Biomedical Equipment Support Specialist

Veterans Health Administration; Pittsburgh (Allegheny County); On-site; USD 60,000 - 86,000; Full time

Job summary

The Biomedical Equipment Support Specialist serves within the Healthcare Technology Management (HTM) department at the Pittsburgh VA Medical Center-University Drive facility.

The position emphasizes troubleshooting, planned maintenance, and documentation of medical equipment. Candidates may qualify through diverse education paths or certifications, with progression from GS-05 to GS-09 levels as experience and training permit, and must meet English language proficiency requirements.

Qualifications

• Diverse education paths yielding qualification for HTM work.
• Ability to troubleshoot and maintain general medical equipment.
• Proficiency in documenting services in a CMMS.

Skills

Physics knowledge

Electronics

Networking concepts

Test equipment operation

Documentation in CMMS

Education

Associates or higher in biomedical technology or biomedical engineering

Associates or higher in electronics / IT / engineering + 1 year experience

DOD BME technician training or HTM certificate program with internship

CBET / CRES / CLES / CHTM certification

Tools

Multimeters

Electrical safety analyzers

Patient simulators

Oscilloscopes

Manometers

Tachometers

Job description

The Biomedical Equipment Support Specialist serves within the Healthcare Technology Management (HTM) department at the Pittsburgh VA Medical Center-University Drive facility.

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.

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.

Physical Requirements.

See VA Directive and Handbook 5019, Employee Occupational Health Service for requirements.

English Language Proficiency.

Candidates must be proficient in spoken and written English in accordance with 38 U.S.C. § 7403(f). 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).

Biomedical Equipment Support Specialist Grade Determinations: GS-05 Experience or Education.

None beyond the basic requirements.

GS-07 Experience.

One year of creditable experience equivalent to GS-05 grade. Experience includes receiving guidance from more experienced staff and requiring regular supervision; troubleshooting and conducting planned maintenance on general medical equipment; and assisting with incoming inspections and documentation.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSAs).

• Knowledge of physics, anatomy, and physiology.
• Knowledge of electronics such as analog, digital, and microprocessor theory.
• Knowledge of the use of standard level test equipment such as multimeters, electrical safety analyzers, patient simulators, storage oscilloscopes, manometers, and tachometers.
• 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).
• Skill in documenting all services provided in support of medical equipment and clinical systems in a computerized maintenance management system.
• Ability to learn equipment operating and maintenance procedures.

GS-09 Experience.

One year of creditable experience equivalent to the GS-7 grade. Experience includes performing an increasing range of duties, under less frequent supervision, but receiving guidance and direction regarding unfamiliar or unusual situations for more complex issues designed to prepare for a promotion the next grade level; troubleshooting and perform planned maintenance on general medical equipment; and assiting developmental-level BESSs with incoming inspections and documentation.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSAs).

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