What You Will Be Doing:As a Principal Electrical Engineer at Helion, you will be at the forefront of designing, implementing, and operating advanced RF circuits and diagnostic systems for Helion's fusion generators. You will integrate plasma science with high-power electrical engineering to deliver reliable, scalable, and high-fidelity plasma and energy system measurements that directly inform performance optimization, generator commissioning, and future device development. You will work across physics, controls, machine operations, and engineering disciplines to ensure instrumentation, diagnostics, and electrical subsystems meet stringent experimental and operational requirements. This is an onsite role that reports directly to our Director of Plasma and Nuclear Science at our Everett, WA office.
You Will: - Lead the end-to-end design, deployment, calibration, and operation of RF and plasma systems, ensuring robust instrumentation that meets experimental and operational performance needs.
- Design, test, and troubleshoot high-voltage electrical systems including power delivery to pulsed magnets, energy recovery circuits, and internal power networks used during pulsed generator operation.
- Develop and integrate electrical measurement hardware (e.g., probes, magnetic coils, high-speed digitizers, sensor networks) into diagnostic platforms that capture key plasma and power system behaviors.
- Collaborate with plasma physicists, electrical engineers, controls engineers, and data scientists to align diagnostic capabilities with live experimental needs and long-term scientific and engineering milestones.
- Own the assembly, installation, and commissioning of diagnostic and electrical subsystems across multiple test campaigns, ensuring high data fidelity and compliance with safety and operational standards.
- Analyze real-time and post-shot electrical and diagnostic data to extract actionable insights, driving performance improvement and design iteration for both hardware and diagnostics.
- Guide the development of high-throughput experimental workflows, instrumentation architecture, and internal methodologies that scale with generator performance and facility growth.
- Provide technical leadership in strategic planning and cross-functional roadmap discussions that shape the future of Helion's fusion experimentation and electrical systems architecture.
- Mentor junior scientists and engineers, driving excellent engineering practices, documentation standards, and experimental rigor.
Required Skills: - Advanced degree (Ph.D. preferred) in Electrical Engineering, Physics, Plasma Science, or a closely related discipline with significant hands-on experimental experience.
- 10+ years of advanced laboratory and experimental engineering experience, including design and deployment of RF systems and high-voltage measurement hardware in plasma, fusion, or comparable environments.
- Deep experience in high-voltage electrical systems, including design, test, troubleshooting, and commissioning of pulsed systems and power electronics.
- Demonstrated subject matter expertise with the ability to operate independently, lead cross-disciplinary technical efforts, and provide technical mentorship.
- Strong collaboration, communication, and leadership capability to drive work with engineers, scientists, and technical teams.
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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
