Key Responsibilities and Required Skills for X-Ray Program Technician

🎯 Role Definition

The X-Ray Program Technician is a technical specialist responsible for operating, maintaining, and ensuring safe use of X‑ray and radiographic imaging systems in clinical, industrial, or security environments. This role administers routine and preventive maintenance, performs quality assurance and calibration, enforces radiation safety and regulatory compliance, documents exposures and service history, and supports image acquisition and processing workflows. The X‑Ray Program Technician partners with radiologists, safety officers, engineers, vendors, and operations teams to maintain high image quality, minimize radiation risk (ALARA), and ensure continuous program readiness.

📈 Career Progression

Typical Career Path

Entry Point From:

Radiology/Imaging Assistant or Radiologic Technologist (entry-level)
Electronics / Biomedical Equipment Technician
Quality Assurance Technician for imaging or NDT (non-destructive testing)

Advancement To:

Senior X‑Ray Program Technician / Lead Imaging Technician
Radiology Supervisor or Imaging Operations Manager
Radiation Safety Officer (RSO) / Health Physics Technician

Lateral Moves:

Biomedical Equipment Technician (BMET)
Non-Destructive Testing (NDT) Technician (radiography)
PACS / Imaging Informatics Specialist

Core Responsibilities

Primary Functions

Operate X‑ray, fluoroscopy, computed radiography (CR), and digital radiography (DR) systems to acquire diagnostic or inspection-quality images according to established protocols and technical orders.
Perform systematic daily, weekly, and monthly quality assurance (QA) tests, document results, and escalate out-of-tolerance conditions to supervision for corrective action.
Calibrate X‑ray generators, detectors, and ancillary components using manufacturer-recommended procedures and calibrated test instruments to ensure accurate kVp, mA, exposure time, and dose metrics.
Maintain accurate radiation exposure and dosimetry records for equipment and personnel; prepare and submit logs and reports required by regulatory agencies.
Execute preventive maintenance (PM) tasks on X‑ray systems, replace wear items, re-align beams and detectors, and verify interlocks, filters, shutters, and shielding integrity.
Troubleshoot electrical, mechanical, and software issues on imaging systems including image artifacts, detector faults, generator instability, and network/PACS connectivity problems.
Perform image quality analysis and optimization: adjust acquisition parameters, collimation, filtration, and post-processing to achieve diagnostic or inspection objectives while minimizing dose.
Enforce and promote radiation safety policies (ALARA principles), including proper use of PPE, shielding, controlled area signage, and access controls during exposures.
Implement and maintain radiation monitoring programs using survey meters, pocket dosimeters, and area monitors; respond to abnormal readings and investigate root causes.
Prepare and maintain Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), safety plans, and work instructions for routine and emergency imaging operations.
Coordinate and manage vendor service visits, warranty repairs, and equipment upgrades; act as the technical point of contact for manufacturers and third-party service engineers.
Conduct room and equipment acceptance testing for new installations and after major repairs; document results and certify readiness for clinical/operational use.
Perform lead apron and protective device inspections, radiation shielding surveys, and facility compliance checks to meet state and federal regulations.
Support regulatory inspections and audits (NRC, state health departments, OSHA); compile and deliver required documentation and corrective action plans.
Maintain spare parts inventory and procurement logs for critical X‑ray system components and test equipment to minimize downtime.
Archive and manage imaging data lifecycle: ensure proper labeling, metadata capture, transfer to PACS, and secure retention per policy.
Deliver hands-on user training for technologists, inspectors, and operators on safe system operation, image acquisition techniques, and basic troubleshooting.
Execute emergency response procedures for radiation incidents, equipment failure, or exposure events; provide initial containment and technical support for incident reviews.
Participate in multidisciplinary project teams for equipment upgrades, facility renovations, shielding calculations, and workflow redesign to improve operational efficiency.
Generate detailed service reports, preventative maintenance logs, inspection certificates, and technical recommendations to inform leadership decisions.
Ensure compliance with radiation dose reporting requirements and support dose optimization initiatives tied to quality improvement programs.
Maintain proficiency in digital imaging workflows, DICOM standards, PACS connectivity, and basic network troubleshooting to support imaging data integrity.

Secondary Functions

Assist with cross-functional continuous improvement initiatives such as lean process mapping and downtime reduction.
Support periodic equipment decommissioning, safe disposal, and transfer procedures for regulated materials and imagery hardware.
Provide backup coverage for scheduling exposures, managing reservations, and coordinating exams in high-volume operations.
Contribute to training documentation, competency assessments, and onboarding for new imaging staff.
Participate in product evaluation, acceptance testing, and pilots for new imaging technologies or software updates.
Support data collection for program performance metrics, KPIs, and preventive maintenance compliance dashboards.

Required Skills & Competencies

Hard Skills (Technical)

Operation and setup of X‑ray, fluoroscopy, computed radiography (CR), and digital radiography (DR) systems.
Equipment calibration and quality assurance (QA) testing procedures for radiographic systems.
Radiation safety practices, ALARA implementation, and use of survey meters and dosimeters.
Preventive maintenance (PM) and hands‑on mechanical/electrical troubleshooting of imaging equipment.
Knowledge of regulatory requirements (NRC, state radiation control programs, OSHA) and compliance documentation.
Imaging physics fundamentals (kVp, mA, exposure time, filtration, scatter control) and image optimization techniques.
DICOM, PACS integration, and basic imaging informatics workflows.
Shielding assessment basics and ability to read/interpret shielding plans and conduct facility surveys.
Use of test instruments: ion chambers, geiger counters, non‑contact voltage testers, and multimeters.
Technical writing for SOPs, service reports, corrective action plans, and regulatory submissions.
Experience with manufacturer service tools, diagnostics software, and configuration utilities.
Basic networking concepts relevant to medical/industrial imaging (IP addressing, storage, VPN, firewalls).
Inventory management and spare parts procurement for critical imaging components.

Soft Skills

Strong attention to detail and commitment to procedural compliance and documentation accuracy.
Clear interpersonal communication for cross-discipline collaboration with clinicians, engineers, and regulators.
Problem-solving mindset and structured troubleshooting under time constraints.
Customer-service orientation when supporting end users and responding to urgent service needs.
Time management and prioritization for balancing scheduled maintenance and reactive repairs.
Teaching and coaching ability to bring new users up to safe, competent operation.
Analytical thinking to interpret QA trends and recommend process improvements.
Stress tolerance and responsiveness during emergency or incident scenarios.
Ethical judgment and confidentiality when handling patient or sensitive inspection data.
Continuous learning attitude to stay current with evolving imaging technologies and regulations.

Education & Experience

Educational Background

Minimum Education:

High school diploma or GED plus technical training in radiography, electronics, biomedical equipment, or equivalent on-the-job experience. Completion of a radiographic equipment-specific certificate program or vendor training is highly desirable.

Preferred Education:

Associate degree in Radiologic Technology, Biomedical Engineering Technology, Health Physics, or related technical discipline.
Certifications such as ARRT (for clinical settings), state radiologic technologist licensure, or vendor-specific equipment certification.

Relevant Fields of Study:

Radiologic Technology / Radiography
Biomedical Equipment Technology / Biomedical Engineering
Health Physics / Radiation Safety
Electronics / Electrical Engineering Technology
Medical Imaging Informatics

Experience Requirements

Typical Experience Range: 1–5 years in imaging equipment operation, radiography, or biomedical equipment maintenance.

Preferred:

3+ years of hands-on experience operating and maintaining X‑ray/DR/CR systems.
Demonstrated experience with QA programs, calibration, and regulatory compliance.
Prior work in clinical radiology departments, industrial radiography, airport/security X‑ray operations, or biomedical repair shops is a strong plus.