Duties
Healthcare Engineers work in the Medical Center. Works independently to design complex multidiscipline systems and subsystems. Provides expert professional guidance and directs the work of consulting engineering firms. Makes systems decisions and performs cost/benefit analysis of engineering firms' proposals.
Duties Include:
- Prepares preliminary sketches, concepts, and layouts for complex projects.
- Designs or controls the design of multidiscipline projects; this includes: engineering disciplines of electrical, mechanical, structural and architectural fields.
- Writes and edits specifications for mechanical equipment, electronic/electrical equipment and systems redesign.
- Investigates floor loading capacities, electrical power, and cooling requirements for new equipment.
- Prepares detailed cost estimates and develops justification and other items required for project submission for VISN and VACO review and approval.
- Assists section Chief in developing weighting factors to use in establishing priorities.
- Prepares input data, assists in prioritization and finalizing items for the Five-Year Facility Development Plan.
- Assists Supply Service's Contracting Officers in evaluating cost proposals from design firms by use of personal knowledge of the scope of the project.
- Assists in direct cost negotiations with contractors when requested by the Contracting Officers.
- Writes the Scope of Work and the General Requirements for the Architect/Engineer contracts. Develops the time frame for A/E submissions to meet project design schedules.
- Serves as the Contracting Officer's Technical Representative for Station Level, NRM and Construction Projects.
- Inspects work progress during the construction phase, ensuring proper methods and materials are being used.
- Resolves design errors or differing site conditions by evaluating the problem and applying sound engineering judgment to make any necessary changes.
- Additional duties as assigned.
Preferred experience:
a. Knowledge of either mechanical, electrical, structural, civil or other engineering/architectural principles, practices and their applications in the healthcare environment.
b. Knowledge of basic project management principles as applied to the healthcare setting.
c. Ability to apply healthcare engineering related standards, codes, policies and regulations, inclusive of, state and local codes.
d. Ability to communicate effective orally and in writing with internal and external customers with tact and diplomacy.
e. Ability to develop material for clinical or administrative staff that addresses the principles and application of engineering technology and/or theory used in healthcare.
f. Ability to advise staff on emerging engineering technology related to a healthcare facility, while keeping abreast of changes in such technology and utilizing the information to solve healthcare facility engineering challenges.
Work Schedule: Monday-Friday 8:00AM- 4:30PM
Position Description Title/PD#: Healthcare Engineer/PD08891F, PD08892F, PD00893F, and PD00894F
Recruitment/Relocation Incentives: Maybe authorized for highly qualified applicants
Physical Requirements: The work requires periods of walking, climbing, and inspections in cramped spaces. At times incumbent is exposed to high places and scaffolding. Work at times in "hard hat" areas.
Promotion Potential: The selectee may be promoted to the full performance level
GS-12 without further competition when all regulatory, qualification, and performance requirements are met. Selection at a lower grade level does not guarantee promotion to the full performance level.
Requirements
Conditions of employment
- You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job.
- Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959.
- Must be proficient in written and spoken English.
- 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.
- Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP).
- Complete all application requirements detailed in the "Required Documents" section of this announcement.
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.
Upon completion of your trial period, your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest.
Qualifications
To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement.
Basic Requirements:
United States Citizenship: Non-citizens may be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with 38 U.S.C. § 7407(a).
English Language Proficiency: Healthcare Engineer candidates must be proficient in spoken and written English in accordance with 38 U.S.C. § 7403(f).
Education:
Bachelor's degree or higher in Engineering or Architecture. To be acceptable, the curriculum must be from a school with at least one curriculum accredited by the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology, Engineering Accreditation Commission (excludes engineering technology) or National Council of Architectural Registration Boards curriculum. Examples of acceptable engineering and architectural degrees include but are not limited to Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Biomedical Engineering, Civil Engineering, Architecture and Architectural Engineering.
OR,
Evidence of passing the Fundamentals of Engineering Examination with a bachelor's degree. Evidence can be in the form of an Engineering in Training certificate issued from any State, the District of Columbia, Guam, or Puerto Rico, or test results from the National Council of Examiners for Engineering and Surveying (NCEES) identifying a passing score.
OR,
Evidence of current professional registration or licensure as a Professional Engineer or Architect. Evidence of current professional registration or licensure can be from any State, the District of Columbia, Guam, or Puerto Rico.
Foreign Education: To be creditable, engineering, architecture or related education completed outside the U.S. must be submitted to a private organization that specializes in the interpretation of foreign educational credentials and such education must have been deemed at least equivalent to a Bachelor's degree as outlined in paragraph 3.b. of this appendix.
Grade Determination: In addition to the basic requirements above the following is the amount of experience and/or education qualify for this position at the GS-07 through GS-12 grade levels.
Healthcare Engineer, GS-07
Experience/Education: None beyond the basic requirements above.
GS-09 Healthcare Engineer:
Experience or Education: One year (1) of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level (GS-07)
OR,
Master of Engineering degree or Master of Architecture degree or Master of Science degree in Engineering or a related field of study;
OR,
Bachelor's degree as outlined I A above plus two full years of progressively higher-level graduate education in a related field of study, provided the applicant's total background demonstrates the core competencies for a GS-09 level assignment.
In addition to the experience or education above, the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs:
(a) Knowledge of the principles, theories, concepts and practices of the engineering profession
(b) Ability to interpret relevant codes, regulations, guidelines and standards to make recommendations to assure compliance with healthcare facility programs.
(c) Ability to understand the operational professional engineering needs of clinical services in the healthcare system
(d) Ability to prepare material on current technical topics and trends for presentation to other technical staff and mid-level hospital management and to keep abreast of changes in engineering technology related to a healthcare facility.
GS-11 Healthcare Engineer:
Experience or Education: One (1) year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level (GS-09)
OR,
PhD. or equivalent doctoral degree in Engineering or a related field of engineering
OR,
Master of Engineering degree, Master of Architecture degree, Master of Science degree in Engineering or a related field of study, plus 1 full year of progressively higher-level graduate education in a related field of study, provided the applicant's total background demonstrates the knowledge, skills and abilities for GS-11 level assignments
OR,
Bachelor's degree plus 3 full years of progressively higher-level graduate education in a relate field of study, provided the applicant's total background demonstrates the knowledge, skills and abilities for GS-11 level assignments.
In addition to the experience or education above, the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs:
(a) Knowledge of either mechanical, electrical, structural, civil or other engineering/architectural principles, practices and their applications in the healthcare environment.
(b) Knowledge of basic project management principles as applied to the healthcare setting.
(c) Ability to apply healthcare engineering related standards, codes, policies and regulations, inclusive of, state and local codes.
(d) Ability to communicate effective orally and in writing with internal and external customers with tact and diplomacy.
(e) Ability to develop material for clinical or administrative staff that addresses the principles and application of engineering technology and/or theory used in healthcare.
(f) Ability to advise staff on emerging engineering technology related to a healthcare facility, while keeping abreast of changes in such technology and utilizing the information to solve healthcare facility engineering challenges.
GS-12 Healthcare Engineer:
Experience: One (1) year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level
(GS-11). In addition, demonstration of the following KSAs:
(a) Knowledge of mechanical, electrical, structural, civil and other engineering/architectural principles, practices and their applications in the healthcare environment.
(b) Knowledge of healthcare industry standards and related regulatory agency and organization (including, but not limited to The Joint Commission (TJC), Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), National Fire Protection Agency (NFPA), etc.) regulations, requirements, guides, policies, procedures, directives, standards and general medical program requirements as they relate to healthcare engineering.
(c) Knowledge of construction standards, methods, practices and techniques, materials and equipment to determine compliance with engineering regulations and standards.
(d) Skill in researching and analyzing information, conditions, human factors and projections to make sound engineering and business recommendations and decisions to proactively identify problems and develop innovative solutions within the context of applicable rules, regulations and procedures.
(e) Ability to plan and execute complex, multi-faceted projects and inspections while prioritizing resources against approved scopes of work, contract documents and budgets.
(f) Ability to organize and lead multi-disciplinary task forces with members from different departments and divisions, as well as design and construction firms.
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.
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.Under the Fair Chance to Compete Act, the Department of Veterans Affairs prohibits requesting an applicant's criminal history prior to accepting a tentative job offer (TJO). Please visit the Human Resources and Administration/Operations, Security, and Preparedness (HRA/OSP), va.gov/EMPLOYEE/docs/The-Fair-Chance-to-Compete-Act.pdf for more information.
Additional information
Under the Fair Chance to Compete Act, the Department of Veterans Affairs prohibits requesting an applicant's criminal history prior to accepting a tentative job offer (TJO). Please visit the Human Resources and Administration/Operations, Security, and Preparedness (HRA/OSP), va.gov/EMPLOYEE/docs/The-Fair-Chance-to-Compete-Act.pdf for more information.
The Interagency Career Transition Assistance Plan (ICTAP) and Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP) provide eligible displaced VA competitive service employees with selection priority over other candidates for competitive service vacancies. To be well-qualified, applicants must possess experience that exceeds the minimum qualifications of the position including all selective factors if applicable, and must be proficient in most of the requirements of the job. Information about ICTAP and CTAP eligibility is on OPM's Career Transition Resources website which can be found at https://www.opm.gov/.
Receiving Service Credit for Earning Annual (Vacation) Leave: Federal Employees earn annual leave at a rate (4, 6 or 8 hours per pay period) which is based on the number of years they have served as a Federal employee. VA may offer newly-appointed Federal employee's credit for their job-related non-federal experience or active duty uniformed military service. This credited service can be used in determining the rate at which they earn annual leave. Such credit must be requested and approved prior to the appointment date and is not guaranteed.
This job opportunity announcement may be used to fill additional vacancies.
If you are unable to apply online or need an alternate method to submit documents, please reach out to the Agency Contact listed in this Job Opportunity Announcement.
Candidates should be committed to improving the efficiency of the Federal government, passionate about the ideals of our American republic, and committed to upholding the rule of law and the United States Constitution.
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