About the posting
“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.”
Read the full posting on Helion's site
Seen live Oct 23, 2026; first seen Oct 22, 2026.
Pay in context
This posting lists $164,000 to $236,000 a year, a midpoint of $200,000.
The midpoint is higher than 80 percent of engineering (not software) postings near Seattle, WA that list pay.
Washington has a pay transparency law: covered employers must include a pay range in a job posting. Which employers are covered depends on their size.
How long it has been open
Posted Oct 13, 2026, 10 days ago, and seen on Helion's careers page today.
At 10 days old, it is under the 51-day median.
Helion at a glance
Helion has 63 open postings that we can see, 24 in engineering (not software); 98 percent list pay.
The application
Applying goes through Ashby.
Trailhead fills Greenhouse, Lever and Ashby forms on your computer; on the phone and on other systems it hands you your answers and your resume.
Seniority
Level: senior.
The posting mentions 8+ years.
Place and cost of living
On site near Seattle, WA; prices in WA run 7 percent above the US average.
Similar jobs at similar pay
The engineering (not software) market near Seattle, WA
109 engineering (not software) postings near Seattle, WA are open right now, from 19 employers.
Half of them have been open 51 days or less.
From Helion's posting
This is Helion's own text, as published on its job board. We last checked it on Oct 23, 2026. Apply on Helion's site. We remove a posting when the employer closes it.
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. 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 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
- 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.