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:

• Citizenship
• Be a citizen of the United States
• (Non-citizens may be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens) English Language Proficiency
• Biomedical Engineers must be proficient in spoken and written 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
• Grade Determinations: Biomedical Engineer, GS-7 (Entry Level) Experience
• None beyond the basic requirements
• Education
• Bachelor's degree as outlined in paragraph above or CCE certification with at least a bachelor's degree not listed Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities
• None beyond the basic requirements
• Assignment
• Employees serve in an entry level biomedical engineer career development position
• It is expected that biomedical engineers at the entry level receive ongoing guidance from more experienced staff members and perform assignments under close supervision
• Biomedical Engineer, GS-9 (Developmental Level 1) Experience
• At least one year of specialized experience equivalent to the next lower level
• (Example of GS-07 Experience: Employees serve in an entry level biomedical engineer career development position.) OR Education Master's degree in Biomedical Engineering, or a related field of study, OR Bachelor's 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
• Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSAs)
• In addition to the experience for the GS-09, the following KSAs are required: Knowledge of the principles, theories, concepts, and practices of the Biomedical Engineering profession
• Ability to interpret relevant codes, regulations, guidelines, and standards, and make recommendations to ensure compliance with medical center programs
• Ability to understand the operational needs of clinical services in the health care system
• 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
• Biomedical Engineer, GS-11 (Developmental Level 2) Experience
• At least [one] year of experience equivalent to the next lower level, [and must fully meet the KSAs at that level.] (Example of GS-09 Experience: At the GS-9 grade level, employees function with oversight by a supervisor for more complex assignments.) OR Education Ph.D., or equivalent doctoral degree in Biomedical Engineering, or a related field of engineering, OR Bachelor's degree, plus three full years of progressively higher level graduate education in a related field of study Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSAs)
• In addition to the experience for the GS-11, the following KSAs are required: 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
• 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
• 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
• 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
• Biomedical Engineer, GS-12 (Full Performance Level) Experience
• Completion of at least [one] year of specialized experience equivalent to the next lower level (Example of GS-11 Experience: 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.)
• OR completion of a post-doctoral research fellowship in the field of biomedical engineering, and must fully meet the KSAs at that level
• Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSAs)
• In addition to the experience for the GS-12, the following KSAs are required: 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.