Software Engineer, Front End

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:

As a Product (Frontend UX/UI) Software Engineer, you'll bridge the gap between our fusion machine operators and our software stack. You'll own both the design and the implementation of the interfaces our fusion machine operators use every day. You'll work directly with operators in the control room, learning their workflows, tools, and pain points to design and implement curated interfaces that improve speed, clarity, and confidence. You'll own the frontend of critical operator tools, building real-time data visualizations, actionable alerts, and streamlined interactions that let our teams operate the fusion machine with efficiency, safety, and confidence. This is a hands-on role where you'll design, prototype, and build production-ready software, collaborating across software, hardware, and operator teams. This is an onsite role that reports directly to the Lead Electrical Engineer at our Everett, WA office.

You Will:

• Blend frontend engineering and UX/UI design skills to create operator-facing applications.
• Embed yourself with machine operators to deeply understand workflows, tools, and challenges.
• Work with other software vendors to integrate other applications into our product.
• Translate workflows into prototypes, mockups, and then production-ready code.
• Consolidate and unify fragmented applications into coherent user experiences.
• Build real-time dashboards, alerts, and visualizations that improve situational awareness.
• Collaborate with backend/data engineers to integrate complex real-time data streams.
• Establish and maintain design patterns, component libraries, and UX standards.
• Advocate for operator needs within the broader product and software teams.

Required Skills:

• Strong experience with modern frontend frameworks (React, Vue, or Angular).
• Proficiency in JavaScript/Typescript, HTML, and CSS.
• Ability to translate user workflows into intuitive UX/UI designs.
• Experience with prototyping and design tools (Figma, Sketch, Adobe XD, etc.).
• Hands-on experience building real-time dashboards or data visualization UIs.
• Strong collaboration and communication skills across technical and non-technical teams.
• Comfortable owning the end-to-end lifecycle: research design implementation iteration.
• Comfortable embedding with end-users and adapting to a fast-paced engineering environment.

Desired Skills:

• Experience with real-time or streaming data visualization.
• Familiarity with UX research methods (interviews, shadowing, usability testing).
• Knowledge of accessibility standards (WCAG, ARIA) and inclusive design.
• Experience with alerting/monitoring tools and designing for critical operations.
• Background in human factors engineering or industrial HMI (Human-Machine Interfaces).
• Experience with visualization libraries (D3.js, Plotly, Recharts).
• Familiarity with backend APIs, WebSockets, or GraphQL for data integration.
• Exposure to operator-driven domains (aerospace, defense, energy, industrial control).

#LI-Onsite #LI-KL1

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.