Principal Capacitor Engineer

Description

• Own long-term capacitor technology strategy, identifying opportunities to reduce risk, introduce advanced materials, and integrate emerging capacitor technologies
• Lead the full lifecycle of capacitor development—requirements definition, physics-based modeling, internal design, materials selection, prototyping, testing, and scaling into high-throughput manufacturing
• Partner closely with pulsed-power electrical engineers to align capacitor design with system-level circuit performance targets
• Provide technical leadership and mentorship to engineers, technicians, and assemblers, guiding architecture decisions, test interpretation, and iterative design improvements
• Define critical material specifications, qualification criteria, manufacturing processes, and high-voltage pulsed-power test methods for Helion’s custom capacitor systems
• Direct the testing, characterization, and evaluation of internally built and supplier-provided capacitors; analyze data and drive continuous improvement with internal teams and external vendors
• Lead failure analysis, lifetime modeling, thermal analysis, and root-cause investigations to strengthen capacitor reliability and production consistency

Requirements

• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Engineering or Physics
• Proven ability to lead capacitor design from concept through high-volume production, including scaling throughput and establishing robust manufacturing processes
• Ability to drive technical decision-making, mentor engineers, and set long-term architecture and process standards
• 15+ years of deep experience in pulsed-power capacitor design and manufacturing, including internal construction, low-inductance layout, simulation, materials processing, fabrication, high-voltage testing, and lifetime prediction
• Demonstrated expertise in dielectric physics: electrical/thermal aging, breakdown behavior, complex permittivity, frequency and temperature dependence, and high-field effects
• Strong capability in failure analysis, thermal modeling, and performance evaluation under extreme electrical and thermal stress
• Track record of effective cross-functional collaboration with electrical engineering, manufacturing, supply chain, and production teams
• Hands-on experience with rapid prototyping, iterative testing, and high-energy pulsed-power qualification
• Strong communication skills and ability to translate complex physical and engineering concepts into actionable design directions

Benefits

• Paid parental leave and support (up to 16 weeks)
• 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
• Annual wellness stipend
• Short term disability, long term disability, and life insurance
• Medical, Dental, and Vision plans for employees and their families

Training + Development

Interview process

Visa Sponsorship

Security clearance