Duties
The Biomedical Engineer is responsible for supporting a comprehensive medical equipment support program that must ensure the safety, reliability, and diagnostic/therapeutic efficacy of all devices employed in the direct and indirect delivery of patient care. This program responsibility includes the areas of organization, management, and device design. The high level of technological complexity of the equipment involved in these support activities often requires the application of unique concepts in order to reach a solution of various instrumentation maintenance, modifications, and design problems. Examples of such instrumentation include: computer-based patient monitoring systems, digital radiology, PACS imaging system, MRI, and computer-controlled chemistry auto analyzers.
Major Duties includes but not limited to:
- Responsible for the cost-effective maintenance of the medical center's entire inventory of complex medical instrumentation and for a significant portion of the non-medical instrumentation as well. Maintenance expenses must be minimized while the quality and timeliness of service maximized. In this endeavor the incumbent assists the medical and administrative staff in the most effective expenditure of funds allocated for replacement and additional equipment.
- Responsible for supporting the Healthcare Technology Management section training program, in-house cross training, and vendor training, to ensure that the Biomedical Equipment Support Specialists are kept abreast of the changing technology as effectively as possible within the available resources. In managing the material resources utilized by the Healthcare Technology Management Section, the incumbent must make difficult and crucial decisions while maintain the delicate balance between economics, engineering, and medical care.
- Responsible for providing professional engineering direction to comply with legislative and accrediting requirements at the medical center. The requirements include federal (e.g., OSHA, EPA, FDA, NFPA), state and local authorities having specific jurisdiction concerning protection and quality of life and environment, as well as accrediting bodies (e.g., TJC, CAP).
- Develops policies and procedures to comply with these frequently conflicting requirements while minimizing adverse impact to patient care.
- Responsible for coordinating and managing the Healthcare Technology Management Section's Medical Device Isolation Architecture and network security also coordinate and manage projects that require Healthcare Technology Management as the lead or an interface.
- Responsible for ensuring that working conditions and work practices within the section are such that the possibility of on-the-job injuries are minimized (i.e., safety training, worksite inspections, etc.).
- Ensures that all employees within the section are knowledgeable of, and adhere to, policies and procedures as they relate to work-related injuries and illnesses.
- Responsible for evaluation of major failure problems or inadequate performance of medical equipment systems. The incumbent must draw from a wide experience of medical equipment systems to solve such problems, since maintenance instructions or other guidelines are inadequate for final solution. The medical equipment systems generally include a number of physically separate and technologically different subsystems.
- Prepares quality assurance monitor reports, standard operational procedures, and preventive maintenance procedures as required. Incumbent develops and or assists in the development/review of medical center policy memoranda in his/her area of responsibility.
- Introduces newest technology and practices to the medical center involving medical systems often with profound impact on clinical and administrative services processes.
- Actively promotes the viability of VASDHS by supporting strategic planning, working with executive administrative staff, and Engineering management to plan, implement, and design solutions to needs.
- Responsible for managing the Healthcare Technology Management Section's recall and safety alert program for medical devices hazard investigations to assure compliance with patient safety goals, SMDA, and The Joint Commission requirements.
Work Schedule: Monday - Friday, 8:00am-4:30pm
Recruitment Incentive (Sign-on Bonus): Authorized
Permanent Change of Station (Relocation Assistance): Not Authorized
Telework: Not Available
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Functional Statement #: 00000
Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized
Requirements
Conditions of Employment
- You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job.
- All applicants tentatively selected for VA employment in a testing designated position are subject to urinalysis to screen for illegal drug use prior to appointment. Applicants who refuse to be tested will be denied employment with VA.
- Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959.
- Must be proficient in written and spoken English.
- You may be required to serve a probationary period.
- Subject to background/security investigation.
- Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process. Acceptable form(s) of identification will be required to complete pre-employment requirements (https://www.uscis.gov/i-9-central/form-i-9-acceptable-documents). Effective May 7, 2025, driver's licenses or state-issued dentification cards that are not REAL ID compliant cannot be utilized as an acceptable form of identification for employment.
- Must pass pre-employment physical examination.
- Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP).
Qualifications
Basic Requirements:
- United States Citizenship. Non-citizens may be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Policy.
- English Language Proficiency. Biomedical Engineers must be proficient in spoken and written English in accordance with chapter 2, section D, paragraph 5a, this part.
- Education and/or Experience. The individual must meet either item (1) or (2) below to meet this requirement:
- Bachelor's Degree or Higher in Engineering. To be creditable, the curriculum must be from a school of engineering with at least one curriculum accredited by the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET), as a professional engineering curriculum. Examples of acceptable engineering degrees include: Biomedical Engineering, Clinical Engineering, Bioengineering, Biomechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, and Biochemical Engineering. Titles may vary from educational institutions and change over time. OR,
- Certification as a Certified Clinical Engineer (CCE) and a bachelor's degree not listed above.
- May qualify based on being covered by the Grandfathering Provision as described in the VA Qualification Standard for this occupation (only applicable to current VHA employees who are in this occupation and meet the criteria).
Grade Determination: GS-7 (Entry Level)
- Experience. None beyond the basic requirements.
- Education. Bachelor's degree or CCE certification with at least a bachelor's degree not listed above.
- Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities. None beyond the basic requirements.
Grade Determination: GS-9 (Developmental Level 1)
- Experience. At least [one] year of specialized experience equivalent to the next lower level. OR,
- Education Master's degree in Biomedical Engineering, or a related field of study, as outlined in the basic requirement section OR, Bachelor's degree, as outlined in basic requirement section, plus two full years of progressively higher level graduate education in a related field of study, provided the applicant's total background demonstrates the KSAs for the GS-9 level assignment.
- Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSA). In addition to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate all of the following KSAs:
- Knowledge of the principles, theories, concepts, and practices of the Biomedical Engineering profession
- Ability to interpret relevant codes, regulations, guidelines, and standards, and make recommendations to ensure compliance with medical center programs.
- Ability to understand the operational needs of clinical services in the health care system.
- Ability to prepare material on current technical topics and trends, for presentation to other technical staff and mid-level hospital management, and the ability to keep abreast of changes in technology.
Grade Determination GS-11 (Developmental Level 2)
- Experience. At least [one] year of experience equivalent to the next lower level, [and must fully meet the KSAs at that level.] OR,
- Education. [Ph.D., or equivalent doctoral degree in Biomedical Engineering, or a related field of engineering, as outlined in the basic requirements OR Bachelor's degree, plus three full years of progressively higher level graduate education in a related field of study, as outlined in the basic requirements.
- Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSA). In addition to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate all of the following KSAs:
- Ability to implement and/or sustain an equipment management or biomedical engineering program that meets The Joint Commission (TJC), National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), or other applicable regulatory requirements.
- Ability to develop material for a continuing education program for clinical or research staff, that address the principles and application of medical technology, and/or biomedical theory used in healthcare.
- Ability to advise staff on emerging medical technology, or research procedures, while keeping abreast of changes in such technology, and utilizing the information to solve biomedical engineering problems.
- Knowledge of basic project management principles, as applied to the healthcare setting and medical equipment, and information system implementation
Grade Determination: GS-12 (Full Performance Level)
- Experience: Completion of at least [one] year of specialized experience equivalent to the next lower level; OR completion of a post-doctoral research fellowship in the field of biomedical engineering, and must fully meet the KSAs at that level. In addition to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate all of the following KSAs:
- Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities
- Ability to conduct a medical equipment management [or biomedical engineering program that is compliant with applicable healthcare standards and regulatory agencies.
- Ability to develop a curriculum for a continuing education program, that address the safe and effective use of medical technology, and/or research devices.
- Ability to manage a recall and safety alert program for medical devices, including medical device hazard investigations, to assure compliance with patient safety goals, SMDA, and [TJC] requirements.
- Ability to conduct capital asset and infrastructure planning for medical equipment spanning initial concept, installation, and effective implementation of complex medical equipment.
- Ability to function as the subject matter expert in the field of biomedical engineering, directly supporting specialized clinical technology, including service, system administration, training, quality assurance, and life-cycle management.
- Ability to effectively advise clinical and administrative staff on medical technology, including existing and emerging technology, which addresses viability, long-term suitability, compatibility, and/or safety.
- Knowledge of concepts related to computer based medical systems, networking protocols, and information security as it applies to medical technology within VHA.
- Skill in communicating and working collaboratively with key stakeholders, including technical and professional staff at various levels of the organization.
- Ability to apply project management principles to deployment of medical equipment and health information technologies.
The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-12. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is in the range of GS-07 to GS-12.
Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit
https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/.
Physical Requirements: The work is basically sedentary and accomplished while seated at a desk. Some walking, standing, bending, and lifting of items is required. There are no special physical demands. The work environment consists of normal office setting. Frequent trips to the various VASDHS locations in the performance of duties is required. The primary work areas are adequately lighted, heated, and ventilated.
Education
Note: Only education or degrees recognized by the U.S. Department of Education from accredited colleges, universities, schools, or institutions may be used to qualify for Federal employment. You can verify your education here: http://ope.ed.gov/accreditation/. If you are using foreign education to meet qualification requirements, you must send a Certificate of Foreign Equivalency with your transcript in order to receive credit for that education. For further information, visit: https://sites.ed.gov/international/recognition-of-foreign-qualifications/.
Benefits
A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. Opens in a new windowLearn more about federal benefits.
Total Rewards:otal-Rewards-of-an-Allied-Health-VA-Career-Brochure.pdf
Paid Time Off: 37-50 days of annual paid time offer per year (13-26 days of annual leave, 13 days of sick leave, 11 paid Federal holidays per year)
Parental Leave: After 12 months of employment, up to 12 weeks of paid parental leave in connection with the birth, adoption, or foster care placement of a child.
Child Care Subsidy: After 60 days of employment, full time employees with a total family income below $144,000 may be eligible for a childcare subsidy up to 25% of total eligible childcare costs for eligible children up to the monthly maximum of $416.66.
Retirement: Traditional federal pension (5 years vesting) and federal 401K with up to 5% in contributions by VA
Insurance: Federal health/vision/dental/term life/long-term care (many federal insurance programs can be carried into retirement)
Review our benefits
Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.
How You Will Be Evaluated
You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.
IN DESCRIBING YOUR EXPERIENCE, PLEASE BE CLEAR AND SPECIFIC. WE MAY NOT MAKE ASSUMPTIONS REGARDING YOUR EXPERIENCE. Your application, resume, C.V., and/or supporting documentation will be verified. Please follow all instructions carefully. Errors or omissions may affect consideration for employment.
Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religions; spiritual; community; student; social). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge, and skills and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience.
The Department of Veterans Affairs performs pre-employment reference checks as an assessment method used in the hiring process to verify information provided by a candidate (e.g., on resume or during interview or hiring process); gain additional knowledge regarding a candidate's abilities; and assist a hiring manager with making a final selection for a position.
It is the policy of the VA to not deny employment to those that have faced financial hardships or periods of unemployment.
Veterans and Transitioning Service Members: Please visit the VA for Vets site for career-search tools for Veterans seeking employment at VA, career development services for our existing Veterans, and coaching and reintegration support for military service members.
Required Documents
To apply for this position, you must provide a complete Application Package which includes:
The following documents are accepted, and may be required if applicable to your eligibility and/or qualifications for this position. Please ensure you have included all documents required for your application, such as a copy of your transcript (if using education to qualify), SF-50's (current/former Federal employees), etc.
- Cover Letter
- DD-214/ Statement of Service
- Disability Letter (VA)
- License
- Professional Certification
- Resume
- Separation Notice (RIF)
- SF-50/ Notification of Personnel Action
- Transcript
If you are relying on your education to meet qualification requirements:
Education must be accredited by an accrediting institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education in order for it to be credited towards qualifications. Therefore, provide only the attendance and/or degrees from
schools accredited by accrediting institutions recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.
Failure to provide all of the required information as stated in this vacancy announcement may result in an ineligible rating or may affect the overall rating.
How to Apply
All applicants are encouraged to apply online. To apply for this position, you must complete the full questionnaire and submit the documentation specified in the Required Documents section below. The complete application package must be submitted by 11:59 PM (ET) on 08/04/2025 to receive consideration. To preview the questionnaire click https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/12726877.
- To begin, click Apply Online to create a USAJOBS account or log in to your existing account. Follow the prompts to select your USA JOBS resume and/or other supporting documents and complete the occupational questionnaire.
- Click Submit My Answers to submit your application package.
NOTE: It is your responsibility to ensure your responses and appropriate documentation is submitted prior to the closing date.
Next steps
Once your online application is submitted you will receive a confirmation notification by email. After we receive application packages (including all required documents) and the vacancy announcement closes, we will review applications to ensure qualification and eligibility requirements are met. After the review is complete, a referral certificate(s) is issued and applicants will be notified of their status by email. Referred applicants will be notified as such and may be contacted directly by the hiring office for an interview. All referred applicants receive a final notification once a selection decision has been made.
You may check the status of your application at any time by logging into your USA Jobs account and clicking on Applications. Information regarding your application status can be found in the USAJobs Help Center.
NOTE: Participation in the seasonal influenza program is a condition of employment and a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP). It is a requirement that all HCP to receive annual seasonal influenza vaccination or obtain an exemption for medical or religious reasons. Wearing a face mask is required when an exemption to the influenza vaccination has been granted. HCP in violation of this directive may face disciplinary action up to and including removal from federal service. HCP are individuals who, during the influenza season, work in VHA locations or who come into contact with VA patients or other HCP as part of their duties. VHA locations include, but are not limited to, VA hospitals and associated clinics, community living centers (CLCs), community-based outpatient clinics (CBOCs), domiciliary units, Vet centers and VA-leased medical facilities. HCP include all VA licensed and unlicensed, clinical and administrative, remote and onsite, paid and without compensation, full- and part-time employees, intermittent employees, fee basis employees, VA contractors, researchers, volunteers and health professions trainees (HPTs) who are expected to perform any or all of their work at these facilities. HPTs may be paid or unpaid and include residents, interns, fellows and students. HCP also includes VHA personnel providing home-based care to Veterans and drivers and other personnel whose duties put them in contact with patients outside VA medical facilities.