Director of Information Technology & Security

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 our Director, Information Technology & Security (IT&S), you will drive the vision and execution of all IT and Information Security strategies, programs, and roadmaps at Helion. You’ll collaborate closely with leadership and stakeholders across all departments and be accountable for operational performance, reliability, infrastructure, and solution delivery. You will mentor and manage a wide range of IT disciplines including team leads, network engineers, system administrators, and service desk technicians to unify our operations. Your leadership will foster a team culture driven by empathy, teamwork, and purpose while maintaining the highest standards of industry quality and compliance. This role reports directly to our VP of People & Workplace Operations at our headquarters in Everett, WA.   

You Will:  

• Lead our Information Technology & Security org: Manage a team of diverse disciplines to foster a collaborative and service-oriented culture. Provide thought leadership and collaborate with our executives to craft and execute a comprehensive strategy aligned with Helion’s business objectives, budget, and priorities. 
• Own IT Operations and Infrastructure: Oversee all day-to-day IT operations and projects to ensure optimal performance and reliability of all systems and services. Coordinate with external vendors and service providers to manage contracts and procurement processes. Manage and maintain our IT infrastructure, documentation, and operating procedures to optimize for quality, speed, and scalability. 
• Evolve our Programs as we Scale: Consistently improve and implement procedures and best practices to ensure reliable and secure operations that adapt as Helion grows and changes over time. Design organizational structure and champion culture that balances robust reactive processes with proactive planning. 
• Build out our Cybersecurity Practices: Evaluate and advise on our needs for developing and implementing a comprehensive cybersecurity program to protect company assets from internal and external threats. Apply a security-minded lens to all Helion’s technology practices and ensure compliance with relevant regulations and standards. Lead incident response efforts to plan for and manage the resolution of critical issues. 

Required Skills:  

• Bachelor’s degree in Information Technology, Computer Science, or a related field, or equivalent experience 
• 10+ years of experience in Information Technology with 5+ years of experience with project management, managing direct reports, growing teams, and in-house IT operations. 
• Experience with ITSM frameworks, practices, and certifications such as ITIL, CISSP, or CISM
• Strong understanding of IT infrastructure, including networks, servers, storage, and cloud technologies. 
• Experience in establishing and managing cybersecurity teams and implementing security best practices, frameworks, standards, and regulations. 
• Experience making data-driven decisions to build IT strategies and scale programs during times of growth. 
• Prior experience working in a startup environment, demonstrating adaptability, resourcefulness, and a hands-on approach to technology management. 

#LI-Onsite #LI-AM1

Compensation and Benefits

At Helion, we are committed to fostering a fair and equitable environment in every aspect of our operations, including compensation. We ensure all our roles are competitively benchmarked and our total compensation package includes a base salary, comprehensive benefits, and equity grants, giving you a true stake in Helion's success. Final compensation is determined through a holistic evaluation of your experience, qualifications, and our commitment to maintaining internal equity, ensuring fairness and transparency across our teams.

This is an exempt salaried role.

Annual Base Pay$201,000—$242,000 USD

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.