Biomedical Engineer

The Biomedical Engineer (BME) position provides professional engineering support to a complex, highly technical, and service oriented Biomedical Engineering Service. The Biomedical Engineering Program includes medical technology assessment, strategic planning, acquisition support, implementation, coordination, equipment management, and ongoing maintenance support. The 2-page Resume requirement does not apply to this occupational series. For more information, refer to Required Documents below.

Applicants pending the completion of educational or certification/licensure requirements may be referred and tentatively selected but may not be hired until all requirements are met. Basic Requirements:
United States Citizenship:
Non-citizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Policy. English Language Proficiency:
Biomedical Engineers must be proficient in spoken and written English as required by 38 U.S.C. § 7403(f). Education and/or

Experience:

Bachelor s degree or higher in Engineering. To be creditable, the curriculum must be from a school of engineering with at least one curriculum accredited by the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET), as a professional engineering curriculum. (Acceptable engineering degrees include:
Biomedical Engineering, Clinical Engineering, Bioengineering, Biomechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, and Biochemical Engineering); OR Certification as a Certified Clinical Engineer (CCE) and a bachelor s degree not listed above. May qualify based on being covered by the Grandfathering Provision as described in the VA Qualification Standard for this occupation (only applicable to current VHA employees who are in this occupation and meet the criteria).

Grandfathering Provision:
All persons employed in VHA in this occupation, on the effective date of this qualification standard, are considered to have met all qualification requirements for the title, series and grade held, including positive education, and/or certification/registration that are part of the basic requirements of the occupation. For employees who do not meet all the basic requirements in this standard, but who met the qualifications applicable to the position at the time they were appointed to it, the following provisions apply:
Such employees in an occupation that does not require a certification/registration, may be reassigned, promoted, or demoted within the occupation. Employees who are appointed on a temporary basis, prior to the effective date of the qualification standard, may not have their temporary appointment extended, or be reappointed on a temporary, or permanent basis, until they fully meet the basic requirements of the standard.

Employees initially grandfathered into this occupation, who subsequently obtain additional education and/or certification/registration, that meet all the basic requirements of this qualification standard, must maintain the required credentials as a condition of employment in the occupation. If an employee, who was retained in an occupation listed in 38 U.S.C. § 7401(3) under this provision, leaves that occupation, the employee loses protected status, and must meet the full VA qualification standard requirements in effect at the time of reentry to the occupation.

Grade Determinations: GS-7

Experience:

No experience beyond the basic requirements listed above; OR,

Education:

Bachelor s degree or CCE certification with at least a bachelor s degree not listed above. GS-9

Experience:

Applicants must have at least 1 year of specialized experience equivalent to the next lower grade level (GS-7); or

Education:

applicants can substitute a Master s degree in Biomedical Engineering, or related field of study (as outlined in the basic requirements); or applicants can substitute a bachelor s degree (as outlined in the basic requirements) plus 2 full years of progressively higher level graduate education in a field of study.

-AND
- In addition to the experience/education above, the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs:
Knowledge of the principles, theories, concepts, and practices of the Biomedical Engineering profession. Ability to interpret relevant codes, regulations, guidelines, and standards, and make recommendations to ensure compliance with medical center programs. Ability to understand the operational needs of clinical services in the health care system. Ability to prepare material on current technical topics and trends, for presentation to other technical staff and mid-level hospital management, and the ability to keep abreast of changes in technology.

GS-11

Experience:

Applicants must have at least 1 year of experience equivalent to the next lower level (GS-9); OR, Education applicants can substitute a Ph.D., or equivalent doctoral degree in Biomedical Engineering, or a related field of engineering (as outlined in the basic requirements); or applicants can substitute a bachelor