Controls Development Engineer

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 develop, implement, and standardize automation and controls used in manufacturing Helion’s fusion generators. By building in-house expertise in our manufacturing processes, you will help accelerate the transition from rapid prototyping to mass production—advancing Helion’s mission to provide clean electricity for the planet. This is an onsite role that reports directly to the Factory Development Manager at our Everett, WA office. You Will: - Design, scale, and launch manufacturing equipment for new products being produced for the first time, including the development of automation system architecture and standards for deployment across multiple production lines - Produce electrical one-line diagrams and schematics for automated manufacturing equipment; support integration with the factory’s Manufacturing Execution System (MES) and set up equipment reporting to track Overall Equipment Effectiveness (OEE) and other critical machine data - Collaborate with stakeholders to develop and improve both existing and new testing processes; work across technical teams to understand product integration within pulsed power circuits to optimize test processes aligned with Helion’s top-level generator goals - Collaborate with machine suppliers on high-level equipment design and functionality; support design reviews, acceptance testing, and equipment buyoff to ensure seamless integration into manufacturing operations - Implement safety systems that comply with ANSI, ISO, and OSHA standards for high-volume manufacturing equipment to ensure operational safety and regulatory adherence - Troubleshoot down equipment, identify root causes, and implement long-term solutions to prevent recurrence and ensure sustained manufacturing uptime and efficiency Required Skills: - Bachelor’s degree in engineering with a minimum of 5 years of experience working with manufacturing controls in high-volume manufacturing environments - Proficient in electrical schematic design and PLC programming using ladder logic, function block, or structured text (e.g., Allen-Bradley, Siemens) - Experienced in programming industrial robots, including systems such as Fanuc and Kuka - Skilled in designing safety systems for automated machines, with relevant experience or qualifications in safety compliance and risk mitigation - Ability to apply physics-based first principles to challenge design requirements and underlying assumptions, driving better engineering outcomes - Strong communication skills with proven success influencing cross-functional partners and building effective partnerships with supply chain and production teams #LI-Onsite #LI-SA1 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