Associate Radiation Safety Officer

Everett, WA$139k–$173kPosted Jul 31, 2026

TerraPower is a nuclear technology company based in Bellevue, Washington. At its core, the company is working to raise living standards globally through a more affordable, secure, and environmentally friendly form of nuclear energy along with innovations in medical isotopes to improve human health. In 2006, TerraPower originated with Bill Gates and a group of like-minded visionaries who evaluated the fundamental challenges to raising living standards around the world. They recognized energy access was crucial to the health and economic well-being of communities and decided that the private sector needed to take action and create energy sources that would advance global energy deployment. TerraPower’s mission is to be a world leader in new nuclear technologies, while developing innovators and future leaders in the nuclear field. As a result, the company’s activities in the fields of nuclear energy and related sciences are yielding significant innovations in the safety and economics of nuclear power, hybrid energy and medical applications – all for significant human health benefits.”

TerraPower is seeking to hire highly motivated and forward-thinking professionals who are interested in focusing on advanced nuclear reactor research and development and influencing change within the nuclear power landscape and bringing forward the critical production of medical isotopes. TerraPower is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We do not discriminate in hiring on the basis of sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, race, color, religious creed, national origin, physical or mental disability, protected Veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local law.

Associate Radiation Safety Officer

The Associated Radiation Safety Officer supports the TerraPower Radiation Safety Officer in directing and administering the TerraPower Radiation Safety Program. The Associate Radiation Safety Officer is expected to have experience with interpreting regulations, licensing, and communicating with regulators. The Associate Radiation Safety Officer is expected to have a strong foundation of health physicist work, have excellent communication skills, and be self-directed and highly independent requiring minimal supervision. The ARSO will have supervisory duties for part of the Health Physics Team. The ARSO will be expected to communicate internally and externally with various organizations including regulators.

Responsibilities:

Administer the Radiation Safety Program with oversight from the Radiation Safety Officer.
Ensure TerraPower radiation activities are compliant with regulations, licensing, and TerraPower policies.
Generate and oversee Radiation Work Permits for non-routine tasks.
Direct and/or lead response to off-normals in consultation with the Radiation Safety Officer.
Assist the Radiation Safety Officer in the investigation of accidents involving radioactive material and/or radiological work.
Provide oversight and direction of Health Physicists and Health Physicist Technicians.
Assist the Radiation Safety Officer with permitting, licensing, and compliance related activities as directed.
Assist the Radiation Safety Officer with reporting to the internal TerraPower Safety Committees and regulators.
Generate licensing amendments and permitting applications.
Compile extensive data and summarize for internal and external review.
Perform routine reviews of the Radiation Safety Program and records generated by radiation workers and the Health Physics Team.
Coordinate with internal and external groups to progress TerraPower objectives.
Assist or perform routine audits of the Radiation Safety Program.
Supervisory duties as assigned for members of the Health Physics Team.
Review usage of radiological instrumentation for proper application.
Review and assist the RSO in establishing dose limits and ALARA controls.
Ability to apply principles and practices of health physics.
Analyze data – qualitative and quantitative.
Review and provide professional judgement for radiation and radioactive material hazards.
Perform contamination and exposure rate surveys.
Perform routine inspections of laboratory and radiological conditions.
Deploy and collect airborne monitoring equipment and filters.
Provide operational radiation safety support and serve as points of contact for TerraPower radiation workers.
Provide daily operational/laboratory support to ensure appropriate instruments and equipment are functional and adequate to support TerraPower operations.
Review, survey, and complete shipments of Class 7 Radioactive Material including receipt inspections.
Purchase, maintain, and calibrate radiological instruments.
Assist in maintaining inventory and supplies of health physics materials and equipment.
Perform and direct decontamination as necessary.
Effectively communicate radiation protection requirements to personnel.
Provide radiation safety training and instrumentation training to TerraPower radiation workers.
Follow, review, and update standard operating procedures.
Observe work practices for ALARA practices and implementation of controls.
Perform other tasks and duties as specified by the TerraPower Radiation Safety Officer.

Key Qualifications and Skills

S. degree in Radiation Protection, Radiological/Health Science, or a related technical discipline with 5 years’ experience. Or M.S. degree in Radiation Protection, Radiological/Health Science, or a related technical discipline with 2 years’ experience. Or a PhD in Radiation Protection, Radiological/Health Science, or a related technical discipline with 2 years’ experience. Or a CHP certification or other certification by a specialty board as recognized by the NRC. Or equivalent education and experience.
Having a CHP certification or other certification by a specialty board as recognized by the NRC is desired.
Ability to function independently, demonstrating self-motivation and initiative.
Excellent organization and time management capabilities, including coordination and prioritization of multiple projects and tasks.
Experience supervising and/or coaching a team to complete operational and compliance related tasks.
Experience in planning, directing, overseeing, and reviewing radiological work within radiation areas and contamination.
Experience using radiation detection instrumentation: swipe counters, ion chamber, GM meters, gamma counters, and gamma spectroscopy systems.
Experience performing radiation contamination and exposure rate surveys.
Must be able to perform physical tasks with and without respiratory protection.
Must be able to wear PPE including a respirator.
Ability to work a modified schedule and overtime as workload and project schedules dictate.
The successful candidate will possess a high degree of trust and integrity, communicate openly, and display respect and a desire to foster teamwork.
Military experience is a plus.
Strong written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to interface effectively with employees, management, and regulators as required.
Must be flexible and able to quickly adjust to new or changing projects/tasks and schedules.

Job Functions:

Job Functions are physical actions and/or working conditions associated with the position. These functions may also constitute essential functions for the job which the employee must be able to fulfill, with or without accommodation. Information provided below is to help describe the job so that the applicant has a reasonable understanding of the job duties/expectations. An applicant's ability to perform and/or tolerate these actions and conditions will be discussed and workplace accommodations may be made on a case-by-case basis following an individualized assessment of the applicant and other considerations, including but not limited to any governing safety standards.

Motor Abilities: Sitting and standing for extended periods, bending/stooping, grasping/gripping, fine motor control (hands).
Physical exertion and/or requirements: Minimal, with ability to safely lift up to 50 pounds and ability to climb ladders up to 50 feet.
Repetitive work: Prolonged.
Special Senses: Visual and audio focused work and ability to perform role in personal protective equipment.
Work Conditions: Laboratory, warehouse, stairs, typing/keyboard, standard and/or sitting working environment of >8 hrs./day.
Working with chemical and radiological hazards on benchtops, in fume hoods, in glove boxes, and in hot cells.

TerraPower’s technology is controlled for export by various agencies of the U.S. Government. TerraPower must evaluate applicants who are foreign nationals (other than asylees, refugees, or lawful permanent residents) in accordance with U.S. Government export control requirements. To facilitate TerraPower’s export control reviews, you will be asked as part of the application process to identify whether you are a U.S. Citizen or national, asylee, refugee, or lawful permanent resident of the United States. Government export authorization approval times vary. Based on the business needs for a particular position, TerraPower may not consider a foreign national from a country if it is impracticable to obtain timely Government export approval.

Job details

Salary Range: $138,685 - $173,356

* We typically place offers in the lower to middle portion of the range to maintain internal equity and allow room for growth. Any salary offered within the posted salary band is based on market data and commensurate with the selected individual’s qualifications experience. This range is specific to Washington State.

Benefits:

Competitive Compensation
Salary, eligible to participate in discretionary short-term incentive payments
Comprehensive Medical and Wellness Benefits
- Medical
- Vision
- Dental
- Life and Disability
- Gender Affirmation Benefits
Parental Leave
401k Plan
Generous Paid Time Off (PTO)
- 21 days of annually accrued PTO
Generous Holiday Schedule
- 10 paid holidays
Relocation Assistance
Professional and Educational Support Opportunities

TerraPower Career and Benefits information: https://www.terrapower.com/contact-us/careers/