Machine Shop Supervisor

Skills this role screens for

About the role

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 $1.5 billion from long-time investors such as Sam Altman, Mithril, and Capricorn Investment Group as well as new investors including Thrive Capital, LightSpeed Venture Capital, SoftBank, and others to propel us forward. Our current prototype, Polaris, has reached record-breaking plasma temperatures of 150 million degrees Celsius (13 keV). Helion is continuing to iterate and on the path to the world's first fusion power plant, Orion.

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.

The work

What You Will Be Doing

You will lead the day-to-day operations of Helion's machine shop, directly supervising a team of machinists, welders and technicians responsible for delivering rapid prototypes, experimental hardware, and bridge-production components. In this role, you will balance people leadership, operational execution, and technical problem-solving, ensuring the machine shop remains a trusted partner to engineering teams across the company. You will report directly to the Machine Shop Manager at our Everett, WA location. Ability to work flexible hours, will be responsible for Day Shift (6am-2pm) and Evening Shift (10am-7pm).

The work

You Will

• Lead and develop a team of machinists/welders/technicians, providing coaching, mentorship, performance management, and technical guidance
• Establish daily priorities and coordinate shop resources to support aggressive prototyping, R&D, and production schedules
• Foster a culture of safety, quality, accountability, and continuous improvement within the machine shop
• Manage workload balancing, staffing, and resource allocation across multiple engineering programs and competing priorities
• Partner closely with engineers to understand design intent and develop practical machining and manufacturing strategies
• Provide design for manufacturability (DFM) feedback to improve part quality, reduce lead times, and increase manufacturing efficiency
• Ensure timely delivery of machined components while maintaining high standards of workmanship and quality
• Partner with Engineering, Production, Quality, and Environment Health & Safety (EHS) teams to ensure safe, aligned, and effective execution
• Drive improvements in machining processes, tooling, workholding, programming, and shop workflows

Who they want

Required Skills

• 5+ years of experience in machining, manufacturing, and prototype fabrication
• 3+ years of experience leading or supervising a team
• Strong understanding of CNC and manual machining operations, tooling, workholding, setup, and fabrication processes
• Demonstrated experience leading teams in fast-paced, high-mix, low-volume manufacturing or R&D environments
• Strong understanding of engineering drawings, GD&T, and mechanical design requirements

Nice to have

Preferred Skills

#LI-Onsite

• Experience supporting prototype development, production, new product introduction (NPI), or manufacturing process development
• Experience collaborating closely with engineering teams and providing manufacturability feedback
• Strong organizational skills with the ability to manage competing priorities and shifting schedules

What you get

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