Build Reliability Manager

Department: Production

Location: Everett, WA

Compensation: $182K – $214K

Employment Type: FullTime

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 lead the build reliability efforts for Helion's fusion devices. Your role will focus on identifying and eliminating build risks while also growing a high-performing team of engineers and inspectors. You will establish build standards and partner closely with design, manufacturing, supply chain, and operations teams to ensure those build standards are maintained across the hardware lifecycle. You will report to the Senior Manager of Production, and this is an onsite role located at our Everett, WA office.

You Will:

• Grow and mentor a team of build reliability engineers and inspectors

• Own build reliability strategy across Helion's fusion devices, from early design through final assembly and commissioning

• Drive Design for Reliability, Manufacturability, and Assembly practices into hardware development

• Partner with design engineering to influence architectures and interfaces to improve build success and repeatability

• Identify, prioritize, and mitigate build risks through structured analyses such as FMEA, tolerance analysis, and failure investigations

• Lead containments, root cause analysis, and corrective and preventative actions of build issues and nonconformances

Required Skills:

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering

• 5+ years of build reliability engineering experience, including 2+ years in an engineering management role

• Demonstrated ability to hire and grow engineers and inspectors, providing impactful career development

• Experience leading multidisciplinary teams with full-scope project ownership

• Proven ability to manage complex engineering projects with schedule accountability

• Hands-on exposure to multiple engineering disciplines such as mechanical, manufacturing, and electrical

• Ability to apply engineering first-principles and structured problem-solving to technical challenges

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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.