Healthcare Engineer

Veterans Health Administration•Portland, OR

13d•Onsite

About The Position

The Project Engineer works within Facilities Management Service at the VA Portland Health Care System, planning, designing, and managing construction and maintenance projects from development through completion. Projects include Minor Construction, NRM, Station-Level, and lease projects, spanning architectural, electrical, mechanical, civil, structural, and life-safety disciplines at VA Portland facilities and associated Community Based Outpatient Clinics (CBOCs). The engineer manages healthcare construction projects from concept and scope development through design, construction, activation, closeout, and warranty, while minimizing effects on patient care and facility operations. The role includes developing project requirements, scopes of work, conceptual designs, cost estimates, and documentation; overseeing site investigations; reviewing technical design submissions; and administering A/E and construction contracts. The engineer serves as a Contracting Officer's Representative (COR), leads multidisciplinary project teams, and coordinates with facility leadership, clinical services, contractors, consultants, and outside agencies. Construction takes place in operating healthcare environments, requiring attention to infection control, fire and life safety, dust, noise, vibration, hazardous materials, utility interruptions, and other risks. The role also manages specialized medical spaces and equipment installations, applies relevant VA and healthcare codes and standards, and independently resolves complex engineering and construction problems with general supervisory oversight. The work schedule is Monday through Friday, 7:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Telework is not available, and the position is not virtual. Relocation and recruitment incentives and Permanent Change of Station (PCS) are not authorized. The full performance level is GS-12; selection may be at GS-7 through GS-12.

Requirements

U.S. citizenship, subject to the stated exception for appointments when qualified citizens cannot be recruited under 38 U.S.C. § 7407(a).
Proficiency in spoken and written English.
Bachelor's degree or higher in Engineering or Architecture from an appropriately accredited program; alternatively, a bachelor's degree plus a passing Fundamentals of Engineering examination, current professional engineer or architect registration or licensure, or eligibility under the stated grandfathering provision.
Foreign engineering, architecture, or related education must be evaluated by a qualified private organization and deemed equivalent to the required U.S. bachelor's degree.
For GS-09, meet one of the stated alternatives: one year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade; a qualifying master's degree; or a bachelor's degree plus two full years of progressively higher-level related graduate education, with the required competencies.
For GS-11, meet one of the stated alternatives: one year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade; a qualifying doctoral degree; a qualifying master's degree plus one full year of progressively higher-level related graduate education; or a bachelor's degree plus three full years of progressively higher-level related graduate education, with the required competencies.
For GS-12, one year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade.
Demonstrate applicable engineering knowledge, healthcare facility and project management knowledge, ability to interpret and apply relevant codes and standards, effective oral and written communication, and ability to plan and execute complex projects and lead multidisciplinary teams, as required for the applicable grade.
Register for Selective Service if male and born after December 31, 1959.
Complete a background/security investigation and online onboarding; provide acceptable identification and complete application requirements.
Participate in the Department of Veterans Affairs seasonal influenza vaccination program.
Serve a one- or two-year trial period, as applicable.

Responsibilities

Plan and manage healthcare construction projects from concept and scope development through design, construction, activation, closeout, and warranty, while minimizing impacts on patient care and facility operations.
Develop project requirements, scopes of work, conceptual designs, cost estimates, and project documentation; conduct or oversee site investigations and evaluations of existing facilities and utility systems.
Review architectural and engineering designs, drawings, specifications, calculations, and other technical submissions for completeness, constructability, cost effectiveness, and compliance with VA requirements and applicable healthcare codes and standards.
Administer A/E and construction contracts, including reviewing contractor submittals and change-order requests, monitoring schedules, inspecting construction, evaluating progress, reviewing payments, and preparing closeout documentation.
Serve as a Contracting Officer's Representative (COR) and provide technical oversight of contractors, inspectors, and A/E firms to ensure work conforms to contract requirements.
Lead Integrated Project Teams and multidisciplinary project teams; coordinate stakeholders, chair project meetings, and communicate with facility leadership, clinical services, contractors, consultants, and outside agencies.
Manage construction in operating healthcare environments, addressing infection control, fire and life safety, dust, noise, vibration, hazardous materials, utility interruptions, and other risks to patients, staff, and operations.
Manage projects for specialized medical spaces and equipment installations, including operating rooms, cardiac catheterization laboratories, pharmacy compounding suites, sterile processing facilities, radiology suites, and associated infrastructure.
Apply healthcare engineering codes, regulations, and standards, including VA requirements, TJC, NFPA, OSHA, and applicable federal, state, and local requirements.
Resolve complex engineering and construction problems, develop technical recommendations and solutions, prioritize competing requirements, and exercise engineering judgment with general supervisory oversight.