Biomedical Engineer

Clarification from the agency

NOTE: The 2-page Resume requirement does not apply to this position. For more information, refer to Required Documents below.

Duties include, but are not limited to:

• Responsible for supporting a comprehensive medical equipment support program to ensure the safety, reliability, and diagnostic/therapeutic efficacy of all devices employed in the direct and indirect delivery of patient care.
• Performs activities related to strategic equipment planning, equipment procurement evaluation, equipment deployment and implementation, including equipment procured through the National Acquisition Center; hazard alerts and recalls; patient safety reports and incident investigations; networking of medical devices; computerized maintenance management system (CMMS) support; and achievement of key performance indicators (KPIs).
• Uses basic engineering principles to provide limited professional biomedical engineering services for the institution. Applies this knowledge to Healthcare Technology Management (HTM) functions involving complex, multidisciplinary medical systems.
• Supports the equipment maintenance program, particularly preventive maintenance and electrical safety, by learning optimal inspection frequencies based on professional judgment concerning reliability statistics; manufacturer recommendations; accrediting guidelines or regulatory requirements; and, at times, developing instructions and specifications for new equipment or technologies.
• Assists medical and administrative staff with contracts and purchase transactions related to medical equipment.
• Continually learns new technology, identifies trends, and presents information to other technical staff to support the HTM training program and keep staff current on changing technology within available resources. Uses this information to solve biomedical engineering problems.
• Maintains professional engineering knowledge of legislative and accrediting requirements at the medical center. Requirements include federal agencies and standards-such as the FDA, NFPA, EPA, and OSHA-as well as state and local authorities having jurisdiction over protection, quality of life, and the environment, and accrediting bodies such as The Joint Commission (TJC) and the College of American Pathologists (CAP). Follows all applicable policies and procedures.
• Coordinates and manages VAPAHCS projects requiring HTM involvement, serving as a lead or interface as assigned. Projects generally involve facility-based work and may include VISN- or National HTM-level initiatives. Assignments may span several weeks and require interdepartmental coordination.
• Supports the Medical Device Protection Program (MDPP), including devices within the Medical Device Isolation Architecture (MDIA) and related network-security issues.
• Evaluates major failure problems and inadequate performance of medical-equipment systems. Develops knowledge of a broad range of medical-equipment systems to resolve these problems.
• Prepares quality-assurance monitoring reports, standard operating procedures, and preventive-maintenance procedures as required. Develops, assists in developing, or reviews medical-center policy within the assigned area of responsibility.
• Presents written and oral communications and prepares technical, informational, and graphical documentation.
• Introduces new technology and practices involving medical systems to the medical center, often affecting clinical and administrative service processes.
• Demonstrates a high degree of technical and management judgment, initiative, originality, and resourcefulness to efficiently anticipate, identify, and resolve unique technical and operational problems in a highly dynamic environment.
• Helps establish a constructive workplace environment that maximizes the morale and efficiency of HTM staff so the Medical Center's needs are effectively met.
• Adheres to the code of ethics and consistently behaves in a professional manner.

Pay: Competitive salary, regular salary increases, potential for performance awards
Paid Time Off: 50 days of paid time off per year (26 days of annual leave, 13 days of sick leave, 11 paid Federal holidays per year)
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)
Work Schedule: Monday - Friday, 0800 - 1630
Telework: Not Eligible
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized
Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized
Functional Statement #: 10672F, 10673F, 10674F, 10675F

Conditions of employment

• U.S. Citizenship; non-citizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Policy.
• 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.
• 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 identification 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).
• You may be required to serve a probationary period.
• Complete all application requirements detailed in the "Required Documents" section of this announcement.
• Requires BLS Certification.

As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you will be required to serve a 1 or 2-year trial period during which we will evaluate your fitness and whether your continued employment advances the public interest. In determining if your employment advances the public interest, we may consider:

• your performance and conduct;
• the needs and interests of the agency;
• whether your continued employment would advance organizational goals of the agency or the Government; and
• whether your continued employment would advance the efficiency of the Federal service.

Qualifications

Applicants pending the completion of educational or certification/licensure requirements may be referred and tentatively selected but may not be hired until all requirements are met.

Basic Requirements:

• United States Citizenship: Non-citizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Policy.
• English Language Proficiency: Candidates must be proficient in spoken and written English in accordance with 38 U.S.C. § 7403(f).
• Education and/or Experience, or Certification: The individual must meet either item (1) or (2) below to meet this requirement:
  • (1) 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,
  • (2) Certification as a Certified Clinical Engineer (CCE) and a bachelor's degree not listed in item 3.b.(1) 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 Determinations: In addition to the basic requirements for employment the following education and experience criteria must be met when determining the grade of candidates:

Biomedical Engineer GS-7 (Entry Level)

• Experience. None beyond the basic requirements.
• Education. Bachelor's degree or CCE certification with at least a bachelor's degree.

Biomedical Engineer, GS-9

• 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. OR, Bachelor's degree 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. In addition to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate all of the following KSAs

1. Knowledge of the principles, theories, concepts, and practices of the Biomedical Engineering profession.
2. Ability to interpret relevant codes, regulations, guidelines, and standards, and make recommendations to ensure compliance with medical center programs.
3. Ability to understand the operational needs of clinical services in the health care system.
4. 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.

Biomedical Engineer, GS-11

• 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. OR, Bachelor's degree, plus three full years of progressively higher level graduate education in a related field of study.

Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities. In addition to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate all of the following KSAs:

1. Ability to implement and/or sustain an equipment management or biomedical research program that meets The Joint Commission (TJC), National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), or other applicable regulatory requirements.
2. 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.
3. 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.
4. Knowledge of basic project management principles, as applied to the healthcare setting and medical equipment, and information system implementation.

Biomedical Engineer, 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.

Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities. In addition to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate all of the following KSAs:

1. Ability to conduct a medical equipment management [or biomedical research program that is compliant with applicable healthcare standards and regulatory agencies.
2. Ability to develop a curriculum for a continuing education program, that address the safe and effective use of medical technology, and/or research devices.
3. 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.
4. Ability to conduct capital asset and infrastructure planning for medical equipment spanning initial concept, installation, and effective implementation of complex medical equipment.
5. 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.
6. 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.
7. Knowledge of concepts related to computer based medical systems, networking protocols, and information security as it applies to medical technology within VHA.
8. Skill in communicating and working collaboratively with key stakeholders, including technical and professional staff at various levels of the organization.
9. Ability to apply project management principles to deployment of medical equipment and health information technologies.

References: VA Handbook 5005/130, Part II, Appendix G38 - Biomedical Engineer Qualification Standard. 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-7 to GS-12.

Physical Requirements: Work involves standing, walking, stooping, bending, climbing stairs, and frequently working in cramped spaces for prolonged periods. The employee continually lifts from 10 to 40 pounds and occasionally objects weighing in excess of 40 pounds. The work also involves coping with complex, persistent demands from a variety of sources that can be regarded as a high pressure environment.

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.

NOTE: Candidate's education, scope, and length of nursing practice (experience) will be considered in determining the grade and salary of the applicant selected. The recommended salary may be at any point in the range listed for this vacancy.

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.

To apply for this position, you must provide a complete Application Package which includes:

• Long-form resume/Curriculum vitae (CV)

Special Note for Applications: To complete your application, please use the following link https://vacareers.va.gov/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/Resume.docx to download the standard Clinical Resume Document. This one-page document does not need to be modified and must be uploaded into the two-page restricted 'Resume' document upload field.

Your full resume/CV may be uploaded without page limitation into the 'Other' document upload field.

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 (Schedule A)
• Disability Letter (VA)
• License
• Long-form resume/Curriculum vitae (CV)
• CV/Resume
• Professional Certification
• Separation Notice (RIF)
• SF-15
• SF-50/ Notification of Personnel Action
• Transcript

Veterans' Preference Note: Preference eligible candidates and other Veterans will be given preference when qualification of candidates are approximately equal for Title 38 positions in VHA. When applying for Federal Jobs, eligible Veterans should claim preference for 5pt (TP), 10pt (CP/CPS/XP), or for Sole Survivor Preference (SSP) in the questionnaire. You must provide a legible copy of your DD214(s) which shows dates and character of service (honorable, general, etc.). If you are currently serving on active duty and expect to be released or discharged within 120 days you must submit documentation related to your active duty service which reflects the dates of service, character of service (honorable, general, etc.), and dates of impending separation. Additionally, disabled veterans and others eligible for 10-point preference (such as widows or mothers of eligible Veterans) must also submit an SF-15 "Application for 10 Point Veteran Preference" with required proof as stated on the form. Documentation is required to award preference. For more information on Veterans' Preference, please visit Feds Hire Vets - Veterans - Job Seekers - Veterans' Preference.

Veterans' preference does not apply for internal or other current permanent Federal agency employees.

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