Laser Safety & Radiation Safety Specialist
About The Position
This contract role runs through April 29, 2027, with the possibility of extension. The specialist primarily supports the laser and radiation safety team through laboratory inspections, equipment-purchase requirement evaluations, R&D experiment reviews, and laser exposure calculations and measurements. The role establishes and ensures appropriate area controls for employees working in and around lasers and radiation sources. The specialist also supports the Radiation Safety Program by implementing the established business-unit plan, conducting X-ray leakage surveys, and auditing training and procedures related to X-ray-generating devices. The position works closely with cross-functional research and product teams in a dynamic environment and may support other EHS programs, including LOTO, laboratory, chemical, electrical, and machine-guarding safety. Labs are located in Sunnyvale, Burlingame, and Fremont, with other travel, such as to Redmond, Washington, as necessary.
Requirements
- Bachelor’s degree in Physics, Optical Sciences or Engineering, Health Physics, Nuclear Engineering, Nuclear Physics, or a related discipline; direct experience as a Laser Safety Officer (LSO) or Radiation Safety Officer (RSO) may substitute for the degree.
- Experience in safety investigations, either during development or failure analysis.
- Familiarity with multiple types of radiation sources, including X-ray-generating machines, lasers, and LEDs.
- Experience in a technical or engineering role focused on field testing, failure analysis, reliability, or equivalent work.
- Familiarity with ANSI Z136.1, The American National Standard for the Safe Use of Lasers.
- Proficiency with ANSI Z136.1.
- LSO experience.
- Self-motivation, proactivity, multitasking, and creative and critical thinking capabilities.
- Outstanding communication, report-writing, and presentation skills.
- Ability to communicate and work effectively with staff at all levels.
Nice To Haves
- Experience working as an LSO or RSO.
- Experience working in a hardware research or production environment.
- Ability to influence teams indirectly through timely, accurate, and powerful analysis.
- Proficiency with FDA/CDRH FLPPS and IEC 60825-1 and IEC 62471-1.
- Firm understanding of laser calculations (MPE, NOHD, NHZ) for various laser types and configurations.
- CLSO from BLS.
Responsibilities
- Audit laboratories for radiation and laser safety compliance.
- Analyze safety hazards and help create requirement specifications for hardware containing hazardous elements such as lasers, LEDs, and X-ray sources.
- Understand and implement laser and optical safety standards, including FLPPS, ANSI Z1236-1, IEC 60825, and IEC 62471.
- Create, review, and approve laser- and optical-hazard-related SOPs.
- Review and approve work performed by outside laser service technicians.
- Help identify and develop corrective actions and communicate them to stakeholders.
- Conduct power, spectral, and temporal measurements for laser and LED sources.
- Implement safety protocols required by CDPH in California for X-ray generators.
- Perform testing to simulate faults and validate equipment design and optical safety.
- Communicate and work effectively with staff at all levels.
- Work with staff to establish procedures that ensure compliance with Radiation and Laser Safety Program requirements, adapting and innovating as needed.
- Cover laboratories in Sunnyvale, Burlingame, and Fremont, and travel to other locations such as Redmond, Washington, as necessary.
- Support additional EHS programs as needed, including LOTO, laboratory safety, chemical safety, electrical safety, and machine guarding, especially in cross-functional research and product environments.
Benefits
- Employer contributions toward the cost of employee-only medical and dental premiums.
- Vision insurance available as an opt-in.
- 401(k).
- PTO.
- Life insurance.
- Disability insurance.
- AD&D coverage.
- Short-term disability coverage available as an opt-in.
- Accident coverage available as an opt-in.
- Cancer/critical illness coverage available as an opt-in.
- Pet insurance available as an opt-in.
