Nuclear Engineering Intern
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).
At Helion, our internship program places you at the core of fusion technology development, giving you hands-on experience with impactful projects and close collaboration with industry experts. Throughout the summer, you'll take on meaningful responsibilities that directly contribute to the future of clean energy. With the support of experienced managers and mentors, you’ll gain insights into our fast-paced operations, taking full ownership of your work while pushing innovation forward. All internships take place onsite at our headquarters in Everett, WA.
What You Will Be Doing:
The Radiation Safety and Nuclear Science (RaSNS) team is home to the radiation safety, nuclear, fuel cycle (chemical), and materials teams. You will work as part of the nuclear group focused on nuclear diagnostics for measuring and characterizing our fusion yield. This work will improve our fusion product diagnostics for measuring yield and ion temperature.
You Will:
- Develop CR-39 track-etch detectors as a neutron-proton recoil and energy resolved proton detector to measure DD, D3He, and DT fusion products. The project will involve:
- Developing and documenting chemical etching processes
- Designing and executing calibration experiments using radioactive sources
- Prototyping a neutron-proton recoil or proton based spectroscopic system using CR-39.
Required Skills:
- Ability to work full time, onsite in Everett, WA for a minimum of 12 consecutive weeks during summer 2025
- Currently enrolled in a Bachelor’s or Graduate (Master’s or PhD) degree in Physics, Nuclear Engineering or Chemistry
- GPA of 3.0 or above
- Understanding of common interactions of neutrons and protons in matter (elastic scattering, coulomb scattering, cross-sections, dE/dx)
- Experience measuring radiation (gamma, neutron, muon, proton, etc.), including handling radioactive sources
- Experience doing wet chemistry (e.g., undergraduate level chemistry lab)
- Experience analyzing data using Python, C++, ROOT, MATLAB, etc
Base Pay:
- Bachelors/Master's: $30 / hour
- PhD: $37 / hour
Compensation and Benefits
At Helion, we are committed to fostering an equitable environment in every aspect of our operations, including compensation. For our internships, compensation is paid at an hourly base rate and is competitively benchmarked. All interns will also receive a one-time stipend at the start of their internship. Note that compensation for our internships is non-negotiable. Benefits will include paid holidays, sick time, wellness stipend, company and team events, and more to ensure a great experience for all of our interns!
- Interns receive a $5,000 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.