Radiation Safety Officer (RSO)
About The Position
Oklo Isotopes is building U.S. radioisotope production capabilities at the Idaho Radioisotopes Laboratory (IRL) in Idaho Falls, which received its Material Possession License from the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission in February 2026. Oklo is seeking an experienced Radiation Safety Officer to serve as the technical authority for radiation protection activities at the IRL. The role is intended for a Certified Health Physicist or an equivalently experienced radiation protection professional with strong technical judgment, operational leadership, and expertise implementing radiation safety programs. The RSO owns the IRL Radiation Protection Program and ensures safe, compliant, and efficient radiological operations supporting isotope production, laboratory operations, radioactive material handling, and facility readiness. The position combines strategic program leadership with hands-on operational involvement and has influence over facility operations, licensing, operational readiness, and safety culture. The position is on-site in Idaho Falls, Idaho, though remote work with frequent travel to site as needed may be considered. The posting also describes travel to headquarters in Santa Clara, California, for remote employees and in-person attendance there during the first two onboarding weeks. The role may involve access to information subject to U.S. export control laws; only applicants who qualify as U.S. persons under applicable laws may be eligible. Employment may be contingent on successful drug screening, and employees may be subject to drug testing under company policy and applicable laws.
Requirements
- Bachelor’s degree in Health Physics, Nuclear Engineering, Radiochemistry, Chemistry, Physics, or a related technical discipline.
- At least 10 years of progressively responsible experience in health physics, radiation safety, or radiological operations in 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.
- Ability to communicate effectively with regulators, senior leadership, and multidisciplinary technical teams.
- Strong technical writing, organizational, problem-solving, and operational decision-making skills.
- Commitment to procedural compliance, technical rigor, detail, and sound judgment in radiological and operational environments.
- Ability to work effectively in a fast-paced, iterative startup environment, learn quickly, collaborate, and solve open-ended problems creatively.
- Applicants must meet the definition of a U.S. person under applicable laws to be eligible if the role involves access to export-controlled information.
Nice To Haves
- Certified Health Physicist (CHP).
- 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.
Responsibilities
- Serve as the designated Radiation Safety Officer with technical authority and accountability for the IRL Radiation Protection Program under NRC requirements, applicable State regulations, and site procedures.
- Establish, maintain, and enforce radiation protection standards, radiological controls, and operational procedures using health physics principles.
- Provide technical oversight and guidance for radioactive material handling, isotope production, contamination controls, radioactive waste management, and radiological work planning.
- Lead, mentor, and develop radiation protection personnel, technicians, and operational staff.
- Perform and oversee 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, 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 for 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.
Benefits
- Flexible time off.
- Equity.
- Bonuses.
- Competitive pay.
- 401(k).
- Health insurance with employer contribution.
- Health savings account (HSA).
- Flexible spending account (FSA).
- Flexible work hours.
- Wellness credits.
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Senior
