for a commercial product

Capability to plan and lead R&D efforts guided by a milestone schedule

The ideal candidate would have a bias for action, know how to execute with urgency and favor learning through rapid prototyping

Preferred Skills:

Experience with radiation effects testing and characterization

Proven results with the new product introduction from seed concepts to commercial deployment

Practical knowledge of multi-physics modeling for simulating microstructures and properties based on processing approaches and relevant operating environments

#LI-Onsite #LI-TM1

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.