Radiation Safety Officer (RSO)

Oklo; Idaho Falls (ID); Hybrid; USD 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Flexible time off

Equity

Health insurance

401(k) with employer contribution

Job summary

Oklo is looking for a Radiation Safety Officer (RSO) to join its team in Idaho Falls, Idaho. This role involves overseeing radiation protection activities at the Idaho Radioisotopes Laboratory.

Candidates should have a Bachelor’s degree in a relevant field and at least 10 years of experience in health physics or radiation safety. The RSO will work closely with regulatory authorities and operational staff to ensure safety standards and compliance.

Qualifications

• Minimum 10 years experience in health physics or radiological operations.
• Experience in managing radiation protection programs and regulatory compliance.
• Strong knowledge of NRC regulations and ALARA practices.

Responsibilities

• Lead the IRL Radiation Protection Program and enforce safety standards.
• Provide guidance on radioactive material handling and contamination control.
• Communicate with regulators and oversee audits or inspections.

Skills

Health Physics

Radiation Safety

Regulatory Compliance

Team Leadership

Technical Writing

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Health Physics, Nuclear Engineering, or related discipline

Job description

Thanks for your interest in Oklo! We are searching for a Radiation Safety Officer (RSO) to join our team. This position will be on‑site in Idaho Falls, Idaho.

About Oklo

Oklo Isotopes is building scalable U.S. radioisotope production capabilities, dedicated to producing essential isotopes for healthcare, space, industry, research, and defense applications. In February 2026, Oklo’s Idaho Radioisotopes Laboratory (IRL) in Idaho Falls received its Material Possession License from the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC), positioning us to lead in the manufacturing and distribution of beneficial radioisotopes in the U.S.

Position Overview

The Radiation Safety Officer will serve as the technical authority for radiation protection activities at the IRL. The role is designed for an experienced Certified Health Physicist (CHP) or an equivalently seasoned radiation protection professional who brings strong technical judgment, operational leadership, and deep expertise in radiation safety program implementation.

Responsibilities

• Serve as the designated Radiation Safety Officer with technical authority and accountability for the IRL Radiation Protection Program in accordance with NRC requirements, applicable state regulations, and site procedures.
• Establish, maintain, and enforce radiation protection standards, radiological controls, and operational procedures using sound health physics principles.
• Provide technical oversight and guidance for radioactive material handling, isotope production activities, contamination controls, radioactive waste management, and radiological work planning.
• Lead, mentor, and develop radiation protection personnel, technicians, and operational staff to maintain a strong field execution and radiological safety culture.
• Perform and oversee complex radiological evaluations including shielding analyses, dose assessments, contamination control strategies, ALARA planning, and radiological work reviews.
• Integrate radiation protection requirements into facility modifications, operational procedures, commissioning activities, and infrastructure upgrades.
• Serve as the primary technical interface with regulatory authorities during inspections, audits, licensing activities, and regulatory communications.
• Help prepare, review, and approve regulatory documentation, license amendments, corrective action plans, radiological procedures, and radiation safety training programs.
• Lead investigations of radiological events, abnormal occurrences, and operational issues including root cause analysis and corrective action development.
• Support operational readiness, emergency preparedness, and commissioning activities associated with IRL operations.
• Partner with operations, engineering, maintenance, laboratory, and leadership teams to align radiation protection strategies with operational goals and long‑term facility objectives.
• Promote operational excellence, procedural compliance, industrial safety, and a strong nuclear safety culture.

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Health Physics, Nuclear Engineering, Radiochemistry, Chemistry, Physics, or a related technical discipline.
• Minimum of 10 years of progressively responsible experience in health physics, radiation safety, or radiological operations within regulated nuclear, isotope production, laboratory, or industrial environments.
• Demonstrated experience implementing and managing radiation protection programs in regulated radiological environments.
• Experience leading or supervising technical staff, including mentoring, training, and professional development.
• Strong working knowledge of NRC regulations, radiation protection principles, ALARA practices, contamination controls, and radiological work planning.
• Demonstrated ability to communicate effectively with regulators, senior leadership, and multidisciplinary technical teams.
• Strong technical writing, organizational, problem‑solving, and operational decision‑making skills.

Bonus Qualifications

• Certified Health Physicist (CHP) strongly preferred.
• Experience supporting radioisotope production facilities, hot cell operations, gloveboxes, or nuclear laboratory environments.
• Experience supporting startup, commissioning, or operational readiness activities.
• Experience interfacing with NRC inspectors, Agreement State regulators, or external regulatory agencies.
• Familiarity with radioactive material transportation, waste management, and laboratory radiological controls.

Desired Attributes

• Passionate about unleashing beneficial isotopes.
• Committed to operational excellence and nuclear safety culture.
• Willing and able to learn quickly.
• Eager to work on a dynamic team, receive constructive feedback, and grow with us.
• Willing to think differently and approach problems creatively.
• Comfortable in a fast‑paced, highly iterative startup environment.
• Detail‑oriented and committed to procedural compliance and technical rigor.
• Capable of exercising sound judgment and decision‑making in radiological and operational environments.

Travel & Remote Work

The RSO will primarily work on‑site in Idaho Falls, Idaho. Remote employees may be required to travel to the headquarters in Santa Clara, CA twice a quarter annually for team meetings, off‑sites, and other company events. During the first two weeks of onboarding, employees are required to be in person at headquarters.

Benefits

Oklo offers flexible time off, equity, bonuses, competitive pay, 401(k), health insurance (with employer contribution), HSA, FSA, flexible work hours, wellness credits, and other benefits.