Biomedical Engineer (Clinical)

Summary

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

The incumbent supports the medical center mission and Healthcare Technology Management (HTM) goals while operating in accordance with medical center policies, service line policies, and standards of professional service. The incumbent is a professional consultant and advisor on healthcare technology matters to PVAHCS unit managers and front-line staff.

Duties

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The incumbent supports the medical center mission and HTM goals while operating in accordance with medical center policies, service line policies, and standards of professional service.

Functions and Scope

A. Program Involvement and Management; The Biomedical Engineer provides PVAHCS with professional HTM support. The incumbent reports directly to the Supervisory Biomedical Engineer. Receives administrative direction with assignments in terms of broadly defined missions and functions. Assignments may be of a special nature with short deadline dates on occasion, necessitating expedient service, tact, and diplomacy. The incumbent exercises authority to oversee the overall planning, direction, and timely execution of assigned HTM activities. The incumbent can plan, design and implement programs, projects, studies, and other work to support healthcare technology at the PVAHCS.

B. Technical Expertise; The Biomedical Engineer is recognized as a technical expert and advisor on medical equipment issues and supports the HTM staff at the medical center. The incumbent is responsible for supporting the clinical staff in selection, implementation, and utilization of medical equipment. The incumbent advises management staff in the areas of high-cost and high-volume medical technology, a wide array of general biomedical technology, as well as certain medical-related technology issues.

1. Medical Equipment Management; HTM has a direct impact on all clinical services provided by PVAHCS by ensuring all medical equipment is functional, safe, reliably maintained, and clinically appropriate for the delivery of quality healthcare in a cost-effective manner.

2. Medical Technology Assessment, Acquisition, and Implementation; The incumbent serves as a technical advisor and evaluator on the medical center's Equipment Committee, anticipating the development and future clinical use of diagnostic, therapeutic, analytic and imaging systems possibly not yet on the market. The incumbent must be able to evaluate the implications the equipment will have for the clinical staff, the HTM department, and the facility.

3. Patient Safety; The incumbent contributes to patient safety goals by providing technical expertise regarding alerts and recalls regarding medical equipment, consulting with VA staff at the facility, VISN, and national level regarding solutions to alerts and recalls. The incumbent can manage a recall and safety alert program for medical equipment, including medical device hazard investigations, to assure compliance with patient safety goals, the Safe Medical Devices Act (SMDA), and Joint Commission requirements.

4. Infrastructure Planning; The incumbent consults on medical center construction projects, space functional changes, and associated planning with respect to medical equipment. This includes site preparation for medical equipment, station level projects, non-recurring maintenance projects, and minor construction project designs. Infrastructure planning support often involves very detailed planning activities and can span multiple years, when major or minor construction is involved.

C. Budgetary and Financial Management; The Biomedical Engineer participates in medical equipment management and equipment procurement processes that include "right-sizing" equipment functionality, developing technical specifications, evaluating technical proposals, and contributing to price negotiations. The incumbent analyzes and recommends optimal maintenance strategies for medical instrumentation systems.

• SUPERVISORY CONTROLS; The Biomedical Engineer reports to the Supervisory Biomedical Engineer. The incumbent communicates with department directors, section supervisors, facility engineers, contracting officers, IT staff, and a wide range of clinical staff to accomplish medical center and HTM goals and objectives.
• CUSTOMER SERVICE; The Biomedical Engineer meets the needs of customers while supporting VA missions. The incumbent demonstrates the ability to effectively communicate with their contacts through informal telephone calls, electronic mail messages, teleconferences, meetings, and interpersonal conversations, as well as through formal meetings, conferences, and presentations.
• In the performance of official duties, the incumbent has regular access to reports and electronic files containing sensitive data, which must be protected in accordance with the provisions of the Privacy Act of 1974, 38 U.S.C. 5705, and other applicable laws, federal regulations, VA directives and policies.
• The Biomedical Engineer follows Life Safety Management (fire protection) procedures and reports on safety hazards, accidents and injuries.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

Work Schedule : Monday-Friday, 7AM- 3:30PM

Telework : Not Available

Virtual: This is not a virtual position.

Functional Statement # : 000000

Relocation/Recruitment Incentives : Not Authorized

Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized

Requirements

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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.
• 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 (). 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).
• 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

Basic Requirements :

• Citizenship: Citizen of the United States.
• Education: 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. (Acceptable engineering degrees include: Biomedical Engineering, Clinical Engineering, Bioengineering, Biomechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, and Biochemical Engineering).; OR
• Certification as a Certified Clinical Engineer (CCE) and a bachelor's degree not listed above.

Grade Determinations :

GS-7 Experience: None beyond the basic requirements above.

GS-9 Experience or Education: Applicants must have at least 1 year of specialized experience equivalent to the next lower grade level (GS-7). OR

Applicants can substitute a master's degree in Biomedical Engineering, or related field of study (as listed above).; OR

Applicants can substitute a bachelor's degree (as outlined above in the basic requirements) plus 2 full years of progressively higher level graduate education in a field of study.

In addition to the experience/education above, the candidate must demonstrate 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.

Assignment Biomedical Engineers, at this developmental level, require direction on more complex tasks. Employees complete technical assignments in the engineering field, under the direction of a senior biomedical engineer and will be required to rotate through, and participate in, the operations of other hospital services. At the GS-9 grade level, employees function with oversight by a supervisor for more complex assignments.

GS-11 Experience/Education: Applicants must have at least 1 year of experience equivalent to the next lower level (GS-9). OR

Applicants can substitute a Ph.D., or equivalent doctoral degree in Biomedical Engineering, or a related field of engineering (as outlined in the basic requirements above). OR

Applicants can substitute a bachelor's degree (as outlined above in the basic requirements) plus 3 full years of progressively higher level graduate education in a field of study.

In addition to the experience/education above, the candidate must demonstrate 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.

Assignment. At the developmental level, employees function on a semi-independent basis with limited oversight by senior biomedical engineers. They participate in medical device hazard investigations, to assure compliance with patient safety goals, the Safe Medical Devices Act (SMDA), TJC requirements, and assist in the development of an equipment management program at the medical center. Employees may lead medical technology deployments, directly support medical equipment, or participate in research projects.

GS-12 Experience: Completion of at least 1 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 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.

Assignment. At the full performance level, employees work under general supervision, with wide latitude to exercise independent judgment. Drawing upon extended professional and technical experience, employees demonstrate an intimate understanding of complex clinical and biomedical subject matter. They serve as institutional resources, working extensively with clinical stakeholders, supporting clinical services by leading market research, technology assessments, integration planning, and implementation of both current and emerging medical technologies. The employee shares responsibility for managing the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA), network security issues for medical systems, and the information communicated across these systems. Biomedical Engineers at the GS-12 grade level further support the clinical mission by contributing to the continuing education program for clinical staff, helping ensure safe and efficient healthcare delivery. Biomedical Engineers at the GS-12 grade level support the institution by assisting with capital asset and infrastructure planning, to help ensure successful strategic planning. They may collaborate frequently with contracting to execute judicious healthcare technology procurements. Within the Biomedical Engineering Department, the employee provides leadership that ensures high quality and responsive customer service is an integral component of biomedical engineering service delivery. They are highly effective communicators, capable of serving as subject matter experts directly supporting the life cycle management of clinical technology, to include ongoing service, system administration, training, and quality assurance. At this level, employees may assist in clinical research projects in the biomedical engineering field.

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: . 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: .

Additional information

Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit .

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.

Physical Requirements: VA Directive and Handbook 5019

Receiving Service Credit or 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. Selected applicants may qualify for credit toward annual leave accrual, based on prior work experience or military service experience. 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.

During the application process you may have an option to opt-in to make your resume available to hiring managers in the agency who have similar positions. Opting in does not impact your application for this announcement, nor does it guarantee further consideration for additional positions.

This job opportunity announcement may be used to fill additional vacancies.

This position is in the Excepted Service and does not confer competitive status.

VA encourages persons with disabilities to apply. The health-related positions in VA are covered by Title 38, and are not covered by the Schedule A excepted appointment authority.

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.

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. For more information about the Act and the complaint process, visit Human Resources and Administration/Operations, Security, and Preparedness (HRA/OSP) at The Fair Chance Act.

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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.

Benefits

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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.

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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.