Senior Total Rewards Manager

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 own and evolve Helion’s total rewards function, building scalable, competitive cash, equity, and benefits programs that support a rapidly growing, technically complex organization. This role leads both strategy and execution: overseeing day-to-day total rewards operations while shaping long-term compensation philosophy and design. You will drive compensation and equity planning cycles, refine our equity strategy, and strengthen employee understanding of our total rewards approach through clear education and communication. This is an onsite role reporting to the Director of People and Talent Operations in Everett, WA.

You Will:

• Own Helion’s total rewards strategy, including compensation, equity programs, and benefits, while partnering closely with HR, Finance, and Legal teams

• Lead and manage company-wide compensation programs, including annual compensation cycles, promotions, performance-based changes, and offer audits

• Own and evolve Helion’s equity compensation strategy, including equity plan design, burn-rate management, grant guidelines, and administration

• Ensure compliance with applicable employment, pay equity, and benefit regulations across exempt and non-exempt populations

• Develop and deliver ongoing compensation and equity education for employees, including training on performance, promotions, and equity value

Required Skills:

• 10+ years of experience in compensation or total rewards, with demonstrated experience creating and executing company-wide programs

• Proven ability of managing complex equity compensation programs within a Pre-IPO, high-growth startup, or technology environment

• Experience partnering with Talent and People Business Partners to create competitive compensation strategies that attract top talent while maintaining internal equity and fairness

• Hands-on experience partnering with Finance teams to manage compensation planning, equity budgeting, forecasting, and internal equity analyses

• Demonstrated experience using data to inform processes and drive the adoption of total rewards programs

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.