Healthcare Engineer

Duties include but are not limited to the following:

• Performs healthcare planning/design management
• Assists in the determination of requirements for healthcare projects in relation to the needs of the Healthcare system inclusive of the parent site as well as off-site locations under the auspice of the HealthCare System whether VA owned or leased.
• Provides a broad view of all disciplines of Engineering when applied to a healthcare environment to support construction document reviews and preparation.
• Knowledge of Joint Commission (JC) requirements NFPA 101 the Life Safety Code and NFPA 99 Health Care Facilities Code in addition to VA design requirements is necessary to provide direction to Architectural/Engineering firms on complex healthcare designs to ensure compliance and regulatory requirements are met by the medical facility.
• The position assists in evaluations of medical care programs and services to ensure assigned projects are aligned and support the healthcare organizations needs and requirements for expansion of service and/or efficient flow of operation.
• The position develops initial concept documents creates and maintains project and lease applications in multiple VA database systems.
• The position utilizes skillsets encompassing a wide range of engineering fields including but not limited to identifying and defining assigned problems dealing with structures mechanical HVAC sprinkler fire and life safety architectural and electrical systems.
• Performs planning and analysis activities that include conducting or directly overseeing surveys and site investigations to establish baseline data necessary to initiate design for renovations alterations and additions to the existing hospital patient care facilities administrative buildings grounds utility plants and systems and historic buildings listed on the national registry.

Work Schedule: Monday-Friday 8:00am to 4:30pm
Telework: Not AvailableVirtual: This is not a virtual position.
Functional Statement #: 000000
Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized
Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized

• 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 ( 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.
• Must pass pre-employment physical examination.
• Must have current valid state-issued drivers license.
• 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.
  • Bachelors 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. Titles may vary from educational institutions and change over time; OR
  • Evidence of passing the Fundamentals of Engineering Examination with a bachelors 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 Bachelors degree as outlined in paragraph 3.b. of this appendix.
• Physical Requirements. See VA Directive and Handbook 5019 Employee Occupational Health Service for requirements.
• English Language Proficiency. Healthcare Engineer candidates must be proficient in spoken and written English in accordance with 38 U.S.C. 7403(f).

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 outlined in paragraph 3 the following criteria must be met when determining the grade of candidates.

Healthcare Engineer GS-12.

• Experience. One year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade (GS-11).
• Knowledge Skills and Abilities (KSAs). In addition to meeting the experience requirements for this grade level the candidate must fully demonstrate the following KSAs:
  • Knowledge of mechanical electrical structural civil and other engineering/architectural principles practices and their applications in the healthcare environment.
  • 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.
  • Knowledge of construction standards methods practices and techniques materials and equipment to determine compliance with engineering regulations and standards.
  • 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.
  • Ability to plan and execute complex multi-faceted projects and inspections while prioritizing resources against approved scopes of work contract documents and budgets.
  • Ability to organize and lead multi-disciplinary task forces with members from different departments and divisions as well as design and construction firms.

Preferred Experience: Healthcare System engineering experience; project management and construction management experience preferred

Reference: For more information on this qualification standard please visit full performance level of this vacancy is 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. The incumbent may be required to travel up to 25% of the time which would require the incumbent to drive a government owned vehicle to travel for technical or professional training and to support remote healthcare system sites as needed and/or directed by management. A valid current state issued drivers license is required.