ASSOCIATE HEALTH PHYSICIST

State of California; California (MO); Hybrid; USD 84,000 - 117,000; Full time

Job summary

The State of California's CDPH seeks an Associate Health Physicist (HP) to lead X-ray inspections, applying radiation safety principles to ensure public and worker safety. The role emphasizes fieldwork across a state regional office with a focus on regulatory health physics and program compliance.

This permanent, full-time position in Orange County offers hybrid telework, a robust salary range, and opportunities to contribute to California’s public health mission while advancing the radiologic

Qualifications

• Certification by ABHP in Health Physics or ABMP in Medical Health Physics.
• 4 years of professional operational health physics experience.
• Degree in Health Physics, Medical Physics, or Nuclear Engineering.
• Experience in establishing/evaluating radiation protection programs.

Responsibilities

• Lead inspector in the X-Ray Inspection program.
• Apply radiation safety regulations and procedures in fieldwork.
• Operate and care for radiation safety equipment in the field.

Skills

ABHP certification

4 years experience

Radiation safety knowledge

Education

Health Physics or related major (Bachelors/Masters/Doctorate)

Tools

Radiation detection equipment

Job description

X-Ray Machine Inspector
ASSOCIATE HEALTH PHYSICIST

$7,558.00 - $10,444.00 per Month
New to State candidates will be hired into the minimum salary of the classification or minimum of alternate range when applicable.

Final Filing Date: 10/15/2026

Application Methods: Electronic (Using your CalCareer Account) By Mail Drop-off

This position supports the California Department of Public Health’s (CDPH) mission and strategic plan by ensuring that qualified individuals are using X-ray machines in a safe and appropriate manner through timely, high-quality inspections and investigations.

The Associate (Assoc.) Health Physicist (HP) performs the more difficult and complex health physicist work as a lead inspector in the X-Ray Inspection program. The incumbent applies principles of radiation and health physics, radiation control regulations, policies and procedures, and best practices to ensure the health and safety of workers, the public, and the environment. The position specializes in regulatory health physics (radiation safety) emphasizing fieldwork operations from a state regional compliance office. The Assoc. HP is provided with radiation detection and other equipment necessary to support their assigned duties and is expected to use, transport, and care for this equipment.

The incumbent works under the direction of the Senior (Sr.) HP of the Inspection, Compliance, and Enforcement (ICE) Section, Radiation Machines, X-Ray Machine Inspection Unit, Region 5 Brea.

Please let us know how you heard about our position by taking this brief survey:

You will find additional information about the job in the Duty Statement.

Working Conditions

Telework Information

The amount of telework permitted is at the discretion of the Department and is subject to change, consistent with CDPH’s Telework Program. All employees who telework are required to be California residents in accordance with Government Code 14200. Candidates who reside outside of the state of California may be interviewed; however, the selected candidate must have a primary residency in the state of California prior to appointment (and continue to maintain California residency) as a condition of employment. Failure to meet this requirement may result in the job offer being rescinded.

Business travel may be required, and reimbursement considers an employee’s designated headquarters office subject to regulations and bargaining unit contract provisions. All commute expenses to the designated headquarters office will be the responsibility of the selected candidate.

The headquarters office location for this position is identified in the attached duty statement.

Minimum Requirements

You will find the Minimum Requirements in the Class Specification.

• ASSOCIATE HEALTH PHYSICIST

ASSOCIATE HEALTH PHYSICIST $7,558.00 - $10,444.00 New to State candidates will be hired into the minimum salary of the classification or minimum of alternate range when applicable.

# of Positions: 2

Work Location: Orange County

Telework: Hybrid

Job Type: Permanent, Full Time

Department Information

At the California Department ofPublic Health (CDPH), equity, diversity, and inclusion are at the core of ourmission to advance the health and well-being of California’s diverse people andcommunities. We are genuinely and strongly committed to cultivating andpreserving a culture of inclusion and connectedness where we can grow and learntogether with a diverse team of employees. In recruiting for team members,we welcome the unique contributions that you can bring to us and the work wedo.

The Radiologic Health Branch (RHB) is within the Division of Radiation Safety & Environmental Management of the Department of Public Health. The Branch enforces the laws and regulations designed to protect the public, radiation workers, and the environment. RHB is responsible for providing public health functions associated with administering a radiation control program. This includes licensing of radioactive materials, registration of X-ray-producing machines, certification of medical and industrial X-ray and radioactive material users, inspection of facilities using radiation, investigation of radiation incidents, and surveillance of radioactive contamination in the environment.

“The salary information listed onthis advertisement may not reflect recent salary increases from salaryadjustments or changes in the fiscal year.”

At the California Department ofPublic Health (CDPH), equity, diversity, and inclusion are at the core of ourmission to advance the health and well-being of California’s diverse people andcommunities. We are genuinely and strongly committed to cultivating andpreserving a culture of inclusion and connectedness where we can grow and learntogether with a diverse team of employees. In recruiting for team members,we welcome the unique contributions that you can bring to us and the work wedo.

The Radiologic Health Branch (RHB) is within the Division of Radiation Safety & Environmental Management of the Department of Public Health. The Branch enforces the laws and regulations designed to protect the public, radiation workers, and the environment. RHB is responsible for providing public health functions associated with administering a radiation control program. This includes licensing of radioactive materials, registration of X-ray-producing machines, certification of medical and industrial X-ray and radioactive material users, inspection of facilities using radiation, investigation of radiation incidents, and surveillance of radioactive contamination in the environment.

“The salary information listed onthis advertisement may not reflect recent salary increases from salaryadjustments or changes in the fiscal year.”

“ TheCDPH is currently an E-Verify employer.”

***Will also consider Temporary Authorization Utilization (TAU) appointments- Candidates that meet the minimum qualifications for the classification but do not currently have eligibility on an employment certification list by having taken and passed an examination may apply as a TAU. TAU appointments are limited to a duration of 9 months within a 12 consecutive month period. In order for a TAU appointment to become permanent, individuals must take and pass the related examination, and thereby become eligible from a certification list, within 9 months of TAU appointment. Individuals who successfully obtain eligibility prior to the expiration of the TAU appointment will not be required to re-compete in a competitive process for permanent appointment to that position.***

Desirable Qualifications

In addition to evaluating each candidate's relative ability, as demonstrated by quality and breadth of experience, the following factors will provide the basis for competitively evaluating each candidate:

• Certification by the American Board of Health Physics in Health Physics or by the American Board of Medical Physics in Medical Health Physics or
• 4 years of professional operational health physics experience exercising independent judgement in any of the following:
  • establishment and/or evaluation of a radiation protection program
  • design and/or the evaluation of the design of the radiation protection aspects of a facility
  • design and implementation of a radiation protection training course or program
  • development of an experimental and/or measurement program designed to answer questions related to radiation protection.
  • evaluation of measurement data
  • analysis and solution of radiation protection problems
  • preparation, interpretation and implementation of recommendations and regulations or
• Graduation from a college or university (Bachelor, Master or Doctorate degree) with a major in Health Physics, Medical Physics, Nuclear Engineering.

Benefit information can be found on the CalHR website and the CalPERS website.

Contact Information

The Human Resources Contact is available to answer questions regarding the application process. The Hiring Unit Contact is available to answer questions regarding the position.

Department Website: https://www.cdph.ca.gov

Human Resources Contact:
Human Resources Division
[phone]
[e-mail]

Please direct requests for Reasonable Accommodations to the interview scheduler at the time the interview is being scheduled. You may direct any additional questions regarding Reasonable Accommodations or Equal Employment Opportunity for this position(s) to the Department's EEO Office.

EEO Contact:
EEO Office
[phone]
[e-mail]

California Relay Service: 1-800-735-2929 (TTY), 1-800-735-2922 (Voice) TTY is a Telecommunications Device for the Deaf, and is reachable only from phones equipped with a TTY Device.

Equal Opportunity Employer

The State of California is an equal opportunity employer to all, regardless of age, ancestry, color, disability (mental and physical), exercising the right to family care and medical leave, gender, gender expression, gender identity, genetic information, marital status, medical condition, military or veteran status, national origin, political affiliation, race, religious creed, sex (includes pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding and related medical conditions), and sexual orientation.

It is an objective of the State of California to achieve a drug-free work place. Any applicant for state employment will be expected to behave in accordance with this objective because the use of illegal drugs is inconsistent with the law of the State, the rules governing Civil Service, and the special trust placed in public servants.