Contract Physicist Jobs in California (NOW HIRING)

Position is contingent upon contract award with an anticipated start date of October 2026.
Location: NASA Armstrong Flight Research Center (AFRC), Edwards, California
Support NASA's Aerospace Research Mission
H&L Environmental Services is seeking an experienced Health Physicist to support NASA Armstrong Flight Research Center's Occupational Health Program.
The successful candidate will serve as the technical lead for radiation safety and non-ionizing radiation protection activities supporting aerospace research, flight operations, laboratories, industrial facilities, and mission-critical programs.
Working alongside Environmental Health personnel, Occupational Medicine staff, engineers, scientists, and operational leadership, the Health Physicist will help identify, evaluate, and control radiological and non-ionizing radiation hazards while supporting workforce safety, mission readiness, and regulatory compliance.
What You Will Do
Radiation Safety Program Leadership
• Serve as the technical lead for ionizing and non-ionizing radiation protection programs.
• Support implementation and continuous improvement of NASA radiation safety programs.
• Function as Radiation Safety Officer (RSO) or support designated RSO responsibilities.
• Support Laser Safety Officer (LSO) and Radio Frequency Safety Officer (RFSO) program activities.
• Develop and maintain radiation safety procedures, guidance documents, and operating practices.
• Provide technical consultation regarding radiation hazards and controls.
Radiation Surveys & Exposure Assessment
• Conduct radiological hazard evaluations and exposure assessments.
• Perform:
o Radiation surveys
o Leak testing
o Contamination assessments
o Laser hazard evaluations
o RF hazard evaluations
o UV hazard assessments
o Area monitoring and workplace evaluations
• Evaluate workplace hazards and recommend engineering, administrative, and PPE controls.
• Support annual radiation vault inspections and operational assessments.
Dosimetry & Monitoring Programs
• Manage personnel dosimetry programs.
• Coordinate issuance, collection, exchange, and tracking of dosimeters.
• Review exposure records and investigate unusual exposure events.
• Maintain radiation monitoring records and regulatory documentation.
• Prepare annual exposure summaries and employee notifications.
Radiation Inventory & Regulatory Compliance
• Maintain inventories of radioactive materials, radiation-producing machines, lasers, and RF-emitting devices.
• Support permitting, licensing, and authorization activities.
• Review operational changes and new equipment acquisitions for radiation safety impacts.
• Support compliance with:
o NASA Occupational Health requirements
o California Title 17
o NRC regulations
o OSHA requirements
o Applicable ANSI and consensus standards
Program Audits & Reporting
• Support NASA OCHMO reviews, audits, and self-assessments.
• Develop program metrics and performance indicators.
• Prepare technical reports and corrective action recommendations.
• Participate in incident investigations and root cause analyses.
• Support continuous improvement initiatives.
Emergency Response & Training
• Support radiological emergency preparedness and response activities.
• Participate in drills, exercises, and operational readiness reviews.
• Develop and deliver training related to:
o Radiation Safety
o Laser Safety
o Radio Frequency Safety
o UV Safety
o Dosimetry Programs
o Radiation Worker Training
Required Qualifications
• Bachelor's degree in Health Physics, Radiological Health, Nuclear Engineering, Physics, Radiation Protection, Environmental Health, or related scientific discipline.
• Minimum four (4) years of professional experience supporting radiation protection, health physics, or radiological safety programs.
• Minimum of three (3) years of experience serving as a Radiation Safety Officer (RSO) and/or Laser Safety Officer (LSO).
• DOT and/or IATA Radioactive Materials Shipping Certification.
• Experience conducting radiation surveys and exposure assessments.
• Experience supporting radiation protection programs in operational, laboratory, research, aerospace, industrial, or government environments.
• Strong knowledge of:
o Radiation protection principles
o Dosimetry programs
o Radiation instrumentation
o Ionizing and non-ionizing radiation hazards
o NRC and OSHA requirements
• Strong technical writing, analytical, and communication skills.
• Ability to work independently and collaboratively within multidisciplinary teams.
Preferred Qualifications
• Radiation Safety Officer (RSO) experience.
• Laser Safety Officer (LSO) training or certification.
• Radio Frequency Safety Officer (RFSO) training or certification.
• Candidates not currently holding LSO, RFSO, or DOT/IATA RAM Shipping certifications must be willing and able to obtain required training within three months of hire.
• Experience supporting NASA, DoD, DOE, aerospace, laboratory, research, or federal facilities.
• Experience supporting both ionizing and non-ionizing radiation protection programs.
• Experience with incident investigations, audits, and corrective action development.
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
• Physical Demands: While performing the duties of this job, the employee may be required to walk, sit, or stand for extended periods of time; reach with hands and arms; balance; stoop; talk or hear; have sufficient manual dexterity to operate a keyboard, calculator, telephone, and other such office equipment as necessary; may occasionally move and/or lift up to 50 pounds or more with assistance. Specific visual abilities required by the job include close vision, distant vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust and focus.
• Work Environment: Work will mainly be performed in an office setting and occasionally with irregular hours.
• Travel: A low to moderate amount of travel away from office may be required