What You Will Be Doing:Helion is hiring a Principal Applied Plasma Data Scientist specializing in physics-grounded machine learning to accelerate experimental FRC plasma modeling. This role will focus on developing and validating advanced ML frameworks-such as differentiable-physics models, PINNs, surrogate modeling, or hybrid physics+ML systems-while integrating these tools with simulation and diagnostics pipelines. You will support cross-disciplinary fusion research and contribute to high-impact modeling that informs experimental design and interpretation. This onsite position reports to the Experimental Science Manager at our Everett, WA office and plays a key role in advancing fusion electricity development.
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
- 10+ 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
BenefitsOur 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
