Helion Energy

Test Automation Engineer, Manufacturing

Helion Energy$100K — $130K *
Manufacturing & Automotive
5 - 7 years of experience
Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • 5+ years of experience in automated manufacturing test systems or semi-/fully automated processes.
  • Strong fundamentals in manufacturing engineering and continuous improvement principles.
  • Proficient in test automation software development, particularly in Python or similar languages.
  • Experience integrating programmable instrumentation and communication protocols like SCPI and Ethernet.
  • Skilled at translating product requirements into effective test methods and diagnostics.
  • Cross-functional collaboration experience with engineering, operations, and external vendors.
  • Familiar with SQL or similar tools for data collection and analysis.

Responsibilities

  • Own and enhance automated test systems from protoypes to production.
  • Develop comprehensive production test processes for capacitor manufacturing.
  • Translate engineering requirements into repeatable testing methods and criteria.
  • Create and maintain software and systems for data collection and test performance analysis.
  • Integrate instrumentation and controls into reliable automated tests.
  • Design automated test processes adhering to high-voltage safety standards.
  • Troubleshoot and improve automated test equipment for better reliability and uptime.

Benefits

  • Medical, Dental, and Vision plans for employees and their families.
  • 31 Days of PTO including 21 vacation days and 10 sick days.
  • 10 Paid holidays, plus additional company-wide winter break.
  • Up to 5% employer 401(k) match.
  • Short and long-term disability and life insurance.
  • Paid parental leave and support (up to 16 weeks).
  • Annual wellness stipend.
Full Job Description
What You Will Be Doing:

You will own and improve automated manufacturing test systems for high-voltage electrical assemblies used in energy-storage components for Helion's fusion generators. This role sits within Manufacturing Engineering and supports the transition from prototype builds to volume manufacturing by developing production test processes, integrating instrumentation, improving test software, troubleshooting equipment issues, and ensuring test stations are safe, repeatable, maintainable, and scalable. You will work closely with Design Engineering, Operations, Maintenance, and external vendors to improve test coverage, throughput, equipment readiness, and manufacturing traceability. This is an onsite role that reports directly to the Manager of Manufacturing Engineering at our Everett, WA office.

You Will:
  • Own and improve automated manufacturing test systems from prototype implementation through production release, ramp, and sustainment.
  • Develop production test processes for capacitor manufacturing, including in-line testing, end-of-line testing, accelerated qualification testing, and safe commissioning practices.
  • Translate product requirements, failure modes, and pulsed-power circuit requirements into repeatable test methods, limits, diagnostics, and acceptance criteria.
  • Develop and maintain test software, data collection systems, visualization tools, automated reporting, and analysis tools used to monitor test station performance, yield, throughput, process health, and KPIs.
  • Integrate programmable instrumentation, sensors, controls, and test equipment into safe, reliable, and maintainable automated test systems.
  • Design and improve automated test processes with appropriate controls for high-voltage and stored-energy hazards, including interlocks, fault handling, procedural controls, and equipment documentation.
  • Work cross-functionally with Design Engineering, Operations Engineering, Maintenance, technicians, and vendors to improve design for test, automation, manufacturability, maintainability, MES integration, traceability, and production ramp readiness.
  • Troubleshoot automated test equipment, establish root cause, and implement corrective actions that improve uptime, reliability, and recurrence prevention.


Required Skills:
  • 5+ years of experience developing, deploying, or sustaining automated manufacturing test systems, production equipment, or semi-/fully automated manufacturing processes in a hardware manufacturing environment.
  • Strong manufacturing engineering fundamentals, including process development, production ramp, equipment readiness, troubleshooting, root cause analysis, and continuous improvement.
  • Proficiency developing test automation software in Python or a comparable language for production equipment, instrumentation, data acquisition, or automated test execution.
  • Experience integrating programmable instrumentation or test equipment using SCPI, GPIB, Ethernet/LAN, serial communication, DAQ hardware, or similar interfaces.
  • Ability to translate product requirements, failure modes, and engineering assumptions into repeatable production test methods, limits, diagnostics, and acceptance criteria.
  • Experience working cross-functionally with Design Engineering, Operations, Production, Maintenance, technicians, supply chain, and external equipment vendors.
  • Experience using SQL or similar database tools for manufacturing data collection, analysis, traceability, reporting, or critical data management.
  • Working knowledge of high-voltage electrical circuits, stored-energy hazards, and safe test system design principles.

#LI-ONSITE #LI-SA1

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

About Helion Energy

Helion Energy, Inc. is an American fusion research company, located in Everett, Washington. They are developing a magneto-inertial fusion technology to produce helium-3 and fusion power via aneutronic fusion.
Learn more about Helion Energy
Industry
Founded
2013

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