Nuclear Engineer - Diagnostics

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:

We are looking for a Nuclear Engineer to develop, operate, and analyze data from diagnostic detectors for Polaris and future fusion generators. You will be part of our Radiation Safety and Nuclear Science (RaSNS) team. The facets of the RaSNS team include nuclear engineering (neutronics and particle diagnostics), radiation safety, fuel cycle engineering, and materials engineering. You will also work with our Research team (home to plasma physics and plasma diagnostics) and the Engineering team (home to generator mechanical and electrical design). You will report to the Nuclear Engineering Manager in this onsite role located at our Everett, WA office.

You Will:

• Design, construct, calibrate, and operate neutron, photon, and charged particle diagnostics. Detector types include inorganic and organic scintillators, ion chambers, and activation foils

• Develop MATLAB or Python scripts to process detector output; prepare plots and analyses to present internally to the RaSNS, Research, and Test Operations team and externally at technical conferences

• Perform uncertainty quantification and error propagation

• Use ancillary skills to enhance detector development, e.g, Monte Carlo simulations or circuit/electrical design

Required Skills:

• An advanced understanding of nuclear physics, including neutron interactions, photon interactions, cross sections, attenuation, radioactive decay, and other types of radiation

• 4+ years of experience constructing, operating, and analyzing the same detector. Demonstrated experience with electronic read-out design including digitizers, high-voltage supplies, and DAQs

• 4+ years of experience analyzing data, including the analysis of raw pulses (e.g, pile-up rejection and pulse shape discrimination), and uncertainty quantification and propagation

• 4+ years of experience documenting detector design, operation, and analysis scripts

• Simulation/modeling experience with a strong preference for MCNP6

• Experience working in pulsed electromagnetic and/or high EMI noise environments

#LI-TM1 #LI-Onsite

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
$138,000—$180,000 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.