Biomedical Engineer

Summary

This position is located in the Healthcare Technology Management Service of the Durham VA Health Care System, Durham NC. Serves as a staff advisor to the Chief of Healthcare Technology Management Service in the area of Healthcare Technology Management (i.e., Biomedical Engineering) as well as engineering principles and practices, which relate to the area of specialization and scientific discipline, drawing from professional educational background, as well as practical experience.

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Duties

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Duties include but not limited too:

• The incumbent serves as an HTM biomedical engineering subject-matter resource for medical technology infrastructure, physical planning, installation, relocation, and activation associated with construction, renovation, clinical service expansion, and equipment deployment projects.
• The incumbent translates clinical and medical equipment requirements into physical space, utility, environmental, installation, connectivity-provision, and maintenance-access requirements.
• The incumbent coordinates these requirements throughout planning, design, construction, equipment installation, acceptance testing, activation, and transition to ongoing operations.
• The incumbent supports development and application of standardized medical technology infrastructure requirements, planning criteria, and activation practices across assigned projects and clinical areas
• Works with clinical services to translate clinical functions and workflows into project-specific medical equipment and space requirements.
• Develops and maintains project equipment lists, room equipment schedules, placement recommendations, and installation requirements.
• Coordinates equipment selection, standardization, replacement, and reuse decisions with the Lifecycle Management Biomedical Engineer and clinical stakeholders. Lifecycle strategy, replacement planning, and standardization decisions remain with the responsible Lifecycle Management function; this position translates approved equipment decisions into project specific and activation requirements.
• Coordinates documented transfer of activated equipment to the responsible clinical service and HTM operational support personnel.
• Performs biomedical engineering analysis of medical equipment infrastructure requirements and develops technical recommendations concerning equipment siting, utilities, environmental conditions, structural interfaces, installation, maintainability, and operational suitability.
• Develops and documents medical technology infrastructure requirements and biomedical engineering criteria for incorporation into project planning and design.
• Provides biomedical engineering technical support to acquisition and contract administration for equipment and installation services associated with assigned construction, renovation, relocation, and activation projects.
• Develops technical requirements addressing equipment dimensions, utility demands, site preparation, delivery, installation, commissioning, and training.
• Serves as the HTM technical project lead for medical technology planning, infrastructure integration, installation, and activation on assigned construction, renovation, relocation, and activation projects, coordinating HTM, Engineering/Facilities Management, cybersecurity/integration, and BESS support required for project execution.
• Develops and maintains the medical equipment portion of project scope, work breakdown structures, schedules, milestones, risk registers, issue logs, and action-item tracking.
• Compiles medical equipment readiness findings and provides recommendations to HTM and activation leadership
• Documents findings and elevates unresolved installation-readiness issues before equipment installation or activation.
• Provides biomedical engineering analysis for medical device hazard investigations and root cause analyses involving medical technology infrastructure interfaces or installation conditions.

Work Schedule : 7am-3:30pm or 8am-4:30pm; Monday - Friday

Compressed/Flexible :Available, per the needs of the Department

Telework : Ad-Hoc, per the needs of the Department

Virtual: This is not a virtual position.

Functional Statement # : 000000

Relocation/Recruitment Incentives : Not Authorized

Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized

PCS Appraised Value Offer (AVO): 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 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).
• 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

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 : In accordance with 38 U.S.C. 7402(d), No person shall serve in direct patient care positions unless they are proficient in basic written and spoken English.
• 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 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).

[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:]
  • Ability to conduct a medical equipment management [or biomedical research 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.

Preferred Experience: Healthcare

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

Physical Requirements: Physical Requirements. See VA Directive and Handbook 5019, Employee Occupational Health Service.

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

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. 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.