Healthcare Engineer

Veterans Health Administration•Sioux Falls, SD

1d•Onsite

About The Position

The Healthcare Engineer serves as a Project Engineer at the Sioux Falls, South Dakota Healthcare System. The position performs project planning, produces and manages designs, manages construction, and provides construction administration for Minor Construction, Non-Recurring Maintenance (NRM), Station Level, and lease projects. The role helps determine project requirements in relation to the Healthcare System’s needs, including its parent site and off-site VA-owned or leased locations. It applies broad engineering knowledge to healthcare environments, supports construction document reviews and preparation, and provides direction to architectural and engineering firms on complex healthcare designs to help ensure compliance with Joint Commission requirements, NFPA 101, NFPA 99, VA design requirements, and applicable regulations. The engineer also helps evaluate medical care programs and services to ensure projects support organizational needs, service expansion, and efficient operations. The position develops initial concept documents and creates and maintains project and lease applications in VA database systems. It draws on multiple engineering disciplines, including structural, mechanical, HVAC, sprinkler, fire and life safety, architectural, and electrical systems. Planning and analysis work includes conducting or overseeing surveys and site investigations to establish baseline information for renovations, alterations, and additions involving hospitals, patient-care facilities, administrative buildings, grounds, utility plants and systems, and historically registered buildings. The regular schedule is Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Telework is not available, and the position is not virtual. Travel may be required up to 25% of the time to support remote Healthcare System sites or attend technical or professional training. The full-performance level is GS-12; applicants may be selected at GS-7 through GS-12.

Requirements

U.S. citizenship, subject to the stated VA policy exception for non-citizens when qualified citizens cannot be recruited.
A bachelor's degree or higher in engineering or architecture from an appropriately accredited program, or qualifying evidence of passing the Fundamentals of Engineering examination with a bachelor's degree, or current professional registration or licensure as a Professional Engineer or Architect.
Proficiency in spoken and written English.
A current, valid state-issued driver's license.
Ability to meet the applicable physical requirements and pass a pre-employment physical examination.
Compliance with background and security investigation requirements, onboarding requirements, and seasonal influenza vaccination requirements for VA Health Care Personnel.
For GS-09: meet the specified experience or education pathway, and demonstrate knowledge of engineering principles and healthcare facility codes and regulations, understanding of clinical engineering needs, and ability to prepare technical material and keep current with engineering technology.
For GS-11: meet the specified experience or education pathway, and demonstrate applicable engineering or architectural knowledge, healthcare project-management knowledge, ability to apply standards and codes, effective oral and written communication, and ability to advise staff on engineering technology.
For GS-12: one year of experience equivalent to GS-11 and demonstrated knowledge of multidisciplinary engineering principles, healthcare industry standards and regulatory requirements, and construction standards and practices; skill in research and analysis and ability to plan complex projects, prioritize resources, and lead multidisciplinary task forces.
Serve a one- or two-year trial period, during which continued employment is subject to written certification that it advances the public interest.

Nice To Haves

Healthcare System engineering experience.
Project management experience.
Construction management experience.

Responsibilities

Plan healthcare projects and manage design, construction, and construction administration for Minor Construction, Non-Recurring Maintenance, Station Level, and lease projects.
Help determine project requirements in relation to the Healthcare System’s needs, including parent and off-site VA-owned or leased locations.
Support construction-document reviews and preparation using engineering knowledge across disciplines.
Provide direction to architectural and engineering firms on complex healthcare designs to support compliance with applicable codes, standards, regulations, and VA design requirements.
Assist in evaluating medical care programs and services to ensure projects support organizational needs, service expansion, and efficient operations.
Develop initial concept documents and create and maintain project and lease applications in VA database systems.
Identify and define engineering problems involving structural, mechanical, HVAC, sprinkler, fire and life safety, architectural, and electrical systems.
Conduct or oversee surveys and site investigations to establish baseline data for renovations, alterations, and additions to healthcare and related facilities, grounds, utilities, and historic buildings.
Travel as needed to support remote Healthcare System sites and technical or professional training.