OpenAI CEO Sam Altman is helping spread the word about an exciting job opening at Helion Energy, according to reports from LatestLY and Altman’s own post on X (formerly Twitter). The company is looking for a Senior Semiconductor Device Engineer to work on fusion power technology in Everett, Washington. This job comes with a very attractive yearly salary between $180,000-$225,000 (approximately ₹1.5-1.9 crore).
deploying fusion to the world is surprisingly gated on high-power semiconductors.
the most important place you could design and build those high-power semiconductors (and do other awesome electrical engineering) is helion. please consider:https://t.co/IDDGtDe7yq
— Sam Altman (@sama) April 19, 2025
Job Details and Requirements
The job posting, active as of April 2025, seeks someone who will design special electrical components for fusion power generators. If you’re wondering what that means, these are machines that could create clean energy using the same process that powers the sun.
To qualify for this position, you need:
- An advanced degree in Electrical Engineering or Physics
- At least 8 years of experience working with power electronics
- Skills in designing high-voltage pulsed power switching components
- Ability to work with different teams and test new devices
The job comes with excellent benefits including:
- 31 days of paid time off
- 10 paid holidays
- 401(k) match (similar to India’s Employee Provident Fund, but with employer matching your contributions)
- Disability and life insurance
- Paid parental leave
- Annual wellness money for health activities
Helion Energy encourages people from all backgrounds to apply, showing they value diversity in their workforce.
What Are High-Power Semiconductors?
You might be wondering what “high-power semiconductors” and “high-voltage pulsed power switching components” actually are. Let me explain in simple terms.
High-power semiconductors are special materials that can handle large amounts of electricity. Think of them like super-strong pipes that can carry massive amounts of water without breaking. Regular electronics in your phone or laptop use tiny amounts of electricity, but these special semiconductors can handle enormous power loads.
High-voltage pulsed power switching components (including things called MOSFETs and IGBTs) work like incredibly fast light switches that can turn on and off in less than a blink of an eye. But instead of controlling small amounts of electricity like your home light switch, they control massive bursts of electricity measured in kilovolts (thousands of volts) and kiloamps (thousands of amps).
These components are crucial for fusion energy because they help control the powerful magnetic fields needed to contain extremely hot plasma (gas that’s so hot the atoms break apart). Without these special switches, it would be impossible to manage the enormous energy needed for fusion reactions.
About Helion Energy
Helion Energy isn’t a new company. It was started in 2013 by four founders: David Kirtley, John Slough, Chris Pihl, and George Votroubek. Since then, they’ve reached several important milestones:
- In 2014, they raised their first $1.5 million through Y Combinator
- By 2015, they showed they could contain plasma (super-heated gas needed for fusion)
- In 2021, their Trenta prototype reached 100 million degrees Celsius – hotter than the center of the sun!
- Later in 2021, they raised a massive $2.2 billion, making the company worth $3 billion
- In 2023, they signed a deal to provide power to Microsoft
Their newest prototype, called Polaris, aims to produce more electricity than it uses by the end of 2024. The company’s big goal is to build a working fusion power plant by 2028.
Why This Job Matters
Fusion power could change how we get electricity forever. Unlike current power plants that burn coal or gas and create pollution, fusion creates clean energy with no harmful emissions. It’s also different from nuclear power plants we have today because it doesn’t create dangerous radioactive waste that lasts for thousands of years.
The person who gets this job will help design crucial parts that make fusion power possible. They’ll be working on technology that could give us unlimited, clean, and affordable energy – something that could help fight climate change and provide electricity to people around the world.
How The Salary Compares
The yearly salary of $180,000-$225,000 (₹1.5-1.9 crore) is much higher than what most semiconductor engineers make. According to the information provided, the average semiconductor engineer in the United States earns between $81,772-$96,951 per year.
Even in Washington state, where tech salaries are higher (averaging $135,364), this job pays significantly more. This shows how specialized and important this role is. The high salary reflects both the 8+ years of experience needed and the cutting-edge nature of fusion power technology.
Helion Energy has raised over $1 billion from investors who believe in their mission to create the world’s first commercial fusion power plant. This funding allows them to offer competitive salaries to attract the best talent.
For someone with the right skills and experience, this represents an opportunity not just to earn a high salary, but to be part of technology that could change how we power our world. As fusion energy moves closer to becoming reality, jobs like this will be at the forefront of one of the most important technological advances of our time.
