Disclosed herein is an x-ray backscatter apparatus for non-destructive inspection of a part. The x-ray backscatter apparatus comprises an x-ray source and an x-ray collimator. The x-ray collimator comprises a plurality of emission apertures and a detection aperture. The x-ray backscatter apparatus further comprises an x-ray intensity sensor that is fixed to the x-ray collimator over the detection aperture such that any portion of an uncollimated x-ray emission collimated into the detection aperture is detected by the x-ray intensity sensor. The x-ray backscatter apparatus additionally comprises an emission alignment adjuster that is operable to adjust a position of the uncollimated x-ray emission relative to the plurality of emission apertures and the detection aperture in response to a position, relative to the detection aperture, of a peak intensity of the uncollimated x-ray emission passing into the detection aperture, detected by the x-ray intensity sensor.