Senior Process Engineer, Fuel Cycle

Employer description

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 $1.5 billion from long-time investors such as Sam Altman, Mithril, and Capricorn Investment Group as well as new investors including Thrive Capital, LightSpeed Venture Capital, SoftBank, and others to propel us forward. Our current prototype, Polaris, has reached record-breaking plasma temperatures of 150 million degrees Celsius (13 keV). Helion is continuing to iterate and on the path to the world’s first fusion power plant, Orion.

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’ll Be Doing

You will be at the forefront of designing the world’s first continuous fusion fuel cycle – an opportunity to redefine the future of clean energy for the modern world. You will lead process design and implementation for major systems in our fuel cycle, taking systems from concept to commissioning. You’ll work with engineers, scientists, and technicians across the company, with a focus on scaling up and integrating these systems into our commercial fusion platform. You will report to the Fuel Cycle Manager and work onsite at our Everett, WA office.

You Will

Own creation-to-integration engineering for major components of the fuel cycle, including system process design, procurement, installation, and commissioning

Perform detailed design for process equipment such as columns, reactors, membranes, heaters, pumps, and piping under varied conditions (ambient, cryogenic, and vacuum)

Use process simulation tools to support design development, integration, and case studies

Produce important deliverables including PFDs, P&IDs, H&MBs, HAZOPs, and sizing calculations

Independently lead projects across engineering disciplines (mechanical, electrical, controls, and operations) to deliver fully integrated process designs

Lead high-level design reviews to validate solutions and incorporate feedback into systems

Mentor fuel cycle engineers and work cross-functionally to build technical capabilities across Helion

Required Skills

Bachelor’s degree in Chemical or Mechanical or equivalent experience in chemical process design or development

8+ years of experience delivering full-scope chemical engineering projects, including managing technical deliverables and schedules

Experience taking engineering ideas from abstract concepts to physical reality, demonstrated by delivering first-of-a-kind hardware solutions

Experience applying first-principles thinking by leading design and troubleshooting in complex engineering systems

Experience performing detailed process equipment sizing calculations including chemical, fluid, thermal, mechanical, and relief systems

Experience leading and working on multidisciplinary engineering projects

#LI-Onsite #LI-TM1

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.