SENIOR HEALTH PHYSICIST

State of California; California; Hybrid; USD 97,000 - 138,000; Full time

Job summary

The State of California, CDPH, seeks a Senior Health Physicist to supervise the X-ray Machine Inspection, Compliance and Enforcement program. The role directs inspection activities, leads quality control, and provides strategic technical guidance to improve operations.

It requires developing workplans, training staff, and stakeholder collaboration in a hybrid telework setting. The position is based in Orange County with permanent, full-time status and a monthly salary between $8,674 and $12,384.

Qualifications

• Certified by ABHP in Health Physics or ABMP in Medical Health Physics.
• Bachelor/Master/Doctorate in Health Physics, Medical Physics, Nuclear Engineering, or related field.
• 4 years of professional health physics experience in radiation protection, evaluating programs, and solving related problems.

Responsibilities

• Oversees the X-ray Machine Inspection Program by planning and coordinating inspections and leading quality control and assurance efforts.
• Provides high-level consultation to management on technical and administrative aspects of the program.
• Develops unit workplans, assesses training needs, and develops staff skills.
• Fosters an inclusive work environment, maintains customer service and accountability, and builds collaborative relationships with stakeholders.

Skills

Health Physics

Program management

Leadership

Communication

Education

Health Physics degree

Job description

$8,674.00 - $12,384.00 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: 11/30/2026

This position supports the California Department of Public Health’s (CDPH) mission and strategic plan by directing the activities of a regional X-Ray Machine Inspection, Compliance and Enforcement (ICE) program to ensure that qualified individuals are using X-ray machines in a safe and appropriate manner.

The Senior (Sr.) Health Physicist (HP) is the first supervisory level within the HP series. The incumbent oversees the X-ray Machine Inspection Program by planning and coordinating inspection activities and leading its technical and administrative quality control and assurance efforts. Additionally, the Sr. HP provides high-level consultation to management on program’s technical and administrative aspects to improve operational efficiency. The Sr. HP develops the unit’s workplans, assesses training needs, develops staff skills, solves complex technical problems, builds collaborative relationships with stakeholders, and fosters an inclusive work environment. The Sr. HP creates an open and transparent environment that encourages team communication and promotes customer service and accountability.

The Sr. HP works under the general direction of the Supervising HP of the ICE Section, Radiation Machines.

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.

• SENIOR HEALTH PHYSICIST

SENIOR HEALTH PHYSICIST $8,674.00 - $12,384.00 New to State candidates will be hired into the minimum salary of the classification or minimum of alternate range when applicable.

# of Positions:

1

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 we do.

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 services associated with administering a radiation control program. These services include licensing of radioactive materials, registration of X-ray-producing machines, certifying medical and industrial X-ray and radioactive material users, inspecting facilities that use radiation, investigating radiation incidents, and conducting 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. ”

For experience/education to qualify during the application screening process, and to ensure that minimum qualifications can be determined, applicants should include all employment history on the Employment Application (STD 678) and/or Resume, including detailed job descriptions, hours worked per week , and start/end dates (MM/DD/YYYY) . Application packages without this information will experience delayed processing times and your eligibility for this position may be impacted.

***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,
• Graduation from a college or university (Bachelor, Master, or Doctorate degree) with a major in Health Physics, Medical Physics, Nuclear Engineering 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