Fuel Cycle Operations Lead

About Helion

We are a fusion power company based in Everett, WA, with the mission to build the world's first fusion power plant, enabling a future with unlimited clean electricity. Our vision is a world with clean, reliable, and affordable energy for everyone.

Since Helion's founding in 2013, we have raised over $1 billion from long-time investors such as Sam Altman, Mithril, and Capricorn Investment Group as well as new investors SoftBank and Lightspeed to propel us forward. Our last prototype, Trenta, completed 10,000 high-power pulses and reached plasma temperatures of 100 million degrees Celsius (9 keV). We are now operating Polaris, our next prototype on the path to the world's first fusion power plant.

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.

What You Will Be Doing:

You will lead Helion’s Fuel Cycle Operations team, overseeing end-to-end fuel delivery, recovery, purification, and analytics operations that directly support Polaris, Helion’s 7th fusion prototype. You’ll also drive R&D testing for Orion and lead commissioning activities for next-generation fuel cycle systems. Your leadership will shape the team’s operational excellence in tritium processing, system reliability, and readiness for future fuel cycle deployments. This is an onsite role that reports directly to Fuel Cycle Manager at our Everett, WA office.

You Will:

• Lead and develop a multidisciplinary team of operations engineers responsible for the commissioning, operation, and maintenance of fuel cycle systems supporting Polaris, including fuel management, exhaust processing, and gas analytics

• Drive pilot-scale R&D programs to test, evaluate, and scale fuel cycle systems for Orion - defining testing strategies, guiding campaign execution, and translating results into design improvements and risk reduction for full-scale systems

• Collaborate cross-functionally with Radiation Safety, R&D, Mechanical, Electrical, and Controls teams to ensure safe, efficient, and high-uptime operations while implementing process improvements

• Establish operational excellence by developing key performance metrics, standardizing procedures and protocols, and ensuring all tritium operations remain within regulatory and safety requirements

• Translate strategic goals into actionable objectives, managing month-to-month planning, schedules, and priorities to deliver reliable performance across both operational and development projects

• Mentor and grow engineers, fostering technical depth, accountability, and career development

Required Skills:

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering or related field

• 5+ years of engineering experience, including 2+ years in an operations or engineering leadership role

• Experience commissioning, operating, and maintaining pilot- to commercial-scale process systems

• Experience managing a multidisciplinary engineering team in a fast-paced environment resulting in the on-time delivery of high-impact work

• Experience balancing priorities between routine operations, maintenance, and engineering development projects

• Strong record of mentorship with demonstrated ability to coach and develop engineers

• Hands-on familiarity with chemical, mechanical, and fluid systems engineering

• Comfort operating in a startup environment with change, ambiguity, and rapid execution

#LI-Onsite #LI-TM1

Total Compensation and Benefits

Helion's compensation package includes a competitively benchmarked base salary, meaningful equity grants, and comprehensive benefits. Final compensation is determined through a holistic evaluation of your experience, qualifications, and our commitment to internal equity - ensuring fairness and transparency across our teams. We are committed to fostering a fair and equitable environment in every aspect of our operations, including compensation.

This is an exempt salaried role.

Annual Base Pay
$115,000—$150,000 USD

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

Helion is an equal opportunity employer and value diversity at our company. We do not discriminate based on race, religion, color, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, or disability status. If you need assistance or an accommodation during the interview process, please let us know.