Senior Materials Engineer, Material Health Monitoring

The role

You will lead the development of materials health monitoring for fusion generators. You will design, qualify, and deploy diagnostics to detect materials degradation under combined stimuli.

What you will do

• Develop and deploy in-situ and ex-situ diagnostics for degradation and failure in fusion-relevant materials and components
• Translate failure and degradation modes into measurable signals using sensors, inspection methods, or indirect indicators
• Design and execute coupled-stimuli experiments and post-irradiation examinations to validate diagnostic methods
• Manage the roadmap for sensing technologies crucial for structural health monitoring in fusion generator systems
• Build test matrices and analysis plans linking microstructural evolution to sensor outputs and component performance
• Own the materials diagnostics roadmap by converting risk assessments into diagnostic requirements
• Collaborate with design engineers to embed diagnostics into hardware
• Partner with modeling teams to integrate diagnostic outputs into predictive models and maintenance strategies
• Productize diagnostic methods and sensors for reliable deployment in fusion environments
• Document test plans, procedures, and design guidance

Required qualifications

• BS with 10+ years, or MS/PhD with 5+ years, in Materials Science, Materials Engineering, Applied Physics, Nuclear Engineering, or related field
• 5+ years (with PhD or MS) or 10+ years (with BS) of experience in at least one of: Materials diagnostics / NDE / SHM (strain, acoustic, optical, EM, fiberoptic, etc.)
• Familiarity with data analysis / feature extraction for degradation detection
• Experience designing and executing coupled-stimuli experiments (e.g., thermomechanical, electrothermal, irradiation with stress)
• Experience embedding or integrating sensors into structural materials (ceramics, composites, polymers, or metals)

Nice to have

• Python preferred
• Experience in fusion, fission, accelerator, or high-radiation environments
• Experience with radiation effects and post-irradiation examination (PIE)
• Familiarity with high-voltage systems or safety-critical experimental environments

Benefits

• 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

About the company

Helion is a fusion power company based in Everett, WA, with the mission to build the world's first fusion power plant. The company has raised $1.5 billion from investors to propel its mission forward.