Biomedical Engineer

Major duties include but are not limited to:

• Conducts independent project management for complex biomedical equipment installations including planning procurement installation and implementation and testing.
• Leads projects and coordinates with technical clinical and education of staff for various medical system deployments at Nebraska Western-Iowa HCS.
• Manages complex networked medical device installations scheduling and plans networked medical system upgrades and conducts networked medical device risk assessments.
• Assists with management of the medical device inventory for the hospital.
• Maintains the database manages and analyzes equipment lifecycles determines plans and timelines for equipment replacements.
• Manages and maintains the Networked Medical Device Database (NMDD).
• Assists with the completion of medical device recalls network equipment risk assessments incoming inspections device de-installations and turn-ins medical device risk assessments and reviews.
• Reviews manages and remediates medical device security vulnerabilities with technicians.
• Serves as a Contracting Officers Representative (COR). COR knowledge and skills will be used to assist with equipment procurements and to assist with managing existing service contracts as assigned and planning/ developing new contractual requirements as assigned.
• Assists with annual review and updates of the Medical Equipment Management Plan.
• Conducts capital asset and infrastructure planning for medical equipment to include initial concept installation planning procurement effort and implementation.
• Responsible for High Cost/High Tech (HCHT) equipment planning.
• Assists with completing written reports for the Chief of Biomedical Engineering related to project updates Key Performance Indicator (KPI) statuses and updates and other ad-hoc reports.
• Serves as a professional advisor manager and medical technology consultant to the Chief of Biomedical Engineering as well as on other engineering principles and practices.

Work Schedule: Monday-Friday 8:00am - 4:30pm
Telework: Ad hoc only per Supervisors discretion
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Functional Statement #: 00000
Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized
Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized

• 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 drivers 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 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.

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.
• Education and/or Experience: The individual must meet either item (1) or (2) below to meet this requirement:
  1. Bachelors 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. OR
  2. Certification as a Certified Clinical Engineer (CCE) and a bachelors degree.
• English Language Proficiency: Biomedical Engineers must be proficient in spoken and written English.

Creditable Professional Engineering Experience. To be creditable experience must have been accomplished after receipt of the bachelors degree and/or CCE certification and requires the possession and use of knowledge skills and abilities associated within the scope of the biomedical engineering profession. Additionally the experience must have been attained in a healthcare setting for Biomedical Engineer (Clinical) positions or a research setting for Biomedical Engineer (Research) positions and be directly applicable to the assignment.

Grade Determinations:
GS-7 Biomedical Engineer
Experience: None beyond the basic requirements.

GS-9 Biomedical Engineer
Experience: At least one year of specialized experience equivalent to the next lower level GS-7.
OR
Education: Masters degree in Biomedical Engineering or a related field of study OR Bachelors degree plus two full years of progressively higher level graduate education in a related field of study that demonstrates the KSAs for the GS-9 level assignment. TRANSCRIPTS REQUIRED
AND
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.

GS-11 Biomedical Engineer
Experience: At least one year of experience equivalent to the next lower level GS-9 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 Bachelors degree plus three full years of progressively higher level graduate education in a related field of study. TRANSCRIPTS REQUIRED
AND
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.

GS-12 Biomedical Engineer
Experience: Completion of at least one year of specialized experience equivalent to the next lower level GS-11 or completion of a post-doctoral research fellowship in the field of biomedical engineering and must fully meet the KSAs at that level.
AND
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.

Preferred Experience: Experience with Federal EHR or Oracle Cerner. Experience with VHA Acquisition Process. Contracting Officers Representative Certification I-III. VHA HTM Experience

Reference: For more information on this qualification standard please visit 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: You will be asked to participate in a pre-employment examination or evaluation as part of the pre-employment process for this position. Questions about physical demands or environmental factors may be addressed at the time of evaluation or examination.