Laser Safety Specialist

About the role

This is a contract opportunity that goes through January 2027 with potential to extend. Must be able to work onsite in Redmond, WA. We are seeking an experienced Laser Safety Specialist to support our client's laser and radiation safety programs across dynamic research, laboratory, and product settings. You will partner with technical teams to evaluate experiments and equipment, conduct inspections and measurements, strengthen controls, and translate complex safety standards into practical requirements.

What You'll Do

• Audit laboratories for laser and radiation safety compliance.
• Evaluate hazards and help define safety requirements for hardware containing lasers, LEDs, and X-ray sources.
• Review research experiments, equipment purchases, and laser- or optical-hazard SOPs.
• Perform laser exposure calculations and conduct power, spectral, temporal, and X-ray leakage measurements.
• Develop corrective actions, communicate findings, and help teams implement compliant work practices.
• Review work performed by outside laser service technicians and support broader EHS programs as needed.

Requirements

• At least five years of experience serving as a Laser Safety Officer (LSO).
• Strong working knowledge of ANSI Z136.1 and experience applying laser safety requirements in technical environments.
• A bachelor's degree in physics, optical sciences, engineering, health physics, nuclear engineering, nuclear physics, or a related field; direct LSO or Radiation Safety Officer experience may be considered in place of a degree.
• Experience with safety investigations, field testing, failure analysis, reliability, or a comparable engineering discipline.
• Clear communication, strong technical writing, sound judgment, and the ability to influence cross-functional teams.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience supporting both LSO and Radiation Safety Officer responsibilities.
• Knowledge of FDA/CDRH laser product performance requirements, IEC 60825-1, and IEC 62471.
• Experience calculating maximum permissible exposure (MPE), nominal ocular hazard distance (NOHD), and nominal hazard zone (NHZ).
• Certified Laser Safety Officer (CLSO) credential from the Board of Laser Safety.
• Experience in hardware research, development, or production environments.

Location and travel

This is an onsite role based in Redmond, Washington. Travel may be required to support laboratories in Sunnyvale, Burlingame, and Fremont, California, and other locations as business needs arise.

Pay

Compensation Range: $80-85/hr

Benefits

• Employer contributions toward the cost of employee-only medical and dental premiums
• Vision - opt-in available
• 401k
• PTO
• Laptop
• Life Insurance, Disability Insurance, AD&D coverage
• Short-term Disability, Accident, Cancer/Critical Illness, Pet insurance - opt in available