Biomedical Equipment Support Specialist

US-Department-of-Veterans-Affair; Des Moines (IA); On-site; USD 65,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

The US Department of Veterans Affairs seeks a Biomedical Equipment Support Specialist to troubleshoot and perform planned maintenance on a broad range of medical devices and clinical systems. Candidates must meet citizenship and certification requirements, with credentialed training in BME, HTM, or related fields.

Advanced knowledge in physics, electronics, networking, and CMMS documentation is required. The role progresses through GS-5 to GS-11 levels based on experience and KSAs, with

Qualifications

• Associates or higher degree in biomedical technology or biomedical engineering.
• Associates or higher degree in electronics, IT, or engineering with 1 year creditable experience.
• Completion of a DOD biomedical equipment technician training program or related HTM certificate with internship.
• Possession of CBET/CRES/CLES/CHTM certification and ongoing maintenance.

Responsibilities

• Troubleshoots and performs maintenance on a range of medical devices and clinical systems.
• Supports the medical equipment management program and ensures regulatory compliance.
• Maintains documentation of services using a computerized maintenance management system.

Skills

Physics, anatomy, physiology

Electronics theory (analog/digital/mic

Test equipment knowledge

Networking basics (TCP/IP, VLAN)

Documentation in CMMS

Education

AA/AS in biomedical technology or biomedical engineering

AA/AS in electronics/IT/engineering + 1 year experience

DOD BME/HTM training program

DOD repair/maintenance program + 1 year experience

HTM certificate with internship

HTM certificate without internship + 1 year experience

CBET/CRES/CLES/CHTM certification

Job description

Biomedical Equipment Support Specialist

Works in support of the medical equipment management program. Troubleshoots and performs planned maintenance on a range of medical devices and clinical systems.

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.
• Education, Experience, or Certification:

1. Associates or higher degree in the biomedical technology or biomedical engineering field; OR
2. Associates or higher degree in electronics, a field of information technology, or engineering (other than biomedical engineering) AND 1 year of creditable experience; OR
3. Completion of the Department of Defense (DOD) biomedical equipment technician training program; OR
4. Completion of a DOD training program in repair and maintenance of electronic systems or information technology AND 1 year of creditable experience; OR
5. Completion of a biomedical engineering technician or Healthcare Technology Management (HTM) certificate program that included an internship or apprenticeship; OR
6. Completion of biomedical engineering technician or HTM certificate program that did not include an internship AND 1 year of creditable experience; OR
7. Hold or having ever held certification as a Certified Biomedical Equipment Technician (CBET), Certified Radiology Equipment Specialist (CRES), Certified Laboratory Equipment Specialist (CLES), or Certified Healthcare Technology Manager (CHTM). Continuous maintenance of certification is not required throughout VHA employment.

• Foreign Education: To be creditable, education completed outside the U.S. must be deemed at least equivalent to that gained in a conventional U.S. program by a private organization specializing in the interpretation of foreign educational credentials.
• English Language Proficiency: Candidates must be proficient in spoken and written English in accordance with 38 U.S.C. § 7403(f).

Grade Determinations

GS-5 Biomedical Equipment Support Specialist

Experience or Education: None beyond the basic requirements

GS-7 Biomedical Equipment Support Specialist

Experience: One year of creditable experience equivalent to the next lower grade, GS-5. AND Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSAs): In addition to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs:

• (a) Knowledge of physics, anatomy, and physiology.
• (b) Knowledge of electronics such as analog, digital, and microprocessor theory.
• (c) Knowledge of the use of standard level test equipment such as multimeters, electrical safety analyzers, patient simulators, storage oscilloscopes, manometers, and tachometers.
• (d) Knowledge of basic networking concepts, such as computer and server hardware and software functionality, information technologies and computer virus protection software, available software patches and upgrades, and information security tools (for example, Microsoft Office, Windows operating systems, and McAfee).
• (e) Skill in documenting all services provided in support of medical equipment and clinical systems in a computerized maintenance management system.
• (f) Ability to learn equipment operating and maintenance procedures.

GS-9 Biomedical Equipment Support Specialist

Experience: One year of creditable experience equivalent to the next lower grade, GS-7. AND Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSAs): In addition to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs:

• (a) Knowledge of basic networking concepts including Access Control List (ACL), Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol (TCP/IP), and Virtual Local Area Networks (VLAN).
• (b) Knowledge of computer and server hardware and software functionality including virus protection, operating system patches and upgrades, and information security tools.
• (c) Ability to interpret a variety of technical data such as schematic drawings, wiring diagrams, table charts, mathematical expressions, and formulas.
• (d) Ability to use standard level test equipment including multi-meters, electrical safety analyzers, patient simulators, storage oscilloscopes, manometers, and tachometers.
• (e) Ability to perform equipment maintenance and operating procedures.

GS-11 Biomedical Equipment Support Specialist

Experience: One year of creditable experience equivalent to the next lower grade, GS-9. AND Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSAs): In addition to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs:

• (a) Knowledge of standards including National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the Joint Commission (TJC), and the Association for the Advancement of Medical Instrumentation (AAMI) for safe operation of medical equipment and clinical systems.
• (b) Skill in using test and calibration equipment including digital multimeters, electrical safety analyzers, defibrillator analyzers, patient simulators, manometers, tachometers, and Local Area Network (LAN) analyzers.
• (c) Skill in interpreting a variety of technical data including schematic drawings and wiring diagrams.
• (d) Skill in applying networking principles, such as Access Control List (ACL), Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol (TCP/IP), and Virtual Local Area Networks (VLAN).
• (e) Ability to perform advanced testing to troubleshoot medical equipment and clinical system interfaces.(f) Ability to maintain medical computers and software.
• (g) Ability to manage projects involving medical equipment and clinical systems.

Reference

For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/.

The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-11. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is in the range of GS-5 to GS-11.

Physical Requirements

You will be asked to participate in a pre-employment examination or evaluation as part of the pre-employment process for this position. Questions about physical demands or environmental factors may be addressed at the time of evaluation or examination. Driving physical required.