Mid-Level Radiological Control Technician / Radiation Protection Technician

Position Summary

Qal-Tek Associates is seeking an experienced Mid-Level Radiological Control Technician (RCT) / Radiation Protection Technician to support a diverse portfolio of nuclear, Department of Energy (DOE), industrial, radioactive material, transportation, and environmental projects.

This is a hands-on field position for an experienced radiological technician who can perform radiation and contamination surveys, operate and understand radiological instrumentation, support radioactive material handling and transportation activities, maintain accurate radiological records, and work safely and effectively with limited supervision.

The successful candidate should have experience working in controlled radiological environments and be comfortable supporting projects at DOE facilities, nuclear and industrial facilities, radioactive material storage and handling locations, environmental sites, and other client facilities.

Projects may include radiation and contamination surveys, radioactive material packaging and transportation, source handling, facility characterization, radiological work controls, decommissioning activities, industrial radiation safety, emergency response, and other field-based radiological activities.

This position requires an individual who is technically capable, mechanically inclined, comfortable working with computers and electronic documentation, and able to adapt to a variety of field environments and client needs.

Key Responsibilities

Radiation & Contamination Surveys

• Perform radiation, contamination, and airborne radioactivity surveys in accordance with approved procedures and work controls.
• Perform general area, contact, dose rate, contamination, removable contamination, and release surveys.
• Perform pre-job, in-process, and post-job radiological surveys.
• Support radiological characterization of facilities, equipment, materials, vehicles, packages, and work areas.
• Perform surveys associated with radioactive material receipt, storage, handling, packaging, shipment, and transfer.
• Accurately document survey results on survey maps, forms, logs, electronic records, and other required documentation.
• Recognize changing or unexpected radiological conditions and take appropriate actions.
• Establish and maintain radiological boundaries, postings, and controls as directed by project requirements.

Radiological Instrumentation

• Select and properly use radiation detection instruments appropriate for the radiation type, energy, and measurement being performed.
• Demonstrate practical understanding of instrumentation used for detection of alpha, beta, gamma, and neutron radiation, as applicable.
• Understand instrument operating principles, limitations, response characteristics, efficiency, background, units of measurement, and appropriate applications.
• Perform instrument response checks, source checks, background measurements, and other required pre-use checks.
• Recognize abnormal instrument response, equipment malfunctions, and conditions that could affect measurement quality.
• Maintain proper documentation associated with instrument use and field measurements.
• Assist with setup and operation of portable survey instruments, contamination monitors, air sampling equipment, and other radiation detection systems.

Radioactive Material Handling & Transportation

• Support radioactive material packaging, handling, storage, and transportation activities.
• Perform package and vehicle radiation and contamination surveys.
• Support receipt and shipment of radioactive materials.
• Assist with package preparation, labeling, marking, placarding, documentation, and shipment activities under the direction of qualified personnel.
• Support projects involving sealed sources, uranium and thorium-bearing materials, NORM/TENORM, contaminated equipment and materials, and radioactive waste.
• Demonstrate working knowledge of radiological controls associated with radioactive material transportation.
• Maintain chain-of-custody, survey, shipping, and other required project documentation.
• Follow applicable DOT, NRC, DOE, and site-specific requirements associated with radioactive material handling and transportation.
• Support loading, unloading, staging, inspection, and verification of radioactive material packages and shipments.

Radiological Work Control

• Implement Radiological Work Permits (RWPs), procedures, work plans, and project-specific radiological controls.
• Provide radiological job coverage for work involving radioactive materials or radiological hazards.
• Participate in and, when appropriate, conduct pre-job briefings and communicate radiological conditions and work controls to project personnel.
• Monitor personnel and work activities for compliance with established radiological controls.
• Perform personnel and equipment contamination monitoring.
• Support contamination control, decontamination, and material release activities.
• Assist with establishment and maintenance of radiological areas, contamination areas, radioactive material areas, and associated postings and boundaries.
• Stop or pause work when unexpected radiological conditions or unsafe conditions are identified and communicate those conditions to appropriate project personnel.

Mechanical & Field Technical Skills

• Demonstrate good mechanical aptitude and hands-on problem-solving skills when working with radiological equipment, radioactive material packages, industrial equipment, and field systems.
• Safely use common hand tools and basic power tools in support of field activities.
• Assist with the assembly, setup, installation, removal, and breakdown of radiological instrumentation, sampling equipment, shielding, containment systems, and other field equipment.
• Support the handling, preparation, loading, securing, and unloading of radioactive material packages and associated equipment.
• Assist with radioactive source and device activities, including setup, inspection, handling, and field support under appropriate procedures and technical direction.
• Understand basic mechanical concepts and be able to interpret equipment drawings, diagrams, manufacturer's instructions, and technical procedures.
• Identify basic equipment or mechanical issues and assist with troubleshooting field equipment while recognizing when specialized technical support is required.
• Work effectively around industrial equipment, piping, tanks, process equipment, vehicles, lifting/rigging activities, and other field conditions commonly encountered during radiological projects.

Field Documentation & Computer Skills

• Accurately complete radiological surveys, field logs, forms, checklists, shipping records, and project documentation.
• Enter, organize, and review field data using computers and electronic data systems.
• Demonstrate proficiency with standard Microsoft Office applications, including:
• Microsoft Excel
• Microsoft Word
• Microsoft Outlook
• Microsoft PowerPoint
• Microsoft Teams
• Use Excel to enter, organize, review, and perform basic analysis of radiological survey and project data.
• Prepare professional electronic documentation suitable for client and project records.
• Communicate effectively through email and other electronic project management and communication systems.
• Learn and use client-specific software, electronic work control systems, and radiological data management systems.

Project & Client Support

• Work effectively with health physicists, Radiation Safety Officers, project managers, engineers, other radiological technicians, client personnel, and craft/work crews.
• Communicate radiological conditions and requirements clearly and professionally to workers and clients.
• Support multiple types of projects and adapt to different client facilities, procedures, and regulatory environments.
• Maintain a professional presence while working at client facilities.
• Assist senior technical personnel with data collection, project documentation, equipment preparation, and field execution.
• Demonstrate good judgment, professionalism, and the ability to work effectively with limited supervision.
• Travel to project locations and support field assignments of varying duration.

Required Qualifications

• High school diploma or equivalent.
• Completion of a recognized Radiological Control Technician/Radiation Protection Technician qualification or certification program, such as DOE Core RCT qualification or equivalent commercial nuclear, military, or industry-recognized training.
• Previous experience performing radiation and contamination surveys in a nuclear, DOE, industrial, environmental, or radioactive material environment.
• Demonstrated experience using portable radiation detection and survey instrumentation.
• Working knowledge of basic radiation protection principles, including:
• ALARA
• Time, distance, and shielding
• Radiation and contamination controls
• Personnel monitoring
• Radioactive material controls
• Radiological postings and boundaries
• Basic radiation units and terminology
• Experience supporting radioactive material handling, packaging, shipping, receiving, or transportation activities.
• Demonstrated mechanical aptitude and ability to safely use common hand tools and field equipment.
• Ability to work effectively in hands-on industrial and field environments and assist with equipment setup, material handling, packaging, and other mechanical aspects of project execution.
• Ability to read and follow procedures, Radiological Work Permits, work plans, technical instructions, and basic equipment documentation.
• Ability to accurately document field measurements and radiological conditions.
• Working proficiency with computers and Microsoft Excel, Word, Outlook, and PowerPoint.
• Strong verbal and written communication skills.
• Ability to work independently with limited supervision while recognizing when conditions require additional technical direction.
• Ability to work effectively as part of a multidisciplinary project team.
• Ability and willingness to travel to client and project locations domestically and internationally as required.

Preferred Qualifications

• Current or previous DOE Core RCT qualification.
• NRRPT certification or other recognized radiation protection certification.
• 3–7 years of radiological control or radiation protection experience.
• Experience working at DOE facilities.
• Commercial nuclear radiation protection experience.
• Industrial radiation safety experience.
• Experience with NRC or Agreement State radioactive material licensees.
• Radioactive material packaging and transportation experience.
• Current or previous DOT HazMat / radioactive material transportation training.
• Experience with uranium, thorium, NORM/TENORM, sealed sources, or radioactive waste.
• Experience supporting facility characterization, decommissioning, or environmental radiological surveys.
• MARSSIM survey experience.
• Air sampling and airborne radioactivity monitoring experience.
• Personnel contamination monitoring and decontamination experience.
• Experience with radioactive material receipt, inventory, storage, and accountability.
• Experience performing surveys for unrestricted release of materials and equipment.
• Experience using electronic survey documentation or radiological data management systems.
• Experience working around industrial equipment and supporting mechanical or hands-on field activities.
• HAZWOPER training.
• Current First Aid/CPR certification.

Desired Professional Profile

The ideal candidate is an experienced radiological technician who understands that good radiation protection work involves more than simply obtaining an instrument reading.

We are looking for someone who understands what instrument to use, why it is appropriate for the measurement, how to verify that it is operating correctly, how to recognize an unusual radiological condition, and how to accurately document and communicate the results.

The successful candidate should also be mechanically inclined and comfortable working in hands-on field environments. They should be willing and able to use tools, assist with equipment setup, work around industrial systems, support packaging and material-handling operations, and help troubleshoot practical field issues while staying within their qualifications and assigned responsibilities.

This individual should be comfortable moving between different types of projects. One assignment may involve providing radiological job coverage at a DOE or nuclear facility, while another may involve surveying and packaging radioactive material for transportation, performing facility characterization surveys, supporting an industrial radiation safety program, assisting with radioactive source handling, or supporting a complex field project.

We are looking for someone who can think beyond the meter reading—a technician who understands the work being performed, recognizes changing conditions, communicates effectively with the project team, and contributes to getting the job completed safely and efficiently.

This individual must be dependable, safety-focused, technically competent, comfortable working with computers and electronic documentation, and capable of representing Qal-Tek professionally while working directly with clients.

Work Environment & Travel

This position includes significant field work and may require travel to client facilities and project locations domestically and internationally.

Work locations may include DOE and nuclear facilities, industrial facilities, laboratories, mines and mineral processing facilities, radioactive material storage areas, decommissioning sites, warehouses, transportation and packaging locations, and outdoor field environments.

Depending on the project, work may involve:

• Extended standing and walking.
• Wearing personal protective equipment (PPE).
• Working in radiologically controlled areas.
• Working outdoors and in varying environmental conditions.
• Lifting and handling field instruments and equipment.
• Using hand tools and assisting with field equipment setup.
• Working around industrial equipment and material-handling operations.
• Working non-standard schedules, including extended shifts or weekends, when required by project activities.
• Travel assignments ranging from short-duration site visits to multi-week field projects.

About Qal-Tek Associates

Qal-Tek Associates provides specialized radiation safety, nuclear, environmental, instrumentation, calibration, emergency response, and technical services to government and commercial clients.

Our radiological personnel support projects ranging from established DOE and licensed radioactive material programs to advanced nuclear technologies, industrial radiation safety, radioactive material transportation, facility characterization, and complex field operations.

We are looking for individuals who can contribute to today's field projects while continuing to develop their technical capabilities and grow within Qal-Tek's nuclear and radiological services team.

Job Type: Full-time

Pay: From $60,000.00 per year

Benefits:

• 401(k)
• 401(k) matching
• Dental insurance
• Flexible schedule
• Health insurance
• Life insurance
• Paid time off
• Professional development assistance
• Relocation assistance
• Vision insurance

People with a criminal record are encouraged to apply

Work Location: Hybrid remote in Idaho Falls, ID 83401

Salary : $60,000