Healthcare Engineer

Veterans Health Administration • Hampton, VA

12d • Onsite

About The Position

The Healthcare Engineer serves as a Project Engineer at an assigned Department of Veterans Affairs Healthcare System. The position 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 a medical center and associated Community Based Outpatient Clinics (CBOCs).

The engineer plans and designs capital assets and infrastructure from strategic planning and concept development through design, construction, and implementation. The role manages healthcare engineering project design and construction in accordance with VA policies, design guides and manuals, master specifications, and applicable industry codes and standards. It also oversees post-project activities while maintaining building and utility services and supporting continued medical facility operations.

The position supports education for clinical and maintenance personnel on building and utility systems used in healthcare delivery, and helps develop and implement the environment of care program. It applies relevant Joint Commission, FDA, CAP, NFPA, OSHA, and VA requirements, particularly for construction safety and infection control. The engineer reviews engineering disciplines in a healthcare context, coordinates with architectural and engineering firms, and ensures projects meet applicable design and regulatory requirements.

Work includes determining project requirements for the Healthcare System’s main site and off-site VA-owned or leased locations; coordinating planning meetings; developing scopes of work, conceptual designs, and government cost estimates; and ensuring project documents meet VA contracting and information security requirements. The engineer also conducts or oversees surveys and site investigations, prepares specifications and plans for renovations and additions, and prepares sites for complex medical equipment installations, including ultrasound and MRI equipment. The role coordinates work in an operating healthcare environment, keeping patients safe and the facility operational, and provides guidance on project changes and objectives.

The schedule is Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Telework and virtual work are not authorized. Relocation assistance is not authorized. The full performance level and vacancy grade are GS-12.

Requirements

• U.S. citizenship, subject to the stated exception for non-citizens when qualified citizens cannot be recruited under VA policy.
• 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/licensure as a Professional Engineer or Architect.
• Proficiency in spoken and written English.
• One year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade for the GS-12 level.
• Knowledge of mechanical, electrical, structural, civil, and other engineering or architectural principles and their application in healthcare environments.
• Knowledge of healthcare industry standards and applicable regulatory requirements, including TJC, OSHA, and NFPA requirements, as well as VA requirements and medical program needs.
• Knowledge of construction standards, methods, practices, techniques, materials, and equipment sufficient to determine compliance with engineering regulations and standards.
• Skill in researching and analyzing information, conditions, human factors, and projections to make sound engineering and business recommendations and decisions and develop solutions within applicable rules and procedures.
• Ability to plan and execute complex, multi-faceted projects and inspections while prioritizing resources against approved scopes of work, contract documents, and budgets.
• Ability to organize and lead multidisciplinary task forces involving multiple departments and divisions, as well as design and construction firms.
• Must meet pre-employment requirements, including a background/security investigation, pre-employment physical evaluation or examination, and required onboarding and identification procedures.
• Must participate in the seasonal influenza vaccination program as a VA Health Care Personnel requirement.
• Must serve a one- or two-year trial period, subject to the stated performance and public-interest evaluation.
• Selective Service registration is required for males born after December 31, 1959.

Nice To Haves

• Ability to identify deficiencies in Architect/Engineer designs.
• Experience applying construction management processes.
• Knowledge of construction safety, OSHA regulations, and building codes.
• Ability to provide technical and professional advice to contractors and coworkers.
• Understanding of federal government regulations.
• Ability to develop in-house designs.
• Extensive experience managing construction projects.

Responsibilities

• Plan and design capital assets and infrastructure through strategic planning, concept development, 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 codes and standards.
• Manage construction and post-project activities while maintaining continuity of building and utility services for facility operations.
• Assist with continuing education for clinical staff and maintenance personnel on building and utility systems used in healthcare delivery.
• Assist in developing and implementing the environment of care program, including construction safety and infection control requirements.
• Determine healthcare project requirements for the main medical center and associated off-site VA-owned or leased locations.
• Review engineering disciplines in a healthcare environment to support construction document reviews and preparation.
• Coordinate cross-departmental planning meetings and develop scopes of work, conceptual designs, and government cost estimates.
• Ensure project documents comply with VA contracting and information security requirements.
• Conduct or oversee surveys and site investigations to establish baseline data for renovations, alterations, and additions.
• Develop specifications and plans for buildings, grounds, utility plants and systems, and sites for complex medical equipment installations.
• Guide and coordinate project compromises and changes in objectives while keeping patients safe and the medical facility operational.
• Provide direction to architectural and engineering firms on complex healthcare designs to support regulatory compliance.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Benefits

• Competitive salary and regular salary increases; a higher step rate may be considered based on qualifications or VA needs.
• 37–50 days of annual paid time off per year, including 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 the birth, adoption, or foster-care placement of a child.
• Eligible full-time employees may qualify for a childcare subsidy after 60 days of employment, subject to family-income and other eligibility limits.
• 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.
• Potential annual leave accrual credit based on prior federal work or military service, subject to request and approval.

What This Job Offers

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