Key Responsibilities and Required Skills for X-Ray Engineer

🎯 Role Definition

An X-Ray Engineer is responsible for the design, implementation, validation, operation, and continuous improvement of X‑ray imaging and inspection systems used in industrial, medical, or research environments. This role combines deep knowledge of X‑ray physics and radiation safety with hands‑on engineering (hardware and software), image processing, system integration, and quality assurance to deliver reliable, safe, and accurate nondestructive inspection solutions. The ideal candidate ensures regulatory compliance (e.g., FDA, IEC/EN, ISO), optimizes imaging performance and throughput, and partners cross‑functionally with R&D, manufacturing, quality, and service teams.

📈 Career Progression

Typical Career Path

Entry Point From:

Field Service Technician — X‑ray or medical imaging
NDT Technician / Radiographer
Electrical, Mechanical, Biomedical Engineer or Imaging Scientist

Advancement To:

Senior X‑Ray Engineer / Senior Imaging Engineer
Lead Systems Engineer or Principal Engineer — Imaging Systems
NDT Manager, Inspection Engineering Manager
R&D Manager for Imaging & Inspection

Lateral Moves:

Applications Engineer (customer-facing imaging solutions)
Quality Engineer / Regulatory Affairs Specialist (medical device inspection)
Field Service & Commissioning Engineer

Core Responsibilities

Primary Functions

Design, architect, and specify X‑ray imaging systems (tube, generator, detectors, collimation, shielding) to meet target inspection performance, throughput, and regulatory requirements for industrial or medical applications.
Develop and optimize imaging acquisition protocols (kV, mA, exposure time, filtration, geometries) to maximize image quality while minimizing dose and wear on components.
Design and implement computed tomography (CT) acquisition sequences and reconstruction pipelines, including helical, cone‑beam, and multislice variants, to achieve defined resolution and material discrimination.
Develop advanced image processing and analysis algorithms (noise reduction, deconvolution, contrast enhancement, segmentation, defect classification) in Python, MATLAB, or C++ to automate defect detection and metrology.
Integrate detector technologies (flat‑panel, CMOS, scintillator, photon counting) and perform detector characterization, calibration, linearity and pixel response corrections to ensure traceable measurement accuracy.
Lead system validation, verification, and qualification activities (FAT, SAT, IQ/OQ/PQ for medical devices) including developing test plans, acceptance criteria, and producing formal test reports.
Implement and maintain radiation safety programs: calculate shielding, perform dose assessments, coordinate with RSO, maintain signage, interlocks, and ensure compliance with local, national and international regulations (e.g., NRC, IAEA, EURATOM guidelines).
Troubleshoot complex hardware and software failures on X‑ray systems, perform root cause analysis (RCA), and drive corrective actions including part failure investigations and CAPA documentation.
Design electronics interfaces, power supplies, high‑voltage regulation and control systems for X‑ray tubes and generators, including HV safety interlocks and protection circuits.
Collaborate with mechanical engineers to design precise fixturing, motion stages, and rotary/gantry systems to achieve geometric stability, repeatability, and positional accuracy for high‑resolution imaging.
Write and maintain software for acquisition control, image pipeline orchestration, diagnostic logging, and operator GUIs; implement CI/CD practices for imaging software where applicable.
Perform acceptance testing, calibration, and preventive maintenance procedures for production and R&D X‑ray equipment and maintain calibration records in accordance with quality systems.
Lead design for manufacturability and producibility efforts to scale X‑ray inspection solutions from prototype to production, including BOM definition, supplier selection, and vendor qualification.
Conduct performance benchmarking and continuous improvement projects to reduce inspection cycle time, reduce false positives/negatives, and increase throughput via hardware tuning and software optimization.
Create, maintain, and improve technical documentation: SOPs, maintenance manuals, commissioning guides, radiation hazard analyses, and user training materials.
Participate in cross‑functional project teams (R&D, service, product management, regulatory, quality) to define product requirements, project timelines and deliverables for imaging systems.
Support customers and internal stakeholders with applications engineering: develop inspection recipes, run sample inspections, interpret imaging results, and recommend corrective actions.
Perform data collection and statistical analysis of inspection results (control charts, capability studies) to inform process control and product quality improvements.
Manage and execute system upgrades and retrofits, including migration of legacy control systems, detector replacements, and software modernizations to extend system life and performance.
Lead onboarding, training, and mentoring of junior engineers, service technicians, and end users on safe operation, troubleshooting, and basic maintenance of X‑ray systems.
Coordinate equipment installations and commissioning activities onsite, including creating installation plans, supervising external contractors, and ensuring safe operation during turnover.
Participate in regulatory submissions and product risk management (FMEA, risk assessments) for medical or safety critical X‑ray equipment and support audits by regulators or customers.
Research and evaluate new imaging technologies (photon‑counting detectors, AI‑assisted inspection, advanced reconstruction methods) to inform roadmap and prototype work.
Design and specify shielding, interlock logic, and fail‑safe mechanisms to minimize radiation exposure during maintenance, service and unexpected fault conditions.
Create and maintain spare parts strategies, lifecycle planning, and obsolescence mitigation for critical imaging and HV components.
Work with procurement and vendors to evaluate and qualify third‑party modules (generators, detectors, HV cables, conditioning units), manage RFQs, and ensure supplier quality.

Secondary Functions

Support ad‑hoc customer and lab requests for imaging experiments, sample characterization, and application trials to demonstrate solution capabilities.
Contribute to product and technology roadmaps by identifying gaps, evaluating tradeoffs, and proposing technical solutions that align with business goals.
Collaborate with sales and applications teams to produce technical collateral, whitepapers, and proof‑of‑concept demonstrations for prospective customers.
Participate in agile product development cycles: sprint planning, backlog refinement, and retrospective sessions to iterate on imaging system features.
Analyze operational data from deployed systems to recommend firmware updates, parameter adjustments, and remote support interventions to improve field performance.

Required Skills & Competencies

Hard Skills (Technical)

Deep understanding of X‑ray physics: generation, interactions (photoelectric, Compton), attenuation, scattering, and dose principles.
Experience with digital radiography (DR) and computed tomography (CT) systems: acquisition parameters, detector types, and reconstruction algorithms.
Proficiency in image processing and computer vision: filtering, denoising, segmentation, registration, and feature extraction (OpenCV, scikit‑image, ITK).
Programming and scripting: Python, C/C++, MATLAB; experience with scientific libraries (NumPy, SciPy) and performance optimization.
Experience with reconstruction algorithms (FFT, filtered back projection, iterative reconstruction, algebraic reconstruction techniques).
Familiarity with embedded systems, microcontrollers, and real‑time control (RTOS) for motion control and acquisition timing.
Knowledge of high‑voltage electronics, HV safety, tube/generator control, and detector readout electronics.
Experience with detector characterization, flat‑field correction, gain/offset calibration, bad‑pixel correction, and MTF/NNPS measurements.
Working knowledge of regulatory frameworks for medical or safety‑critical equipment: FDA 510(k), ISO 13485, IEC 60601, IEC 61010, IEC 62304, or relevant industrial standards (ASTM, EN 12679).
Experience with system integration and protocols: Ethernet, RS‑232/485, CAN, PLCs, I/O, and industrial automation platforms.
Proficiency in test and measurement equipment: oscilloscopes, multimeters, HV probes, dose meters, and imaging phantoms.
Experience with version control (Git), issue tracking, and software lifecycle management; familiarity with CI/CD for imaging software is a plus.
Competence in measurement uncertainty analysis, metrology principles, and statistical process control for imaging system validation.
Familiarity with machine learning/AI for defect classification and anomaly detection in imaging datasets (TensorFlow/PyTorch is a plus).
Experience with CAD (SolidWorks, Creo) to participate in mechanical design of housings, shielding, and fixtures.

Soft Skills

Strong written and verbal communication skills for clear documentation, cross‑functional collaboration, and customer interactions.
Analytical problem solving and structured troubleshooting approach to isolate and fix complex multi‑disciplinary failures.
Project management and prioritization skills to manage multiple concurrent engineering tasks and field activities.
Attention to detail and adherence to quality systems and safety protocols.
Customer orientation with proven ability to translate technical capabilities into customer value and applications.
Mentoring and team leadership: ability to train technicians and junior engineers and drive knowledge transfer.
Collaborative mindset: works effectively across R&D, manufacturing, service, regulatory, and sales teams.

Education & Experience

Educational Background

Minimum Education:

Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Biomedical Engineering, Physics, Nuclear Engineering, or a closely related technical field.

Preferred Education:

Master’s degree or PhD in Imaging Science, Medical Physics, Electrical Engineering, Biomedical Engineering, or Applied Physics.

Relevant Fields of Study:

Electrical Engineering
Mechanical Engineering
Biomedical Engineering
Physics (medical or applied)
Nuclear Engineering
Computer Science / Imaging Science

Experience Requirements

Typical Experience Range:

3–8 years of relevant experience with X‑ray systems, digital radiography, CT, or nondestructive testing in industrial, medical device, or research environments.

Preferred:

5+ years of hands‑on experience designing or maintaining X‑ray inspection systems, with demonstrated experience in system integration, radiation safety, and regulatory compliance. Experience scaling systems from prototype to production and supporting field deployments is highly desirable.