Senior Manager of People Operations

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 and 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). Now, we're turning up operations for Polaris, working towards delivering the world's first fusion power plant. 

More than ever, it's a pivotal time to join us and have the opportunity to solve real challenges to create a better energy future. You will see first-hand how we value urgency, rigor, ownership, and hard truths, knowing it will take each to do what no one has before. Joining us, you will push the boundaries of what's possible and transform humanity for the better - because the world can't wait.

What You Will Be Doing: 

As Senior Manager of People Operations, you’ll lead the team responsible for building and scaling people programs that power our mission. From onboarding to offboarding, benefits to systems, you’ll ensure our programs are delivered with urgency, built to scale, and executed with rigor. You’ll also play a key role in shaping our people infrastructure – helping us create a best-in-class employee experience that supports Helion’s growth. This is an onsite role at our Everett, WA office and reports directly to the Director of People Operations and Talent. 

You Will: 

• Lead a team of People experts driving programs across the entire employee lifecycle—from onboarding to offboarding 
• Own the design and execution of core programs including performance management, engagement, recognition, and total rewards 
• Oversee compliance, policy, payroll, and benefits with a focus on operational rigor and employee experience 
• Build and optimize systems, workflows, and processes to support scale, automation, and accuracy 
• Design and deliver high-impact L&D and manager development initiatives to grow leadership and core capabilities 
• Partner cross-functionally to ensure People programs are aligned, adopted, and drive meaningful impact 
• Use data to evaluate program effectiveness, guide decisions, and iterate quickly 
• Stay ahead of evolving workforce trends, compliance needs, and HR tech to ensure we’re future-ready 

Required Skills: 

• 10 years of experience in the People function, with 3 years in a leadership role 
• Experience across multiple areas of People Operations, including compensation, compliance, L&D, total rewards, and more 
• Strong program and stakeholder management skills - able to drive complex, cross-functional initiatives from idea to execution 
• Skilled in implementing and managing HR tech systems, with a process-oriented and systems-thinking approach 
• Experience using data to build reporting infrastructure and improve programs over time 
• Proven success leading and scaling people programs in high-growth or startup environments 

#LI-Onsite #LI-MM1

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  

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.