Health Physicist in Edwards, California at HSG, LLC

Help protect the future of aerospace innovation at NASA Armstrong Flight Research Center.

Herndon Solutions Group (HSG) is seeking a highly skilled Health Physicist / Radiation Safety Officer to support Occupational Health Services operations at NASA Armstrong Flight Research Center (AFRC). This unique opportunity supports radiation safety, laser safety, radiofrequency safety, and operational health physics activities within one of the most technically advanced aerospace research environments in the country.

This role directly supports workforce safety, mission readiness, and regulatory compliance across laboratories, research facilities, aircraft operations, and mission-critical programs supporting NASA’s flight research mission.

This position is contingent upon contract award.

General Description

The Health Physicist will support Occupational Health Services operations within a highly technical aerospace and research environment. This role provides technical leadership and subject matter expertise for ionizing and non-ionizing radiation safety programs supporting NASA personnel, laboratories, aircraft operations, industrial facilities, research activities, and mission operations.

The Health Physicist serves as the technical lead for radiation safety, dosimetry, laser safety, radio frequency (RF) safety, and regulatory compliance activities in accordance with NASA procedural requirements, NRC regulations, California Title 17 requirements, OSHA standards, and industry best practices.

This position requires strong technical expertise, regulatory knowledge, analytical capability, and the ability to work collaboratively with engineers, scientists, medical personnel, safety professionals, and operational leadership in a dynamic federal environment.

How You Will Fulfill Your Mission

Radiation Safety Program Management

• Support implementation and compliance of ionizing and non-ionizing radiation safety programs.
• Serve as the Radiation Safety Officer (RSO) and support Laser Safety Officer (LSO) and Radio Frequency Safety Officer (RFSO) program activities as designated.
• Provide technical oversight for radiation safety operations in accordance with NASA requirements and applicable federal/state regulations.
• Support development, implementation, and maintenance of radiation safety procedures, permits, and operational guidance.

Radiation Surveys & Exposure Assessments

• Conduct ionizing and non-ionizing radiation exposure surveys and assessments.
• Perform:
  • Radiation exposure surveys
  • Leak testing
  • RF surveys
  • Laser hazard evaluations
  • UV radiation assessments
  • Area monitoring and contamination assessments
• Support annual radiation vault surveys and required operational inspections.
• Evaluate radiation hazards and recommend engineering, administrative, or PPE controls to mitigate risk.
• Prepare technical evaluations, reports, recommendations, and exposure documentation.

Dosimetry & Radiation Monitoring

• Manage and coordinate radiation dosimetry activities.
• Coordinate issuance, tracking, exchange, and retrieval of radiation badges and monitoring devices.
• Maintain radiation exposure records and provide annual exposure reports to monitored personnel.
• Support radiation monitoring program compliance and documentation activities.

Radiation Inventory, Permitting & Compliance

• Maintain inventories of ionizing radiation devices, laser systems, RF sources, and related radiation-producing equipment.
• Support radiation permitting and authorization activities for operational and research projects.
• Review radiation-related requests, equipment acquisitions, and operational changes for compliance impacts.
• Support compliance with:
  • NASA procedural requirements
  • NRC regulations
  • California Title 17
  • OSHA standards
  • Applicable radiation safety consensus standards

Equipment & Instrumentation Management

• Coordinate calibration, maintenance, bump testing, and operational readiness of radiation safety equipment and instrumentation.
• Maintain associated logs, records, and equipment documentation.
• Coordinate with NASA metrology and outside vendors for required calibration and maintenance services.

Audits, Documentation & Reporting

• Support internal audits, OCHMO reviews, self-assessments, and radiation safety inspections.
• Prepare technical reports, corrective action recommendations, and program documentation.
• Assist with development of radiation safety procedures, training materials, and operational guidance.
• Support incident investigations, root cause analyses, and corrective action implementation.

Emergency Response & Operational Support

• Support emergency preparedness and response activities involving radiological hazards.
• Participate in drills, exercises, aircraft mishap exercises, and operational readiness activities.
• Provide technical guidance regarding radiation hazards during operational incidents or emergency response situations.
• Support hazard evaluations associated with mission activities, laboratories, industrial facilities, and airborne research operations.

Education & Training

• Develop and provide radiation safety training programs related to:
  • Ionizing Radiation Safety
  • Laser Safety
  • Radio Frequency (RF) Safety
  • UV Safety
  • Radiation Worker Training
  • Dosimetry Program Requirements
• Support annual awareness campaigns and safety outreach initiatives.

Collaboration & Program Coordination

• Collaborate with NASA leadership, Environmental Health personnel, occupational medicine staff, engineers, scientists, and operational teams.
• Attend required meetings, audits, inspections, and planning sessions.
• Support integrated Occupational and Environmental Health operations and continuous improvement initiatives.

The duties and responsibilities described in this position description in no way state or imply that these are the only duties performed. This position may require that additional duties and responsibilities be performed.

Why We Value You

Specific Knowledge/Certification Requirements

Required Qualifications

Preferred Qualifications

Nothing in this job description restricts management’s right to assign or reassign duties and responsibilities to this job at any time.

Working Conditions

The physical demands and work environment characteristics described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of the job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential job functions