Supplier Development Engineer, Mechanical Engineer
Job Description
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 $600 million from investors such as Sam Altman, Mithril, and Capricorn Investment Group 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).
Now we are working toward Polaris, which will be the first machine to demonstrate electricity from fusion, making this a great time to join Helion! Bring your skills, experiences, and determination to make a difference in the world. Together, we can make a future with unlimited clean electricity from fusion a reality.
What You Will Be Doing:
As a Supplier Development Mechanical Engineer you will solve technical problems, develop our supplier’s quality systems, and accelerate Helion’s transition from rapid prototyping to mass generator manufacturing, thus delivering on Helion’s mission of providing clean electricity to the planet. You will report to the Director of Operations at our Everett, WA location.
You Will:
- Collaborate with design engineers to gain an in-depth knowledge of part, assembly, and sub-system design intent
- Assess supplier’s manufacturing processes and quality systems to source parts (in partnership with procurement team)
- Support product ramp from new product introduction through high-volume manufacturing
- Define supplier technical and quality requirements based on engineer and program requirements
- Implement and monitor the production part approval process (PPAP) with selected suppliers to enable rate production
- Ensure suppliers understand requirements for document submissions (e.g., first article inspection reports, quality documentation)
- Develop and approve process controls for critical characteristics
- Recommend technical product improvements to reduce risk and potential defect opportunities
- Analyze supplier quality and delivery metrics to identify trends, systemic performance gaps to improve plans
- Coordinate between suppliers, engineers, buyers, and production to resolve supplier quality issues
- Guide supplier corrective actions associated with escapes or containments identified in production or the supply chain
- Improve the supply chain
- Help build the supplier quality program and team at Helion
- Develop quality standards
Required Skills:
- Bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering or related field, or equivalent experience
- 3+ years of manufacturing experience with mechanical systems (e.g., machining, assembly, and fabrication)
- Experience managing external suppliers
- Knowledge of supplier quality processes (e.g., production part approval process, advanced product quality planning, first article inspection reports)
- Knowledge of statistical techniques and methods (e.g., design of experiments, Six Sigma)
- Experience with quality systems (ISO 9000 / TS)
- Able to travel up to 50% of the time
Per Washington Equal Pay and Opportunity Act the range for this position is $115k-170k. Actual salary is based on education, experience, and other qualifying skill sets.
#LI-Onsite #LI-KL1
Benefits and Compensation
Our total compensation package includes generous equity and 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)
- 13 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
NOTE: Underrepresented people are less likely to apply unless they meet 100% of the job’s requirements. We believe in hiring people, not checklists, and encourage you to apply even if you do not check all of the boxes. If this job isn’t the one, we have many other openings that may be a fit.
All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, disability, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, veteran status, or genetic information. If we reach out to you to begin an interview process, we will also ask if you require any reasonable accommodation at that time.
