Senior Computational Plasma Scientist - Kinetic / PIC Modeling
Everett, WA, United States On-site
$200,000–$240,000 a yearJobFig found this opening at its original source and checks that it remains available.
About the role
Helion is hiring a Senior Computational Plasma Scientist to run and interpret kinetic / Particle-in-Cell simulations that help advance our understanding of plasma behavior in Helion’s fusion generators. In this role, you will use tools such as WarpX or similar PIC codes to design simulation campaigns, analyze large-scale field and particle outputs, and compare results against experimental data from Helion’s operating machines. You will focus on turning kinetic simulations into actionable physics insight for topics such as plasma startup, RF/plasma interactions, particle transport, sheath behavior, and other effects that may not be fully captured by fluid or MHD models. This position reports to the Manager of Computational Science at our Everett, WA office and plays a key role in advancing Helion’s path toward fusion electricity.
What you'll bring
- PhD in Plasma Physics, Applied Physics, Computational Physics, Nuclear Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, or a related technical field
- 3+ years of post-graduation experience running, analyzing, or interpreting kinetic / Particle-in-Cell plasma simulations in academic, national lab, or industry settings
- Strong understanding of kinetic plasma physics and Particle-in-Cell modeling methods
- Experience running and interpreting PIC simulations using WarpX, OSIRIS, VPIC, EPOCH, Smilei, LSP, FBPIC, or comparable codes
- Experience designing simulation campaigns, including input setup, boundary conditions, parameter scans, convergence checks, and validation workflows
- Strong scientific programming skills in Python, MATLAB, Julia, C++, Fortran, or similar languages for simulation analysis and visualization
- Ability to communicate complex simulation results clearly to computational, experimental, and cross-functional audiences