Procurement Manager

Job description

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. What You Will Be Doing: This is a newly created role driven by Helion’s continued growth and the need to scale our procurement capabilities. As Indirect Procurement Manager, you’ll have the opportunity to build and develop a growing team, shape how we approach indirect sourcing, and establish the strategies and processes that will support Helion at its next stage. You’ll lead procurement across categories including software, professional services, hardware, capital expenditures, and research and development, partnering across the company to improve cost, quality, technology, and operational resilience. You Will: - Lead and develop a high-performing procurement team, including hiring, coaching, training, workload management, and performance accountability. - Develop and execute sourcing strategies across indirect categories, with an emphasis on cost optimization, scalability, standardization, risk mitigation, and supply chain resilience. - Manage the end-to-end sourcing process, from requirements gathering and competitive bidding through supplier selection, negotiation, contracting, and renewals. - Partner with Engineering, IT, Finance, Legal, and other stakeholders to define business requirements, forecast spend, evaluate total cost of ownership, and establish clear agreements, intellectual property terms, and statements of work. - Negotiate complex, high-value agreements and build strategic supplier relationships that improve pricing, service quality, innovation, and long-term value. - Strengthen procurement operations through standardized processes, supplier performance reviews, KPIs, continuous improvement initiatives, and executive reporting on category performance and risk. Required Qualifications - Bachelor’s degree in supply chain, engineering, business, or a related field or years of experience. - 8+ years of experience in procurement, strategic sourcing, or category management, including responsibility for one or more indirect categories such as IT, professional services, hardware, capital expenditures, or facilities management. - 3+ years hiring, managing, coaching, and developing procurement or sourcing professionals. - Demonstrated success developing and executing category strategies in a growing or rapidly changing organization. - Experience leading complex, high-value negotiations and working with agreements such as MSAs, SOWs, amendments, and renewals. - Strong analytical and financial acumen, including experience evaluating pricing models, spend, and total cost of ownership. 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 Helion is an equal opportunity employer and value diversity at our company. We do not discriminate based on race, religion, color, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, or disability status. If you need assistance or an accommodation during the interview process, please let us know.