Biomedical Equipment Support Specialist - Intensive Care

Veterans Health Administration • Richmond, VA

6h • Onsite

About The Position

The Richmond VA Medical Center is seeking a Biomedical Equipment Support Specialist (BESS) specializing in intensive care, high-risk, or surgical equipment within its Healthcare Technology Management department. The incumbent supports the medical equipment management program and maintains life-support, high-risk surgical, and intensive care medical equipment and clinical systems. The GS-12 position performs advanced manufacturer-level maintenance, system management, technical troubleshooting, project management, cybersecurity and disaster recovery work, and customer and staff support. The work schedule is 0730–1600. Telework is not available, and the position is not virtual. Relocation and recruitment incentives and permanent change of station are not authorized.

Requirements

• U.S. citizenship, subject to the stated exception for non-citizens when qualified citizens cannot be recruited under VA policy.
• Proficiency in spoken and written English.
• Meet one of the stated basic qualification pathways: an associate or higher degree in biomedical technology or biomedical engineering; an associate or higher degree in electronics, information technology, or another engineering field plus one year of creditable experience; completion of a qualifying Department of Defense biomedical equipment technician training program; completion of a qualifying DOD electronic systems or information technology repair and maintenance program plus one year of creditable experience; completion of a biomedical engineering technician or HTM certificate program with an internship or apprenticeship; completion of such a certificate program without an internship plus one year of creditable experience; or current or prior certification as CBET, CRES, CLES, or CHTM.
• One year of creditable experience equivalent to the next lower grade for the GS-12 grade determination.
• Knowledge of HL7 and DICOM standards.
• Skill applying NFPA, FDA, Joint Commission, and AAMI standards for safe operation of medical equipment and clinical systems.
• Skill operating test equipment for specialized high-risk, surgical, or intensive care equipment, such as ventilator testers, mechanical lungs, and anesthetic gas monitors.
• Skill maintaining specialized high-risk, intensive care, or surgical equipment, such as ventilators, heart-lung bypass systems, anesthesia equipment, and intra-aortic balloon pumps.
• Skill performing advanced testing to troubleshoot specialized networked medical equipment and clinical system interfaces.
• Ability to resolve complex failures involving specialized medical equipment and clinical systems.
• Meet applicable pre-employment screening, identification, physical evaluation, security investigation, onboarding, and seasonal influenza vaccination requirements; comply with Selective Service registration requirements where applicable.
• Serve a one- or two-year trial period, subject to evaluation and written certification for continued employment.

Responsibilities

• Perform manufacturer-level maintenance on life-support, high-risk surgical, and intensive care medical equipment and clinical systems.
• Manage network systems, databases, and interfaces for life-support, high-risk surgical, and intensive care equipment and clinical systems.
• Coordinate and implement cybersecurity measures and disaster recovery plans.
• Manage planning, acquisition, installation, and lifecycle activities for medical equipment and clinical systems.
• Serve as a subject matter expert on assigned committees, projects, and workgroups.
• Troubleshoot medical equipment and clinical systems using technical data and complete corrective actions.
• Perform incoming inspections and planned maintenance.
• Document work in the Computerized Maintenance Management System (CMMS) and other appropriate systems.
• Respond to and remediate hazard alerts, recall notifications, and incidents involving medical equipment and clinical systems.
• Monitor system backups, ensure network connectivity, mitigate cybersecurity vulnerabilities, and maintain clinical systems.
• Use test equipment in accordance with manufacturer instructions and use specialized diagnostic software and quality assurance tools.
• Manage projects involving specialized, high-risk, surgical, and intensive care equipment and clinical systems.
• Provide customer support, assess issues and needs, develop solutions, and keep customers informed of status.
• Educate staff on safe equipment operation and user-level maintenance.
• Serve as a Contracting Officer's Representative (COR) and/or purchase card holder; develop documentation to purchase commodities or vendor services.
• Manage, monitor, and evaluate contractor performance and address issues or deficiencies.
• Comply with applicable standards, policies, procedures, and regulatory requirements.
• Provide guidance and mentorship, and maintain and enhance technical knowledge through professional development and training.

Benefits

• The announcement states that federal employees receive a comprehensive benefits package, with eligibility dependent on position type and other factors.
• Annual leave accrual may be credited for qualifying prior federal or military service, subject to request and approval.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Senior
• Education Level: Associate degree