Materials Engineer Jobs in Washington
Materials Engineer jobs in Washington are consistently active, with strong demand concentrated in aerospace, semiconductor fabrication, and defense manufacturing, and openings available from entry-level lab roles through senior principal positions. Seattle, Everett, and Renton anchor most of the hiring, where major employers like Boeing, Intel, and Lockheed Martin maintain large engineering operations in the state. The most in-demand specialties include composites and advanced alloys, process materials for chip fabrication, and failure analysis for aerospace and defense applications. Find a role that fits below and apply directly.
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Showing 5 of 24+ Materials Engineer jobs
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:
You will contribute to the development, validation, and deployment of advanced ceramic and high-performance dielectric materials for extreme electrical, thermal, mechanical, and radiation environments. You will provide critical support to work spanning material and component design, prototyping, electrical characterization, qualification, and manufacturing scale-up. This onsite role is based at our Everett, WA, facility and reports to the Materials Science Manager, Metals and Dielectrics.
You Will:
Lead high-impact, multidisciplinary projects to develop and evaluate the electrical performance of advanced ceramic and dielectric materials for high-voltage operation under fusion-relevant conditions.
Define electrical requirements, test methods, and acceptance criteria for insulating and resistive materials used in high-field magnet systems.
Design and execute experiments to characterize properties such as dielectric strength, electrical resistivity, permittivity, dielectric loss, and performance under combined electrical, thermal, mechanical, and radiation loading.
Translate material-level test results into actionable engineering requirements and design recommendations for Helion’s next-generation fusion systems.
Serve as Helion’s subject-matter expert for dielectric materials and electrical insulation operating in a high-voltage environment, providing technical guidance across engineering and R&D teams.
Own projects from initial concept and material selection through prototyping, design reviews, and qualification for production.
Work effectively amid evolving requirements and technical uncertainty, balancing risk, rigor, and schedule to maintain program delivery.
Required Skills:
Advanced degree in Electrical Engineering, or a related field
An extensive understanding of electrically insulating and dielectric materials, typically demonstrated by 5+ years of hands-on work
Hands-on experience with electrical testing and materials characterization, including the design, execution, and interpretation of experiments.
Demonstrated success developing or qualifying ceramic or dielectric materials for a commercial product or large, integrated engineering system, such as an engine, turbine, generator, magnet, or high-voltage assembly.
Experience planning and leading R&D programs governed by defined milestones, technical reviews, and delivery schedules.
Experience communicating material behavior and test results to multidisciplinary engineering teams and translating findings into design decisions.
#LI-Onsite #LI-TM1
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.
Compensation Range: $164K - $236K
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:
You will contribute to the development, validation, and deployment of advanced ceramic and high-performance dielectric materials for extreme electrical, thermal, mechanical, and radiation environments. You will provide critical support to work spanning material and component design, prototyping, electrical characterization, qualification, and manufacturing scale-up. This onsite role is based at our Everett, WA, facility and reports to the Materials Science Manager, Metals and Dielectrics.
You Will:
Lead high-impact, multidisciplinary projects to develop and evaluate the electrical performance of advanced ceramic and dielectric materials for high-voltage operation under fusion-relevant conditions.
Define electrical requirements, test methods, and acceptance criteria for insulating and resistive materials used in high-field magnet systems.
Design and execute experiments to characterize properties such as dielectric strength, electrical resistivity, permittivity, dielectric loss, and performance under combined electrical, thermal, mechanical, and radiation loading.
Translate material-level test results into actionable engineering requirements and design recommendations for Helion’s next-generation fusion systems.
Serve as Helion’s subject-matter expert for dielectric materials and electrical insulation operating in a high-voltage environment, providing technical guidance across engineering and R&D teams.
Own projects from initial concept and material selection through prototyping, design reviews, and qualification for production.
Work effectively amid evolving requirements and technical uncertainty, balancing risk, rigor, and schedule to maintain program delivery.
Required Skills:
Advanced degree in Electrical Engineering, or a related field
An extensive understanding of electrically insulating and dielectric materials, typically demonstrated by 5+ years of hands-on work
Hands-on experience with electrical testing and materials characterization, including the design, execution, and interpretation of experiments.
Demonstrated success developing or qualifying ceramic or dielectric materials for a commercial product or large, integrated engineering system, such as an engine, turbine, generator, magnet, or high-voltage assembly.
Experience planning and leading R&D programs governed by defined milestones, technical reviews, and delivery schedules.
Experience communicating material behavior and test results to multidisciplinary engineering teams and translating findings into design decisions.
#LI-Onsite #LI-TM1
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.
Compensation Range: $164K - $236K
See All 24 Materials Engineer Jobs in Washington
Find roles in Washington that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.
Find Materials Engineer JobsMaterials Engineer Jobs by City in Washington
Where Washington roles are concentrated, by current openings.
Materials Engineer Job Market in Washington
A snapshot from current Washington openings, updated as new roles post.
Who's Hiring
- Blue Origin11
- Amazon5
- Helion Energy4
- Echodyne1
- magniX USA1
Top Industries Hiring
- Retail
- Technology & Software
- E-Commerce & Online Marketplaces
What Washington Employers Look For
The qualifications that appear most often in materials engineer jobs across Washington.
- Bachelor's or master's degree in materials science, metallurgy, or a closely related engineering discipline
- Experience with aerospace composites, semiconductor process materials, or structural alloys used in defense applications
- Proficiency in materials characterization techniques such as SEM, XRD, or mechanical testing
- Familiarity with failure analysis methods and root cause investigation in manufacturing or production environments
- Knowledge of industry standards such as ASTM, AMS, or MIL-SPEC relevant to aerospace and defense materials
- Professional Engineer licensure or active pursuit through the Washington State Board of Registration for Professional Engineers
Materials Engineer Jobs in Washington: Frequently Asked Questions
How do you become a materials engineer in Washington?
A bachelor's degree in materials science, metallurgy, or a closely related engineering field is the standard entry point for materials engineer roles in Washington. Licensure is not required to work as a materials engineer, but engineers who offer services to the public can pursue Professional Engineer registration through the Washington State Board of Registration for Professional Engineers and Land Surveyors by passing the Fundamentals of Engineering and Principles and Practice of Engineering exams.
How much do materials engineers make in Washington?
Materials engineers in Washington earn a median of about $139,840 a year, based on May 2025 Bureau of Labor Statistics wage data, ranging from around $92,570 for the lowest 10% to over $199,250 for the top 10%. Pay rises with experience, specialty, and employer.
Which companies hire materials engineers in Washington?
Employers hiring materials engineers in Washington right now include Blue Origin, Amazon, and Helion Energy, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of September 2026. Washington's concentration of aerospace primes, semiconductor fabs, and defense contractors makes it one of the more active states for materials engineering hiring in the country.
Which Washington cities have the most materials engineer jobs?
Seattle, Everett, and Sumner have the most materials engineer openings in Washington. The Seattle-Everett-Renton corridor dominates because Boeing's commercial and defense operations, along with semiconductor facilities from companies like Intel, create sustained demand for materials specialists, while Richland and Spokane contribute through defense and energy-sector manufacturing.
How can I get hired as a materials engineer in Washington with little or no experience?
The most realistic entry path is applying to engineering rotational or new-graduate programs at large Washington aerospace and defense employers, where candidates with a materials science or metallurgy degree can move into lab technician, materials analyst, or process engineer associate roles. Boeing and its supplier network in the Puget Sound region regularly bring in new graduates for structured rotational assignments. Building hands-on experience through university research, co-ops at Pacific Northwest national laboratories like Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, or earning an EIT certification all strengthen a profile for Washington employers significantly.
Where can I find and apply to materials engineer jobs in Washington?
Migrate Mate lists current materials engineer openings in Washington. Find roles that fit your experience and specialization and apply directly to the employers posting them. No signup is needed to search Washington listings and move forward with applications.
See All 24 Materials Engineer Jobs in Washington
Find roles in Washington that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.
Find Materials Engineer Jobs