HEALTH PHYSICIST

US-Office-of-Naval-Researc; Washington (District of Columbia); On-site; USD 110,000 - 160,000; Full time

Job summary

Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) seeks a Health Physicist to join the Safety Branch. The role requires demonstrated experience with radiation detection, measuring and assaying equipment, and performing tests and calibrations on analytical equipment used in radioassay programs.

The position involves complex evaluations, shielding calculations, and exposure assessments for X-ray machines and radioactive materials, ensuring compliance with federal and Navy regulations, and leading safety inspections

Qualifications

• Experience with radiation detection, measuring and assaying equipment.
• Ability to perform tests and calibrations of analytical equipment used in radioassay programs and analyze radioactive samples.
• Experience with safety inspections and inventories of laboratory equipment and compliance with regulations.

Responsibilities

• Conduct complex evaluations, shielding calculations, and exposure assessments for X-ray machines and radioactive materials.
• Ensure radiation safety, measurement, and monitoring programs comply with regulations to maintain permits.
• Lead safety inspections and inventories of laser equipment across sites.
• Verify and update RADHAZ surveys in line with governing instructions and HERO precautions.

Skills

Radiation detection equipment

Measuring and assaying equipment

Calibration of analytical equipment

Safety inspections

Job description

You will serve as a Health Physicist in the Safety Branch at the Naval Research Laboratory (NRL).

NP-02 Level:

In addition to the basic education requirements, your resume must demonstrate at least one year of specialized experience at or equivalent to the next lower grade level (GS-01/04) or pay band (NP-01) in the Federal service or equivalent experience in the private or public sector.

Specialized experience must demonstrate the following:

• 1) Using various complex pieces or radiation detection, measuring, and assaying equipment;
• 2) Performing tests and calibrations of analytical equipment used in the radioassay program, and analyzing radioactive samples.

NP-02 Level:

This position has a selective placement factor that will be used to screen out ineligible candidates. The selective placement factor is: This position requires demonstrated experience with radiation detection, measuring and assaying equipment.

NP-03 Level:

In addition to the basic education requirements, your resume must demonstrate at least one year of specialized experience equivalent to the next lower grade level (GS-05/10) or pay band (NP-02) in the federal service or equivalent experience in the private or public sector.

• 1) Conducting complex evaluations, shielding calculations, and expected personnel exposure assessments for low-energy X-ray machines and radioactive materials;
• 2) Ensuring all radiation safety, measurement, and monitoring programs comply with federal, state, Navy, and laboratory regulations to maintain operational permits;
• 3) Leading safety inspections and inventories of industrial and research laser equipment across primary and field sites;
• 4) Verifying and updating RADHAZ surveys in accordance with OPNAVINST 5100.23H and ensured strict personnel adherence to Hazards of Electromagnetic Radiation to Ordnance (HERO) precautions.

NP-03 Level:

This position has a selective placement factor that will be used to screen out ineligible candidates. The selective placement factor is: This position requires demonstrated experience designing radiation shielding for megavoltage particle accelerators using NCRP 144 and NBS Handbook 97 and evaluating the effectiveness of radiation shielding using thermoluminescent dosimeters (TLDs), ionization chambers, and neutron detectors.

Additional qualification information can be found from the following Office of Personnel Management website: https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/general-schedule-qualification-standards/1300/health-physics-series-1306/

Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., professional, philanthropic, religious, spiritual, community, student, social). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge, and skills and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment.