Principal Experimental Scientist

We are looking for an Experimental Plasma Scientist to lead the plasma diagnostic effort of Helion's fusion generators. This is an onsite role that reports directly to our Director of Experimental Science at our Everett, WA office.

Own the end-to-end design and deployment of a comprehensive suite of plasma diagnostics, collaborating closely with physicists, engineers, designers, and data analysts to ensure robust, scalable instrumentation that meets both experimental and operational requirements

Integrate cross-disciplinary technical input from experts across Helion—including plasma physics, machine operations, controls, and data science—to align diagnostic capabilities with real-time operational needs and long-term scientific milestones

Lead the hands-on execution of assembly, installation, calibration, and commissioning processes for diagnostics across multiple campaigns and testbeds. Ensure high data fidelity through rigorous validation and alignment procedures

Develop foundational expertise in pre-ionization plasma diagnostics, establishing best practices and internal methodologies that inform next-generation fusion device development optimized for energy gain and power conversion

Analyze diagnostic data in real time to extract actionable insights about plasma behavior, inform operational tuning, and identify opportunities for performance optimization and system redesign

Partners with leadership across the organization, contributing to strategic planning, roadmap development, and long-term technical vision