Job Description, Responsibilities & Requirements
About the Position
Principal Nuclear Materials Engineer
We are seeking a highly skilled Principal Nuclear Materials Engineer to join our team in Everett, WA. In this full-time, on-site role, you will be instrumental in developing materials designed for high-radiation environments, providing critical analysis and guidance to our engineering teams.
Responsibilities
- Advise engineering design decisions based on radiation effects on materials used within the radiation shield vault.
- Partner with neutronics engineers to predict and analyze the macroscopic effects of radiation on material properties.
- Oversee testing campaigns to quantify the impact of radiation on material properties.
- Lead strategic projects to expand our capabilities.
- Perform literature reviews on radiation effects on materials and summarize findings for non-nuclear engineers.
- Collaborate with internal teams, external vendors, national laboratories, and universities.
- Operate in an environment with obstacles and changing requirements, balancing risks without compromising delivery.
Requirements
- A professional understanding of radiation effects on materials, typically demonstrated by a degree in nuclear engineering, materials science, physics, or a related discipline and 15+ years of hands-on work.
- 15+ years of experience handling radioactive material.
- 8+ years of experience working on non-aqueous corrosion and environmentally assisted degradation mechanisms.
- 8+ years of experience working on neutron interactions leading to material transmutation or helium bubble generation.
- 8+ years of experience performing data analysis with a common coding language (Python, MATLAB, C++), data presentation, technical communication, and writing.
- Data presentation should include rigorous consideration of uncertainty and statistics.
We Offer
- Competitive salary range: $264K – $317K
- Comprehensive benefits package including medical, dental, and vision plans.
- 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.
About the Company
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.
Helion is an equal opportunity employer and values 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.