Healthcare Engineer

Veterans Health Administration • Omaha, NE

23h • Onsite

About The Position

The Healthcare Engineer plans projects, produces and manages designs, manages construction, and provides construction administration for minor construction, non-recurring maintenance (NRM), station-level, and lease projects at an assigned medical center and associated Community Based Outpatient Clinics (CBOCs). The position covers architectural, electrical, life safety, mechanical, civil, structural, and related disciplines for VA-owned and leased facilities.

The engineer provides project planning, design, and construction oversight; administers professional architecture/engineering and construction contracts; and supports compliance with contractual requirements, healthcare regulations, codes, specifications, schedules, and government requirements. The role maintains construction specifications, drawings, and a technical reference library, and provides engineering support and technical guidance to facility staff. It also performs Contracting Officer Representative (COR) duties and maintains COR and VA Facility Engineering/Construction (FE-C) certifications.

The position chairs Integrated Project Teams and coordinates with multidisciplinary internal and external stakeholders to deliver projects aligned with the healthcare system’s strategic goals. Work spans capital asset and infrastructure planning through concept development, design, construction, implementation, and post-project activities, while preserving building and utility services for medical operations. The engineer also helps provide continuing education to clinical and maintenance personnel on building and utility systems used in healthcare delivery.

The position is full-time, Monday through Friday, 7:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Telework is ad hoc at the supervisor’s discretion; this is not a virtual position. The full performance level is GS-12, and selection may be made at GS-7 through GS-12.

Requirements

• U.S. citizenship.
• Proficiency in spoken and written English.
• A bachelor's degree or higher in engineering or architecture from an appropriately accredited program; or a bachelor's degree plus passing the Fundamentals of Engineering examination; or current professional registration or licensure as a Professional Engineer or Architect.
• For GS-09, meet the specified experience or education pathway, including at least one year equivalent to GS-7 or qualifying graduate education, and demonstrate the required knowledge, skills, and abilities.
• For GS-11, meet the specified experience or education pathway, including at least one year equivalent to GS-9 or qualifying graduate education, and demonstrate the required knowledge, skills, and abilities.
• For GS-12, at least one year of experience equivalent to GS-11 and demonstration of the stated knowledge, skills, and abilities.
• Knowledge of engineering or architectural principles, practices, codes, standards, regulations, construction methods, materials, and equipment applicable to healthcare facilities, as appropriate to the grade.
• Ability to plan and execute complex projects and inspections, prioritize resources against scope, contract documents, and budgets, and research and analyze information to make sound recommendations.
• Ability to organize and lead multidisciplinary teams and communicate effectively with internal and external customers.
• Successful completion of required background/security investigation and onboarding requirements.
• Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is required for VA Health Care Personnel.
• Must serve a one- or two-year trial period, subject to written certification for continued employment.

Nice To Haves

• Direct healthcare experience is not required; engineering experience in a hospital or healthcare system may help applicants demonstrate how their experience applies to the role.

Responsibilities

• Assist with planning, design, and oversight of healthcare system projects.
• Administer professional architecture/engineering and construction contracts, monitoring contractor compliance with contractual requirements, healthcare regulations and codes, specifications, schedules, and government requirements.
• Provide engineering support to the assigned healthcare system and maintain construction specifications, drawings, and a technical reference library of applicable codes, standards, and regulations.
• Perform Contracting Officer Representative (COR) duties on professional design and construction projects; maintain COR certification and VA Facility Engineering/Construction (FE-C) certification.
• Train and assist service staff on technical, administrative, and infrastructure-related operational issues.
• Chair Integrated Project Teams and coordinate multidisciplinary internal and external stakeholders to meet project objectives and healthcare system strategic goals.
• Conduct capital asset and infrastructure planning and design from strategic planning and concept development through design, construction, and implementation.
• Manage healthcare engineering project design and administer construction in accordance with VA policies, design guides and manuals, master specifications, and applicable industry codes and standards.
• Manage construction and post-project activities while ensuring continuity of building and utility services for medical facility operations.
• Assist with continuing education for clinical staff and maintenance personnel on building and utility systems used in healthcare delivery.
• Determine project requirements for the healthcare system’s parent site and off-site VA-owned or leased locations, considering department needs, guidelines, standards, regulations, and mission priorities.

Benefits

• 37–50 days of annual paid time off per year, consisting of 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 birth, adoption, or foster-care placement of a child.
• Eligible full-time employees with qualifying family income may receive a childcare subsidy after 60 days of employment, subject to eligibility rules and a monthly maximum of $416.66.
• Traditional federal pension with five-year vesting and federal 401(k), with VA contributions up to 5%.
• Federal health, vision, dental, term life, and long-term care insurance; many federal insurance programs may be carried into retirement.
• Competitive salary and regular salary increases.
• Potential credit toward annual leave accrual based on prior federal work or military service, subject to request and approval.

What This Job Offers

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