R&D Hardware Test & Development Manager

About the role

Overview: Helion is 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. Since its founding in 2013, Helion has raised $1.5 billion from investors including Sam Altman, Mithril, Capricorn Investment Group, Thrive Capital, LightSpeed Venture Capital, SoftBank, and others. The current prototype, Polaris, has reached record-breaking plasma temperatures of 150 million degrees Celsius (13 keV). Helion is iterating toward the world's first fusion power plant, Orion.

Responsibilities

• Oversee the design and execution of technology test and development initiatives, allocating engineering bandwidth and ownership as needed to ensure the team delivers testing results on time and with sufficient rigor.
• Partner with peer leaders to drive cross‑functional development initiatives, setting the standard for effective collaboration and ensuring communication across teams meets a high bar.
• Champion your team's initiatives with senior leaders, clearly articulating their value and securing stakeholder alignment and buy‑in.
• Support individual contributors in their career growth, guiding development of both technical and soft skills.
• Proactively identify resource constraints and scale the team through targeted hiring and growth to ensure mission success.

Requirements

• B.S. in Physics or Engineering and 8+ years of relevant experience, or M.S. with 4+ years of relevant experience.
• Minimum 2+ years managing engineers doing technology testing and development.
• Experience using first‑principles thinking to develop test initiatives, perform root‑cause failure analysis, and solve complex technical problems.
• Proven track record of delivering technology testing and development results.
• Experienced at driving rapid iterative testing to inform design.
• Excellent communication skills that drive effective cross‑team collaboration.
• Ability to anticipate, strategically plan for, and grow a team to meet the needs of future scope.

Skills

• Technical expertise in one of the following areas: vacuum systems, pressurized systems, high‑voltage systems, or pulsed‑power technologies.

Benefits

• 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.

Pay

Compensation range: $162K – $192K.

Schedule

Full‑time, on‑site position located in Everett, WA.