Are you passionate about radiation safety, emergency preparedness, and protecting people from radiological hazards? The U.S. Department of the Navy is currently hiring a Nuclear Engineer/Health Physicist for a critical position in San Diego, California. This full-time, permanent federal job offers competitive pay, relocation assistance, and the chance to contribute to national defense while ensuring safe radiological emergency response.
Original job posting: Apply on USAJOBS – Control Number 852873900
Why Consider a Career in Health Physics?
Health physics is a specialized field focused on protecting people and the environment from radiation hazards while enabling beneficial uses of radiation in energy, medicine, research, and defense. Professionals in this area monitor radiation levels, develop safety procedures, conduct training, and respond to emergencies.
According to industry data, health physicist roles offer strong career stability, with salaries typically ranging from $80,000 to $130,000+ depending on experience and location. The field continues to grow due to ongoing needs in nuclear operations, medical applications, and regulatory compliance.
This Navy position combines technical expertise with real-world emergency coordination — perfect for qualified engineers or health physicists looking for a meaningful federal role.
Job Overview: Nuclear Engineer / Health Physicist (Emergency Response Coordinator)
- Agency: Department of the Navy – U.S. Pacific Fleet
- Location: San Diego, CA (Puget Sound Naval Shipyard and Intermediate Maintenance Facility support)
- Salary Range: $84,462 – $131,610 per year (GS-11: $84,462–$109,795; GS-12: $101,234–$131,610)
- Pay Scale & Grade: GS-11/12 (with promotion potential to GS-12)
- Work Schedule: Full-time
- Telework: Situational/ad-hoc at management’s discretion
- Travel: Occasional
- Security Clearance: Secret (must be obtainable/maintainable)
- Application Deadline: January 2, 2026 (11:59 pm EST)
This role focuses on preparing for and responding to reactor accidents and radiological emergencies at naval facilities. You’ll play a key part in training responders, developing procedures, and ensuring readiness across shipyard teams, medical divisions, fire departments, and local hospitals.
Key Responsibilities
As an Emergency Response Coordinator in the Radiological Control Office, your daily work will include:
- Developing and updating technical procedures for medical and fire response to reactor accidents and radiological emergencies, including decontamination protocols.
- Managing the shipyard’s training program for radiological emergency response.
- Creating lesson plans, conducting training sessions, and evaluating performance during drills and exercises.
- Providing expert technical consultation to managers, medical/fire personnel, and specialists on emergency response strategies.
- Identifying deficiencies in training and drills, then implementing corrective actions to improve readiness.
This position requires strong communication skills, attention to detail, and the ability to work under pressure in a high-stakes environment.
Qualifications and Requirements
To qualify, you must meet the basic education requirements for either the Nuclear Engineer (0840 series) or Health Physicist (1306 series), plus specialized experience:
Basic Education:
- Nuclear Engineer: Bachelor’s degree in engineering (or related field) from an accredited program, with specific coursework.
- Health Physicist: Bachelor’s degree in natural science, engineering, or related field with at least 30 semester hours in health physics, radiological science, etc. (or equivalent combination/certification).
Specialized Experience:
- GS-12: 1 year equivalent to GS-11 drafting procedures, coordinating training, delivering emergency response training, and recommending program improvements.
- GS-11: 1 year equivalent to GS-09 in similar duties (or Ph.D./3 years graduate education substitution).
Additional requirements include U.S. citizenship, ability to obtain Secret clearance, willingness to wear PPE, participate in medical surveillance, and work non-standard hours (nights/weekends/holidays) as needed.
How to Apply
Applications must be submitted online through USAJOBS by the deadline. Prepare a concise resume (max 2 pages) highlighting relevant experience, and include any required supporting documents.
For questions, contact the listed point of contact in the announcement. Note: This is an internal-to-agency announcement with priority for certain federal employees, veterans, military spouses, and individuals with disabilities — check eligibility details.
Ready to Apply?
If you’re a qualified professional with a background in nuclear engineering, health physics, or radiological safety, this could be your next career step in a stable federal position with great benefits.
Don’t wait — the deadline is January 2, 2026! View the full job details and apply here: https://healthphysics.usajobs.gov/job/852873900
Have experience in radiation protection or emergency response? Share your thoughts in the comments below — we’d love to hear from you!