Healthcare Engineer

U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs; New York (NY); On-site; USD 85,000 - 115,000; Full time

Job summary

U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs in Brooklyn seeks a Healthcare Engineer to oversee planning, design, and construction for Minor Construction Projects and NRMs across the VA New York Harbor HCS.

The position covers architectural, electrical, life safety, mechanical, civil, structural aspects and more. The candidate should have an engineering or architecture degree with ABET/NCEES-recognized credentials, and be prepared to coordinate across clinical and facilities teams to ensure compliant,

Qualifications

• United States Citizenship required; non-citizens may be appointed where allowed by VA policy.
• Proficiency in spoken and written English as required by VA regulations.
• Degree must come from a school with ABET/EAC or NCEE accreditation (engineering/architecture).
• Acceptable degrees include Electrical, Mechanical, Biomedical, Civil Engineering or Architecture.
• May qualify via FE examination with a bachelor's degree or current PE/Architect licensure.

Responsibilities

• Plan, design, and manage construction projects for the VA New York Harbor Health Care System.
• Serve as technical authority for multidisciplinary reviews, QA, and code compliance across domains.
• Administer contracts and act as Contracting Officer Representative (COR).
• Coordinate with clinical, maintenance, and external stakeholders to support facility operations and safety.
• Manage information security for engineering databases and building automation systems; support environmental stewardship.
• Provide training, troubleshooting, and technical guidance to staff and contractors on facility systems.

Skills

Engineering fundamentals

Code compliance

Project management

Effective communication

Healthcare facilities knowledge

Education

Bachelor's degree in Engineering or Architecture

Engineering in Training certificate / FE exam

Job description

Summary

The VA New York Harbor HCS is currently recruiting for one Healthcare Engineer for the Engineering Service at the Brooklyn campus location. This position performs project planning - produces designs - manages designs - manages construction - and provides construction administration for Minor Construction Projects - Non-Recurring Maintenance (NRM) Projects - Station Level Projects - and Leases - including all areas and aspects (architectural - electrical - life safety - mechanical - civil - structural - etc.).

Qualifications

• 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: You must be proficient in spoken and written English as required by 38 U.S.C. 7402(d) - and 7407(d) Education (must meet one of the following): Bachelor's degree or higher in Engineering or Architecture


• To be acceptable - the curriculum must be from a school with at least one 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


• Titles may vary from educational institutions and change over time


• 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


• NOTE: Direct health care experience is not required to qualify for a GS-801 Healthcare Engineer


• Candidates with Engineering experience in a hospital or healthcare system should be able to address the knowledge skills and abilities as it applies to the position


• Engineers that may not have worked in a hospital or healthcare system should ensure it is clear in their application how their non-healthcare related knowledge - skill or ability can be applied to the assignment and to the healthcare engineering occupation


• (Only applicable above the GS-7 entry level) 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: GS-07 Healthcare Engineer (Entry Level Developmental) - No additional requirements beyond the basic requirements


• GS-09 Healthcare Engineer (Developmental) Experience/Education Requirement: In addition to meeting the basic requirements - to qualify for the GS-09 you must meet one of the following: You must have at least 1 year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level (GS-7)


• OR 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 basic requirements


• OR Bachelor's degree as outlined in paragraph basic requirements 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


• AND Knowledge - Skills and Abilities (KSAs)


• In addition to the experience or education above - the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs: Knowledge of the principles - theories - concepts and practices of the engineering profession


• Ability to interpret relevant codes - regulations - guidelines and standards to make recommendations to assure compliance with healthcare facility programs


• Ability to understand the operational professional engineering needs of clinical services in the healthcare system


• 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


• GS-11 Healthcare Engineer (Developmental) Experience Requirement: In addition to meeting the basic requirements - to qualify for the GS-11 you must meet one of the following: You must have at least 1 year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level (GS-9)


• OR Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree in Engineering or a related field of engineering as outlined in basic requirements


• OR Master of Engineering degree - Master of Architecture degree - Master of Science degree in Engineering or a related field of study as outlined in basic requirements - 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 Bachelor's degree as outlined in basic requirements 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


• AND Knowledge - Skills and Abilities (KSAs)


• In addition to the experience or education above - the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs: Knowledge of either mechanical - electrical - structural - civil or other engineering/architectural principles - practices and their applications in the healthcare environment


• Knowledge of basic project management principles as applied to the healthcare setting


• Ability to apply healthcare engineering related standards - codes - policies and regulations - inclusive of - state and local codes


• Ability to communicate effectively orally and in writing with internal and external customers with tact and diplomacy


• Ability to develop material for clinical or administrative staff that addresses the principles and application of engineering technology and/or theory used in healthcare


• 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


• 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)


• AND Knowledge - Skills and Abilities (KSAs)


• In addition to the experience or education above - the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs: 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 to proactively identify problems and develop innovative solutions within the context of applicable rules - regulations and procedures


• 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: Project Engineer - Mechanical - Civil - Electrical Engineer.

Duties

• Major Duties include but are not limited to: Plan - design - and manage construction projects for the VA New York Harbor HCS - ensuring compliance with VA and industry standards while minimizing disruption to patient care


• Serve as a technical authority for multidisciplinary engineering reviews - quality assurance - and code compliance across architectural - mechanical - electrical - and structural domains


• Administer contracts and act as Contracting Officer Representative (COR) - overseeing project execution - cost estimates - and contractor performance


• Coordinate with clinical - maintenance - and external stakeholders to support facility operations - safety - infection control - and accreditation requirements


• Manage information security for engineering databases and building automation systems - and support environmental stewardship initiatives


• Provide training - troubleshooting - and technical guidance to staff and contractors on facility systems and construction activities


• Total Rewards of a Allied Health Professional Work Schedule: 8a-4:30p Monday-Friday Recruitment/Relocation Incentives (Sign-on Bonus): Not authorized


• Permanent Change of Station (Relocation Assistance): Not authorized


• 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: Not available


• Virtual: This is not a virtual position


• Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not authorized.