Healthcare Engineer

Veterans Health Administration • Washington, DC

12d • Onsite

About The Position

The Healthcare Engineer serves as a Project Engineer at an assigned Department of Veterans Affairs Healthcare System. The role plans projects, develops and manages designs, oversees construction, and provides construction administration for Minor Construction, Non-Recurring Maintenance (NRM), Station Level, and lease projects. Work may involve architectural, electrical, life-safety, mechanical, civil, structural, and other project components.

The position assists with healthcare-system project planning, design, and oversight, and administers professional architecture/engineering and construction contracts. It helps ensure contractors meet contractual requirements and that healthcare regulations, codes, specifications, schedules, and government requirements are followed in VA-owned and leased facilities. The engineer supports patient care through engineering and organizational work, including development and implementation of the environment-of-care program in accordance with applicable Joint Commission, FDA, CAP, NFPA, and VA requirements, particularly for construction safety and infection control.

The role conducts or oversees surveys and site investigations to establish baseline information for renovations, alterations, and additions to hospitals, patient-care facilities, administrative buildings, grounds, utility plants and systems, and historic buildings. It develops plans and specifications for building and utility work, including site preparation for complex medical equipment such as ultrasound and MRI systems. It manages project design and construction under VA policies, design guidance, master specifications, and applicable industry codes and standards, and performs construction management and post-project activities while maintaining continuity of building and utility services.

The engineer participates in capital asset and infrastructure planning from strategic planning and concept development through design, construction, and implementation of buildings, utilities, and medical support systems. The role considers energy-conservation recommendations for feasibility and cost effectiveness and supports facility energy goals. It coordinates interrelated construction systems and services, monitors multidisciplinary projects throughout the project life cycle—including completion and warranty periods—and determines project requirements for the healthcare system’s parent site and off-site VA-owned or leased locations.

The position evaluates project risks and develops ways to mitigate them while minimizing disruption to patient care. It determines temporary construction methods needed to protect patients and staff and maintain standards of medical care while facilities remain operational. The role requires understanding how utilities and services support different healthcare operations and evaluating projects and programs for environmental, safety, and security compliance.

The vacancy may be filled at GS-7 through GS-12; GS-12 is the full performance level. The actual grade depends on the applicant’s qualifications. The position follows a Monday–Friday, 7:00 a.m.–3:30 p.m. schedule and is not telework or virtual. Relocation and recruitment incentives and permanent change of station are not authorized.

Requirements

• U.S. citizenship, subject to the stated non-citizen appointment exception where recruitment of qualified citizens is not possible under applicable law.
• 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. A stated grandfathering provision may apply to qualifying current VHA employees.
• Proficiency in written and spoken English.
• Completion of required background/security investigation, onboarding, and application documentation.
• Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program as a VA Health Care Personnel requirement.
• Ability to meet the applicable education or experience qualifications for the selected GS grade. GS-9 and GS-11 may qualify through specified combinations of experience or graduate education; GS-12 requires one year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade.
• Knowledge of engineering principles, theories, concepts, and practices, and ability to interpret relevant codes, regulations, guidelines, and standards for healthcare facilities.
• Ability to understand the engineering needs of clinical services and healthcare-system operations.
• Ability to prepare and present technical material and keep current with healthcare engineering technology.
• Knowledge of engineering or architectural principles and their application in healthcare, project management, healthcare-related standards and codes, and effective oral and written communication.
• For GS-12, knowledge of healthcare industry and regulatory requirements, construction standards and methods, and ability to research and analyze information, plan and execute complex projects and inspections, and lead multidisciplinary task forces.
• Must serve a one- or two-year trial period, during which continued employment is evaluated.

Nice To Haves

• Preferred experience evaluating and managing healthcare project requirements from planning and design through construction and activation, for a healthcare system’s parent site and off-site locations, based on guidelines, standards, regulatory requirements, and mission priorities.

Responsibilities

• Plan healthcare facility projects and develop, manage, and oversee project designs and construction for minor construction, NRM, station-level, and lease projects.
• Administer professional architecture/engineering and construction contracts and monitor contractor compliance with contractual requirements, healthcare regulations, codes, specifications, schedules, and government requirements.
• Develop and implement the environment-of-care program, including construction safety and infection-control requirements.
• Conduct or oversee surveys and site investigations to establish baseline data for renovations, alterations, additions, and equipment installations.
• Develop plans and specifications for building, grounds, utility plant, and utility system projects, including site preparation for complex medical equipment.
• Manage project design and construction in accordance with VA policies, design guides and manuals, master specifications, and applicable industry codes and standards.
• Perform construction management and post-project activities while maintaining continuity of building and utility services for medical facility operations.
• Conduct capital asset and infrastructure planning through strategic planning, concept development, design, construction, and implementation.
• Assess energy-conservation measures for feasibility and cost effectiveness and support facility energy goals.
• Coordinate construction activities and monitor multidisciplinary projects through planning, design, construction, completion, and warranty periods.
• Determine project requirements for the healthcare system’s parent site and its off-site VA-owned and leased locations.
• Evaluate project risks and determine mitigation measures, including temporary construction methods that protect patients and staff and minimize disruption to patient care.
• Evaluate programs and projects for compliance with environmental, safety, and security standards.

Benefits

• Federal employee benefits package for employees and their families; specific eligibility depends on position type and other applicable factors.
• The VA describes its workplace as supporting Whole Health and personalized, proactive care for employee health and well-being.

What This Job Offers

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