Biomedical Engineer

The incumbent performs as a Staff Biomedical Engineer for the Healthcare Technology Management program at the VA Eastern Kansas Health Care System (VA EKHCS), a two-campus system in Topeka and Leavenworth, Kansas. The EKHCS Healthcare Technology Management (HTM) program is composed of Biomedical Engineering departments, which manage medical equipment & systems, and Electronics departments, which manage non-medical equipment & systems in the hospital environment.

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: Biomedical Engineers must be proficient in spoken and written English in accordance with chapter 2, section D, paragraph 5a, this part.
• Education and/or Experience: The individual must meet either item (1) or (2) to meet this requirement: (1) 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 (2) Certification as a Certified Clinical Engineer (CCE) and a bachelor's degree not listed 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).

Grade Determinations : In addition to the basic requirements for employment listed above, the following education and experience criteria must be met when determining the grade of candidates:

• GS-7 (Entry Level) (a) Experience. None beyond the basic requirements. (b) Education. Bachelor's degree as outlined above, or CCE certification with at least a bachelor's degree not listed above. ( c) Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities. None beyond the basic requirements.
• GS-9 (Developmental Level 1) (a) Experience. At least one year of specialized experience equivalent to the next lower level. OR , (b) Education. Master's degree in Biomedical Engineering, or a related field of study, as outlined above. OR, Bachelor's degree, as outlined above, 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. (c) Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities . In addition to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate all of the following KSAs: (a) Knowledge of the principles, theories, concepts, and practices of the Biomedical Engineering profession. (b) Ability to interpret relevant codes, regulations, guidelines, and standards, and make recommendations to ensure compliance with medical center programs. (c) Ability to understand the operational needs of clinical services in the health care system. (d) 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 (Developmental Level 2) (a) Experience. At least one year of experience equivalent to the next lower level, and must fully meet the KSAs at that level. OR, (b) Education i. Ph.D., or equivalent doctoral degree in Biomedical Engineering, or a related field of engineering, as outlined above. OR , ii. Bachelor's degree, plus three full years of progressively higher level graduate education in a related field of study, as outlined above. (c) Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities. In addition to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate all of the following KSAs: i. 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. ii. 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. iii. 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. iv. [Knowledge of basic project management principles, as applied to the healthcare setting and medical equipment, and information system implementation.
• GS-12 (Full Performance Level) (a) 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. (b) Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities. In addition to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate all of the following KSAs: i. Ability to conduct a medical equipment management [or biomedical research program that is compliant with applicable healthcare standards and regulatory agencies. ii. Ability to develop a curriculum for a continuing education program, that devices. iii. 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. iv. Ability to conduct capital asset and infrastructure planning for medical equipment spanning initial concept, installation, and effective implementation of complex medical equipment. v. 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. vi. 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. vii. Knowledge of concepts related to computer based medical systems, networking protocols, and information security as it applies to medical technology within VHA. viii. Skill in communicating and working collaboratively with key stakeholders, including technical and professional staff at various levels of the organization. ix. Ability to apply project management principles to deployment of medical equipment and health information technologies.

Preferred Experience: Networking and medical device integration.

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-7 to GS-12.

Physical Requirements: Technical, academic, and mental demands are high. The work performed is of a precise nature requiring prolonged concentration and must be able to lift and hold 40 (forty) pounds unassisted for mounting, positioning, or removing equipment. The incumbent may work under conditions of stress caused by the nature of involved work. Incumbent must be able to interact effectively with all levels of medical center staff and must remain calm, professional, and analytical even under stress. 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: .