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Radiation Engineer Jobs in California (NOW HIRING)

Tesla

Space Radiation Engineer, AI Hardware

Palo Alto, CA · On-site

$160K - $414K/yr

As a Space Radiation Engineer, you will be the primary technical authority on ensuring high-performance AI accelerators (TPUs/GPUs), storage, and networking hardware can withstand the harsh space ...

SpaceX

Radiation Effects Engineer

Hawthorne, CA · On-site

$120K - $150K/yr

RADIATION EFFECTS ENGINEER As a member of our fast-paced Radiation Effects team, you will be responsible for ensuring avionics hardware performance across our fleet of vehicles (Dragon, Falcon ...

LLNL

Radiation Effects Engineer

Livermore, CA

We have an opening for a Radiation Effects Engineer to work in the Target Diagnostic Engineering & Science (TDES) Group at the National Ignition Facility. You will support the development and ...

SpaceX

Radiation Effects Engineer

Hawthorne, CA · On-site

$120K - $150K/yr

RADIATION EFFECTS ENGINEER As a member of our fast-paced Radiation Effects team, you will be responsible for ensuring avionics hardware performance across our fleet of vehicles (Dragon, Falcon ...

LLNL

Radiation Effects Engineer

Livermore, CA · On-site

We have an opening for a Radiation Effects Engineer to work in the Target Diagnostic Engineering & Science (TDES) Group at the National Ignition Facility. You will support the development and ...

Astranis

Radiation Effects Engineer

San Francisco, CA · On-site

Radiation Effects Engineer As a Radiation Effects Engineer, you will be responsible for driving the electrical survivability of our spacecraft by analyzing, designing, and testing robust electronic ...

Impulse Space

Radiation Effects Engineer

Redondo Beach, CA · On-site

$120K - $150K/yr

Radiation Effects Engineer Department: Avionics Employment Type: Full Time Location: Redondo Beach Compensation: $120,000 - $150,000 / year Description As a Radiation Effects Engineer, your core ...

Vast

Radiation Effects Engineer

Long Beach, CA · On-site

$93K - $132K/yr

Vast is looking for a Radiation Effects Engineer , reporting to the Senior Manager, EMI-EMC & Radiation Effects, to support the development of the systems that will be required for the design and ...

SpaceX

Sr. Radiation Effects Engineer

Hawthorne, CA · On-site

$140K - $205K/yr

SR. RADIATION EFFECTS ENGINEER As a member of our fast-paced Radiation Effects team, you will be responsible for ensuring avionics hardware performance across our fleet of vehicles (Dragon, Falcon ...

SpaceX

Radiation Effects Engineer

Hawthorne, CA · On-site

$120K - $150K/yr

RADIATION EFFECTS ENGINEER As a member of our fast-paced Radiation Effects team, you will be responsible for ensuring avionics hardware performance across our fleet of vehicles (Dragon, Falcon ...

LLNL

Radiation Effects Engineer

Livermore, CA · On-site

$9.7K/wk

We have an opening for a Radiation Effects Engineer to work in the Target Diagnostic Engineering & Science (TDES) Group at the National Ignition Facility. You will support the development and ...

SpaceX

Sr. Radiation Effects Engineer

Hawthorne, CA · On-site

$140K - $205K/yr

Support a cross-discipline team of design and system engineers in providing radiation test and analysis results, advice on requirements flow down, modeling and analysis reports, and recommendations ...

Astranis

Radiation Test Engineer

San Francisco, CA · On-site

Radiation Test Engineer As our Radiation Test Engineer you will be responsible for analyzing and testing candidate electronics for our spacecraft. This position requires hands-on experience ...

SpaceX

Sr. Radiation Effects Engineer

Hawthorne, CA · On-site

$140K - $205K/yr

Support a cross-discipline team of design and system engineers in providing radiation test and analysis results, advice on requirements flow down, modeling and analysis reports, and recommendations ...

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All JobsRadiation Engineer JobsRadiation Engineer Jobs in California

Radiation Engineer information

See California salary details

$80.4K

$116.8K

$158.9K

How much do radiation engineer jobs pay per year?

As of Jul 26, 2026, the average yearly pay for radiation engineer in California is $116,813.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $89,300.00 and $154,000.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What engineers make $500,000?

Senior engineers in specialized fields such as petroleum, aerospace, or software engineering can earn $500,000 or more annually, often through a combination of base salary, bonuses, and stock options. High-level roles typically require extensive experience, advanced skills, and sometimes certifications or security clearances.

What is the difference between Radiation Engineer vs Medical Physicist?

AspectRadiation EngineerMedical Physicist
CredentialsBachelor's or Master's in Engineering, certifications in radiation safetyDoctorate in Medical Physics, board certification (ABMP or ABR)
Work EnvironmentIndustrial, nuclear power plants, research labsHospitals, clinics, cancer treatment centers
Industry UsageDesigning radiation systems, safety protocolsCalibrating equipment, treatment planning

While both roles involve radiation and safety, Radiation Engineers focus on designing and maintaining radiation systems in industrial or research settings, whereas Medical Physicists specialize in radiation therapy and diagnostic imaging in healthcare. The key differences lie in their work environments, required credentials, and specific responsibilities.

What are the main challenges Radiation Engineers face when working on projects for space applications?

Radiation Engineers working on space-related projects often encounter the challenge of accurately predicting and mitigating the effects of cosmic radiation on spacecraft systems and components. This requires a strong understanding of radiation environments, materials science, and specialized testing protocols. Collaboration with design, testing, and mission assurance teams is essential to ensure that electronic systems can withstand harsh radiation without failure. Additionally, staying updated with evolving standards and simulation tools is key to delivering robust and compliant solutions.

Can you make $500,000 as a nuclear engineer?

Radiation engineers, including nuclear engineers, typically earn salaries below $500,000 annually, with median wages around $100,000 to $130,000. Achieving a $500,000 salary usually requires extensive experience, advanced certifications, management roles, or working in specialized industries such as nuclear power plants or research facilities.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a Radiation Engineer, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Radiation Engineer, you need a solid background in physics, electrical engineering, or nuclear engineering, often supported by a relevant bachelor's or master's degree. Familiarity with radiation testing equipment, simulation software (such as Geant4 or MCNP), and knowledge of industry standards like MIL-STD-883 are typically required. Strong analytical thinking, problem-solving abilities, and effective teamwork are valuable soft skills for this role. These skills and qualifications are crucial for accurately assessing radiation effects on materials and systems, ensuring safety, compliance, and performance in high-reliability environments.

What Is the Job Description of a Radiation Engineer Do?

The duties of a radiation engineer are to conduct experiments that test and evaluate radiation effects in a variety of settings. Their responsibilities include providing theoretical analysis based on a test they perform in an experimental environment. Professionals in this career often focus on the performance of systems, equipment, or networks during and after exposure to radiation. While reporting their findings, a radiation engineer may suggest layouts, parts, and designs that meet requirements for operating under realistic levels of radiation.

What does a Radiation Engineer do?

A Radiation Engineer is a professional who studies and evaluates the effects of radiation on materials, electronics, and systems, particularly in environments such as space, nuclear facilities, or medical equipment. They design tests, conduct experiments, and develop methods to protect devices and people from harmful radiation. Their work is crucial for ensuring the safety and reliability of technology used in high-radiation environments. Radiation Engineers often collaborate with scientists, engineers, and regulatory agencies to develop guidelines and solutions.

What engineers make $300,000 a year?

Senior radiation engineers with extensive experience, specialized skills in radiation safety, and advanced certifications can earn salaries approaching or exceeding $300,000 annually, especially in high-demand industries like nuclear power, aerospace, or defense. Such roles often require advanced degrees, leadership responsibilities, and working in high-stakes environments.

What do radiation engineers do?

Radiation engineers design, develop, and oversee systems that use or control radiation, such as medical imaging equipment, nuclear reactors, or radiation shielding. They analyze radiation safety, ensure compliance with regulations, and often work with specialized tools and safety protocols in environments that require technical expertise and certifications. Their work supports applications in healthcare, energy, and research industries.
More about Radiation Engineer jobs
What are the most commonly searched types of Radiation Engineer jobs in California? The most popular types of Radiation Engineer jobs in California are:
What are popular job titles related to Radiation Engineer jobs in California? For Radiation Engineer jobs in California, the most frequently searched job titles are:
What job categories do people searching Radiation Engineer jobs in California look for? The top searched job categories for Radiation Engineer jobs in California are:
What cities in California are hiring for Radiation Engineer jobs? Cities in California with the most Radiation Engineer job openings:
What are popular job titles related to Radiation Engineer jobs in CA? For Radiation Engineer jobs in CA, the most frequently searched job titles are:
Radiation Engineer jobs near you
Infographic showing various Radiation Engineer job openings in California as of July 2026, with employment types broken down into 89% Full Time, and 11% Contract. Highlights an 100% In-person job distribution, with an average salary of $116,813 per year, or $56.2 per hour.
Space Radiation Engineer, AI Hardware

Space Radiation Engineer, AI Hardware

Tesla

Palo Alto, CA • On-site

$160K - $414K/yr

Other

Medical, Dental, Vision, Life, Retirement, PTO

Posted 16 days ago

Tesla rating

8.5

Company rating: 8.5 out of 10

Based on 679 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

1st of 44 rated automakers

Job description

What to Expect

We are building the future of computing in partnering with SpaceX - a distributed, AI-optimized data center infrastructure operating in space. The terawatts orbital AI data center will be powered by Dojo - our custom supercomputer designed for the neural networks behind SpaceX, xAI, FSD, and Optimus.

As a Space Radiation Engineer, you will be the primary technical authority on ensuring high-performance AI accelerators (TPUs/GPUs), storage, and networking hardware can withstand the harsh space environment. You will lead the effort to transition from conventional hardware hardening to advanced architectural resilience, ensuring our data center scales safely while providing low-latency compute to terrestrial users.

What You'll Do
  • Radiation Environment Modeling:Analyze and predict space radiation environments (trapped particles, solar events, galactic cosmic rays) for targeted orbital altitudes (LEO/MEO)
  • AI Hardware Hardening:Develop shielding and mitigation strategies for cutting-edge AI accelerators to ensure Total Ionizing Dose (TID), Displacement Damage Dose (DDD), and Single Event Effect (SEE) tolerance
  • Radiation Testing Campaigns:Plan and execute radiation testing campaigns (heavy-ion and proton beam) at national laboratories to characterize component sensitivity
  • Architectural Resilience:Collaborate with computer architects to design software-defined fault tolerance, error detection, and correction techniques (ECC) to handle Single Event Upsets (SEUs)
  • Simulation & Analysis:Use computational tools (e.g., GEANT4, MCNPX, NOVICE, SpaceRad, CREME) to model radiation transport through spacecraft shielding
  • Root-Cause Analysis:Investigate radiation-induced anomalies and failures during simulation and testing, providing actionable design modifications
  • Documentation & Standards:Establish radiation hardness assurance (RHA) plans and requirements for high-density, multi-layer printed circuit boards (PCBs)

What You'll Bring
  • Degree in Physics, Electrical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, or related technical field, or equivalent experience
  • 5+ years of experience in space radiation effects analysis, modeling, and testing
  • Proven experience with space radiation tools such as CREME96, SPENVIS, FASTRAD, or NOVICE
  • Deep understanding of semiconductor physics and radiation impacts on microelectronics (ASICs, FPGAs, CPUs)
  • Strong written and verbal skills to present risk assessments to project stakeholders

Compensation and Benefits Benefits

Along with competitive pay, as a full-time Tesla employee, you are eligible for the following benefits at day 1 of hire:

  • Medical plans > plan options with $0 payroll deduction
  • Family-building, fertility, adoption and surrogacy benefits
  • Dental (including orthodontic coverage) and vision plans, both have options with a $0 paycheck contribution
  • Company Paid (Health Savings Accounts) HSA Contribution when enrolled in the High-Deductible medical plan with HSA
  • Healthcare and Dependent Care Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA)
  • 401(k) with employer match, Employee Stock Purchase Plans, and other financial benefits
  • Company paid Basic Life, AD&D
  • Short-term and long-term disability insurance (90 day waiting period)
  • Employee Assistance Program
  • Sick and Vacation time (Flex time for salary positions, Accrued hours for Hourly positions), and Paid Holidays
  • Back-up childcare and parenting support resources
  • Voluntary benefits to include: critical illness, hospital indemnity, accident insurance, theft & legal services, and pet insurance
  • Weight Loss and Tobacco Cessation Programs
  • Tesla Babies program
  • Commuter benefits
  • Employee discounts and perks program
Expected Compensation $160,000 - $414,000/annual salary + cash and stock awards + benefits

Pay offered may vary depending on multiple individualized factors, including market location, job-related knowledge, skills, and experience. The total compensation package for this position may also include other elements dependent on the position offered. Details of participation in these benefit plans will be provided if an employee receives an offer of employment.

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