264010 Principal Clinical Engineer

NHS Ayrshire & Arran; Edinburgh (IN); Hybrid; USD 81,000 - 94,000; Full time

Job summary

NHS Lothian’s Department of Medical Physics invites applications for a Principal Clinical Engineer and Quality Lead within the Clinical Engineering/Medical Equipment Management (MEM) Service. The post leads a relatively new team, overseeing reviews, risk assessment, and sign‑offs for R&D studies involving medical devices requiring Clinical Engineering input.

The role includes leading Systems Engineering activities, managing clinical technologists, and delivering a portfolio of replacement

Qualifications

• Must hold HCPC registration as a Clinical Scientist, specialising in Clinical Engineering.
• Demonstrated leadership in clinical engineering projects and teams.
• Experience with medical device lifecycles, risk assessment and QA processes.

Responsibilities

• Lead and participate in projects to introduce new technologies into the Board, including first‑in‑UK novel devices and early development stages.
• Oversee and participate in risk assessments and sign‑offs for Research and Development studies involving medical devices.
• Lead the Systems Engineering work of the MEM team, manage specialist clinical technologists, and deliver equipment replacement projects.
• Collaborate with Higher Education partners on developing novel devices and maintain strong patient safety and cost‑effectiveness focus.

Job description

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Department of Medical Physics, Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh.

Principal Clinical Engineer/Quality Lead (Clinical Engineering / Medical Equipment Management)

Permanent contract, full time (36 hrs/wk): 1 Post.

Salary Scale: NHS Scotland Agenda for Change Band 8B

Vacancy Reference: MEDP 26 29

Applications are invited for a new post of Principal Clinical Engineer and Quality Lead within the Clinical Engineering/Medical Equipment Management (MEM) Service within The Department of Medical Physics in NHS Lothian.

This is a rare and exciting opportunity to apply for a senior role in Clinical Engineering, which will enable the postholder to lead a relatively new team whose work sits outside the traditional workshop-based roles often found in Clinical Engineering.

The postholder will lead and participate in projects to introduce new technologies into the Board, often involving clinical trials of first in the UK novel devices, some of which will be non-UKCA/CE marked and at an earlier stage in their development. Responsibilities will include overseeing and participating in the work of the team to provide a timely review and risk assessment of Research and Development studies involving medical devices that require Clinical Engineering sign-off prior to commencement.

The postholder will also leading and develop the Systems Engineering work of team, which includes managing several specialist clinical technologists whose work is focussed on connected medical device systems. They will deliver an ongoing portfolio of routine medical equipment replacement projects, lead on one-off projects to solve problems, and lead or participate in longer‑term Clinical Engineering quality improvement projects.

There will be an opportunity to work closely with colleagues in Higher Education establishments who are developing a range of novel devices with whom the Health Board has long-term collaborative partnerships.

With a clear focus on patient safety, quality and cost‑effectiveness, you will join an enthusiastic multidisciplinary team providing clinical engineering services across the Health Board. You will be an enthusiastic, conscientious and capable individual who will need to be self‑motivated, have good organisational and interpersonal skills and a flexible and methodical approach.

The successful candidate must already hold HCPC registration as a Clinical Scientist, specialising in Clinical Engineering.

The Department of Medical Physics is responsible for the safe introduction of new medical device technologies into the Health Board and for the ongoing support and maintenance of medical devices throughout their entire lifecycle. As part of the Clinical Engineering/MEM team, your work will support many clinical specialities delivering world class healthcare at four acute hospital sites and within the local healthcare community. Although the postholder will be based at the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh within the Edinburgh Bioquarter, you will also be required to work on occasions at St. John’s Hospital, Livingston and the Western General Hospital in Edinburgh. There will also be an opportunity for an element of working from home.

NHS Lothian employs around 26,000 staff and serves a population of approximately 910,000 in a region covering ~660 square miles, comprising the City of Edinburgh, Midlothian, East Lothian and West Lothian. Blessed with a climate that remains comfortable in the summer, it is an area of exceptional beauty and contrast, from the splendour of sunny Edinburgh to the beauty and variety of the hills, countryside and coastline. The nearest major town outside Edinburgh is Livingston, a thriving location in the heart of West Lothian.

Further information on the role, including the key result areas and the necessary skills/experience, can be found by referring to the job description and person specification.

Requests to make an informal visit are warmly welcomed. For informal enquiries or to request to visit the team, please contact Dr Malcolm Phillips, Head of Medical Equipment Management/Clinical Engineering by emailing [e-mail] (please put “MEDP2629” in the Subject line).

In-person interviews are likely to be held at the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh in late November or early December.

To work in the United Kingdom, there is a legal requirement for an individual to demonstrate that they have the relevant permission to work in the country. This permission is, without exception, granted by the UK Visa and Immigrations Service. Further information on what NHS Scotland Boards are required to do to check this as well as what your responsibilities include can be found in the further information for this vacancy.

Please note: we anticipate a high level of interest in this position and may close the vacancy early once a sufficient amount of applications are received. Therefore, please make sure you complete and submit your application at an early stage.

We will fully support disabled candidates, and candidates with long-term conditions or who are neurodivergent by making reasonable adjustments to our recruitment policy and practices.

This post requires the post holder to have a PVG Scheme membership/record. If the post holder is not a current PVG member for the required regulatory group (i.e. child and/or adult) then an application will need to be made to Disclosure Scotland and deemed satisfactory before they can begin in post.