Helion
Develops magneto-inertial fusion reactors to generate zero‑carbon electricity via direct energy conversion.
12 hours ago
Intermediate (4-7 years), Expert & Leadership (13+ years), Experienced (8-12 years)
Full Time
Everett, Washington, United States
Onsite
Company Size
300 Employees
Service Specialisms
Sector Specialisms
Description
reliability strategy
design reliability
risk mitigation
root cause
team mentoring
build standards
The Build Reliability Lead will head reliability efforts for Helion’s fusion devices, focusing on identifying and eliminating build risks while growing a high‑performing team of engineers and inspectors. The role involves establishing build standards and partnering with design, manufacturing, supply chain, and operations to maintain those standards across the hardware lifecycle, reporting to the Senior Manager of Production at the Everett, WA office.
- Grow and mentor a team of build reliability engineers and inspectors
- Own build reliability strategy across Helion's fusion devices, from early design through final assembly and commissioning
- Drive Design for Reliability, Manufacturability, and Assembly practices into hardware development
- Partner with design engineering to influence architectures and interfaces to improve build success and repeatability
- Identify, prioritize, and mitigate build risks through structured analyses such as FMEA, tolerance analysis, and failure investigations
- Lead containments, root cause analysis, and corrective and preventative actions of build issues and nonconformances
Requirements
engineering degree
5+ years
management
hiring
multidisciplinary
problem solving
Candidates must hold a bachelor’s degree in engineering and have at least five years of build reliability experience, including two years in an engineering management role. The ideal candidate has a proven track record hiring and developing engineers, leading multidisciplinary teams, managing complex projects with schedule accountability, and applying first‑principles problem solving across mechanical, manufacturing, and electrical disciplines.
- Bachelor's degree in Engineering
- 5+ years of build reliability engineering experience, including 2+ years in an engineering management role
- Demonstrated ability to hire and grow engineers and inspectors, providing impactful career development
- Experience leading multidisciplinary teams with full-scope project ownership
- Proven ability to manage complex engineering projects with schedule accountability
- Hands-on exposure to multiple engineering disciplines such as mechanical, manufacturing, and electrical
- Ability to apply engineering first-principles and structured problem-solving to technical challenges
Benefits
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.
- 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
Training + Development
Interview process
Visa Sponsorship
Security clearance
Overview
100M °C
Plasma Temperature
Achieved a plasma temperature of 100 million degrees Celsius, a critical milestone in fusion energy.
$1B
VC Funding
Received over $1 billion in venture capital funding to support their fusion energy research and development.
$5B
Valuation
Valued at over $5 billion in their Series F funding round, reflecting strong investor confidence in their fusion technology.
50 MW
Power Plant
Aiming to deliver a 50 MW fusion-generated electricity plant by 2028, marking a significant step toward commercial fusion energy.
- Pursues a bold vision: taming the power of stars on Earth through fusion energy.
- Develops magneto-inertial fusion technology, merging plasma at extreme speeds and capturing energy directly.
- Pioneers in aneutronic fusion, recycling byproducts to generate helium-3, a sustainable fuel source.
- Shifts from lab-scale to industrial-scale fusion with the Polaris device, supported by legal agreements.
- Aims for rapid iteration with reactor designs capable of one pulse per second, enabling modular fusion systems.
Culture + Values
- Build with urgency
- Take ownership
- Execute rigorously
- Deliver hard truths
Environment + Sustainability
$500M in 2021
Investment Figure
Raised $500 million in 2021 to accelerate the development of their net-electricity target device, Polaris.
100M°C
Plasma Temperature Achievement
Achieved a milestone by heating plasma to 100 million degrees Celsius in June 2021.
500 MWe
Fusion Plant Capacity
Partnered with Nucor to deploy a 500 MWe fusion plant, enabling zero-carbon baseload power for steelmaking.
- Committed to generating zero‑carbon electricity from fusion
- Pulsed non‑ignition fusion approach avoids steam turbines and cooling towers by direct electricity capture
- Supporting right‑sized regulation to enable safe and rapid fusion deployment
- Applied for nitrogen‑based fire suppression and borated‑polyethylene shielding for safety and environmental protection