Healthcare Engineer

Summary

The position serves as a Project Engineer at an assigned Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Healthcare System - planning - designs and overseeing of healthcare system projects. This position manages construction and provides construction administration at an assigned medical center and associated Community Based Outpatient Clinic (CBOC)'s.

Qualifications

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
• Healthcare Engineer candidates must be proficient in spoken and written English in accordance with 38 U.S.C.
• 7403(f)
• Education.(1) Bachelor's degree or higher in Engineering or Architecture
• To be acceptable - the curriculum must be from a school with at least one 3 curriculum accredited by the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology - Engineering Accreditation Commission (excludes engineering technology) or National Council of Architectural Registration Boards curriculum
• Examples of acceptable engineering and architectural degrees include - but are not limited to: Electrical Engineering - Mechanical Engineering - Biomedical Engineering - Civil Engineering - Architecture and Architectural Engineering
• OR Evidence of passing the Fundamentals of Engineering Examination with a bachelor's degree
• Evidence can be in the form of an Engineering in Training certificate issued from any State - the District of Columbia - Guam or Puerto Rico - or test results from the National Council of Examiners for Engineering and Surveying (NCEES) identifying a passing score
• OR Evidence of current professional registration or licensure as a Professional Engineer or Architect
• Evidence of current professional registration or licensure can be from any State - the District of Columbia - Guam or Puerto Rico
• 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)
• Grade Determinations: In addition to the basic requirements outlined in paragraph 3 - the following criteria must be met when determining the grade of candidates
• Healthcare Engineer - GS-07
• Experience
• None beyond the basic requirements
• Healthcare Engineer - GS-09
• Experience or Education
• Candidates at this level must meet one of the following: (a) One year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade
• OR (b) Master of Engineering degree or Master of Architecture degree or Master of Science degree in Engineering or a related field of study as outlined in paragraph 3.b.(1)
• OR (c) Bachelor's degree as outlined in paragraph 3.b.(1) plus two full years of progressively higher-level graduate education in a related field of study - provided the applicant's total background demonstrates the core competencies for GS-09 level assignment
• Knowledge - Skills and Abilities (KSAs)
• In addition to the experience or education above - the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs: (a) Knowledge of the principles - theories - concepts and practices of the engineering profession
• (b) Ability to interpret relevant codes - regulations - guidelines and standards to make recommendations to assure compliance with healthcare facility programs
• (c) Ability to understand the operational professional engineering needs of clinical services in the healthcare system
• (d) Ability to prepare material on current technical topics and trends for presentation to other technical staff and mid-level hospital management and to keep abreast of changes in engineering technology related to a healthcare facility
• Healthcare Engineer - GS-11
• Experience or Education
• Candidates at this level must meet one of the following: (a) One year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade
• OR (b) Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree in Engineering or a related field 6 of engineering as outlined in paragraph 3.b.(1)
• OR (c) Master of Engineering degree - Master of Architecture degree - Master of Science degree in Engineering or a related field of study as outlined in paragraph 3.b.(1) - plus 1 full year of progressively higher level graduate education in a related field of study - provided the applicant's total background demonstrates the knowledge - skills and abilities for GS-11 level assignment
• OR (d) Bachelor's degree as outlined in paragraph3.b.(1) plus 3 full years of progressively higher-level graduate education in a related field of study - provided the applicant's total background demonstrates the knowledge - skills and abilities for GS-11 level assignment
• Knowledge - Skills and Abilities (KSA)
• In addition to the experience or education above - the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs: (a) Knowledge of either mechanical - electrical - structural - civil or other engineering/architectural principles - practices and their applications in the healthcare environment
• (b) Knowledge of basic project management principles as applied to the healthcare setting
• (c) Ability to apply healthcare engineering related standards - codes - policies and regulations - inclusive of - state and local codes
• (d) Ability to communicate effective orally and in writing with internal and external customers with tact and diplomacy
• (e) Ability to develop material for clinical or administrative staff that addresses the principles and application of engineering technology and/or theory used in healthcare
• (f) Ability to advise staff on emerging engineering technology related to a healthcare facility - while keeping abreast of changes in such technology and utilizing the information to solve healthcare facility engineering challenges
• Healthcare Engineer - GS-12
• Grade Determinations: In addition to the basic requirements for employment - candidates must meet the following grade-determining criteria for appointments at grade levels specified.GS-12 Healthcare Engineer -(Full Performance Level) Experience Requirement:: In addition to meeting the basic requirements - to qualify for the GS-12 you must possess at least 1 year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level (GS-11)
• Knowledge - Skills and Abilities (KSAs)
• In addition to the experience or education above - the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs directly applicable to the assignment and be associated within the scope of the healthcare engineering profession: Knowledge of mechanical - electrical - structural - civil and other engineering/architectural principles - practices and their applications in the healthcare environment
• Knowledge of healthcare industry standards and related regulatory agency and organization (including - but not limited to The Joint Commission (TJC) - Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) - National Fire Protection Agency (NFPA) - etc.) regulations - requirements - guides - policies - procedures - directives - standards and general medical program requirements as they relate to healthcare engineering
• Knowledge of construction standards - methods - practices and techniques - materials and equipment 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
• 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 multi-disciplinary task forces with members from different departments and divisions - as well as design and construction firms
• Preferred Experience: Managing construction projects with the coordinator of multiple trades - subs - and vendors
• Quality control as it relates to keeping construction work compliant with project drawings - specifications - and regulations
• Working in a hospital setting in a role that maintains or improves the facility
• Familiarity with contract development - execution - and modification
• Managing the process of contracted Architect/Engineer design from concept through construction
• Reference: For more information on this qualification standard - please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/.
  
  

Duties

• Healthcare Engineers work in the Medical Center
• Works independently to design complex multidiscipline systems and subsystems
• Provides expert professional guidance and directs the work of consulting engineering firms
• Makes systems decisions and performs cost/benefit analysis of engineering firms' proposals
• Duties Include: Prepares preliminary sketches - concepts - and layouts for complex projects
• Designs or controls the design of multidiscipline projects
• Writes and edits specifications for mechanical equipment - electronic/electrical equipment and systems redesign
• Investigates floor loading capacities - electrical power - and cooling requirements for new equipment
• Prepares detailed cost estimates and develops justification and other items required for project submission for VISN and VACO review and approval
• Assists section Chief in developing weighting factors to use in establishing priorities
• Prepares input data - assists in prioritization and finalizing items for the Five-Year Facility Development Plan
• Work Schedule: 8:00am-4:30pm - Monday - Friday Position Description Title/PD#: Healthcare Engineer/PD72207F Physical Requirements: The work requires periods of walking - climbing - and inspections in cramped spaces
• At times incumbent is exposed to high places and scaffolding
• Work at times in \"hard hat\" areas.Work is performed under a variety of-conditions at construction sites (indoor - outdoor - dirty - dusty - greasy - hot - damp - etc.) and in an office or shop setting
• Normal safety precautions apply with use of safety shoes and hard hats regularly - and special equipment occasionally
• Incumbent will be required to visit a variety of hospital environments - including general medical and surgical - neuropsychiatry - nursing home care - and research
• There is occasional exposure to high voltage - high noise levels - and the possibility of electrical shock - bums - cuts - and bruises
• Pay: Competitive salary and regular salary increases When setting pay - a higher step rate of the appropriate grade may be determined after consideration of higher or unique qualifications or special needs of the VA (Above Minimum Rate of the Grade)
• Paid Time Off: 37-50 days of annual paid time offer per year (13-26 days of annual leave - 13 days of sick leave - 11 paid Federal holidays per year)
• Selected applicants may qualify for credit toward annual leave accrual - based on prior [work experience] or military service experience
• Parental Leave: After 12 months of employment - up to 12 weeks of paid parental leave in connection with the birth - adoption - or foster care placement of a child
• Child Care Subsidy: After 60 days of employment - full time employees with a total family income below $144 -000 may be eligible for a childcare subsidy up to 25% of total eligible childcare costs for eligible children up to the monthly maximum of $416.66
• Retirement: Traditional federal pension (5 years vesting) and federal 401K with up to 5% in contributions by VA Insurance: Federal health/vision/dental/term life/long-term care (many federal insurance programs can be carried into retirement) Telework: Available-AD HOC Functional Statement #: 72207F Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized