Biomedical Engineer

Veterans Health Administration • Tulsa, OK

5d • Onsite

About The Position

The Eastern Oklahoma VA Health Care System seeks a Biomedical Engineer to support healthcare technology management at the James Mountain Inhofe VA Medical Center in Tulsa. The role supports safe, effective patient care by assessing, acquiring, implementing, maintaining, upgrading, securing, integrating, and retiring diagnostic, therapeutic, monitoring, and other medical equipment. It provides technical and administrative support, advises clinical and leadership staff, manages programs and projects, and supports healthcare technology across the system.

The engineer manages medical-equipment lifecycles and supports equipment installations, system implementations, capital-asset and infrastructure planning, and other mission-critical initiatives. The position assesses clinical and operational requirements, develops specifications, evaluates devices and systems, and advises stakeholders on compatibility, safety, reliability, sustainability, and long-term suitability. It also provides subject-matter expertise on existing and emerging medical technologies, including biomedical systems, clinical laboratory automation, physiological monitoring, resuscitation equipment, medical information systems, computer applications, networking, and medical-device cybersecurity.

The position develops and delivers staff education, supports equipment-management programs and regulatory compliance, and manages medical-device recalls, safety alerts, hazard identification, incident investigations, remediation, and documentation. It maintains technical records in computerized maintenance management systems. When assigned, it may serve as a Contracting Officer's Representative, prepare acquisition documents, monitor contractor performance, and coordinate with Logistics and Contracting. The engineer coordinates with Information Technology on network connectivity, information security, and safe operation of electronic patient-care systems, and maintains current knowledge through formal and informal education. Assignments become progressively more complex under supervision as proficiency develops.

The full performance level is GS-12; selection may be at GS-7 through GS-12. The work schedule is Monday through Friday, either 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. or 7:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Telework is not available, and the position is not virtual.

Requirements

• U.S. citizenship, subject to the stated exception for appointment of non-citizens when qualified citizens cannot be recruited under VA policy.
• A bachelor's degree or higher in engineering from a school with at least one ABET-accredited professional engineering curriculum; acceptable examples include Biomedical Engineering, Clinical Engineering, Bioengineering, Biomechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, and Biochemical Engineering; OR Certified Clinical Engineer (CCE) certification and a bachelor's degree in another field.
• Proficiency in spoken and written English.
• For GS-9: at least one year of specialized experience equivalent to the next lower level, or qualifying graduate education (a master's degree in Biomedical Engineering or a related field, or a qualifying bachelor's degree plus two full years of progressively higher-level related graduate education), and the listed GS-9 knowledge, skills, and abilities.
• For GS-11: at least one year of experience equivalent to the next lower level and the required KSAs, or a Ph.D./equivalent doctoral degree in Biomedical Engineering or a related engineering field, or a qualifying bachelor's degree plus three full years of progressively higher-level related graduate education.
• For GS-12: at least one year of specialized experience equivalent to the next lower level and the required KSAs, or completion of a post-doctoral research fellowship in biomedical engineering and the required KSAs.
• Demonstrate grade-specific knowledge and abilities, including biomedical engineering principles; interpretation of applicable codes and standards; understanding clinical operational needs; equipment-management program compliance; continuing-education development; medical-device recall and safety-alert management; capital planning; subject-matter expertise in specialized clinical technology; computer-based medical systems, networking and information security; collaboration; and project management, as applicable to the selected grade.
• Meet required pre-employment conditions, including applicable background/security investigation, pre-employment physical evaluation, seasonal influenza vaccination, and drug testing for applicants selected for testing-designated positions.
• Complete required application and onboarding documentation and serve a one- or two-year trial period.
• Physical capacity for prolonged standing, walking, stooping, bending, climbing stairs, and working in cramped spaces; frequent lifting of 10–40 pounds and occasional lifting of items over 40 pounds; and managing complex demands in a high-pressure environment.
• Education used to qualify must be recognized by the U.S. Department of Education and from an accredited institution; foreign education requires a Certificate of Foreign Equivalency with the transcript.

Nice To Haves

• Experience serving as a Contracting Officer's Representative (COR) or current COR certification.
• Experience developing acquisition documents for medical equipment.
• Experience supporting complex clinical technologies.
• Experience managing multiple concurrent equipment projects, installations, or deployments.

Responsibilities

• Manage medical-equipment lifecycles, from requirements assessment and acquisition through installation, integration, maintenance, upgrades, training, decommissioning, data sanitization, and replacement planning.
• Support or lead special projects, equipment installations, system implementations, after-action reviews, and other initiatives using project-management principles.
• Assess clinical and operational needs; develop equipment specifications; evaluate devices and systems; advise on compatibility, safety, reliability, sustainability, and long-term suitability; and coordinate installation and implementation.
• Serve as a technical advisor or subject-matter expert to clinical, administrative, logistics, information technology, engineering, and professional staff on medical technologies.
• Design, modify, and evaluate biomedical systems, including physiological monitoring, clinical laboratory automation, resuscitation equipment, medical information systems, computer applications, networking, and medical-device cybersecurity.
• Develop and deliver training on the safe and effective operation, application, maintenance, and security of medical equipment.
• Support equipment-management programs and compliance with VA, The Joint Commission, National Fire Protection Association, Occupational Safety and Health Administration, American National Standards Institute, patient-safety, and other applicable requirements.
• Manage medical-device recalls, safety alerts, hazard identification, incident investigations, remediation, and required documentation within established timeframes.
• Prepare and maintain technical documentation in computerized maintenance management systems in accordance with regulatory, organizational, and Healthcare Technology Management requirements.
• When assigned as a Contracting Officer's Representative, prepare statements of work, sole-source justifications, independent government cost estimates, VA forms, and other acquisition documents; monitor contractor performance; and coordinate with Logistics and Contracting.
• Develop contractor work specifications, oversee vendor services, verify contract compliance, and resolve equipment and service issues with clinical and administrative services.
• Support capital-asset and infrastructure planning from initial concept through installation, implementation, and sustainment of complex medical equipment.
• Coordinate with Information Technology to establish controls, procedures, network connectivity, information-security practices, and safe operation of electronic patient-care systems.
• Maintain current knowledge of biomedical engineering, medical technology, regulatory requirements, network protocols, cybersecurity, vendor developments, and professional practices through education.
• Perform progressively complex assignments under supervision as proficiency develops, demonstrating initiative, effective communication, collaboration, sound judgment, and commitment to safe, reliable patient care.

Benefits

• Competitive salary and regular salary increases.
• 37–50 days of annual paid time off, including 13–26 days of annual leave, 13 days of sick leave, and 11 paid federal holidays.
• Up to 12 weeks of paid parental leave after 12 months of employment in connection with the birth, adoption, or foster-care placement of a child.
• Child-care subsidy eligibility for qualifying full-time employees after 60 days of employment, subject to family income and eligible-cost limits.
• Traditional federal pension with five-year vesting and federal 401(k) with up to 5% in VA contributions.
• Federal health, vision, dental, term life, and long-term care insurance; many federal insurance programs can be carried into retirement.
• Recruitment or relocation incentive may be authorized for a highly qualified candidate.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level