Healthcare Engineer - Network

US Department of Veterans Affairs; Lexington (KY); On-site; USD 85,000 - 125,000; Full time

Job summary

The US Department of Veterans Affairs seeks a Healthcare Engineer at GS-12 to oversee architecture, engineering, cybersecurity, and sustained operation of mission-critical systems in a medical center environment.

You will plan, design, implement, integrate, and maintain high-availability server and network infrastructures supporting clinical and compliance-driven systems, working with clinical staff, facilities, and IT teams to ensure safe, reliable care delivery.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering or Architecture from ABET-accredited program.
• Evidence of FE exam or current professional licensure preferred.
• Current professional registration or licensure as PE or Architect desirable.

Responsibilities

• Architect, engineer, and sustain networked systems critical to patient care and life safety.
• Plan, design, implement, integrate, and maintain high-availability server and network infrastructures.
• Collaborate with clinical, environmental, and compliance teams to ensure regulatory alignment.
• Lead healthcare engineering programs and coordinate with stakeholders and contractors.

Skills

Regulatory knowledge

Project management

Stakeholder collaboration

Cybersecurity basics

Education

ABET-accredited engineering/architecture degree

Tools

High-availability networks

Job description

The incumbent serves as the authoritative technical expert responsible for the architecture, engineering, cybersecurity, and sustained operation of special purpose networked systems that are mission-critical to patient care, life safety, and regulatory compliance within a complex medical center environment. The position plans, designs, implements, integrates, and maintains high-availability server and network infrastructures supporting clinical, environmental, and compliance-driven systems. 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:
  • 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.

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, the following criteria must be met when determining the grade of candidates.

Healthcare Engineer, GS-12

• Experience. One year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade.
• Knowledge, Skills and Abilities (KSAs). In addition to meeting the experience requirements for this grade level, the candidate must fully 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.
• Assignment. Employees at this level serve as Healthcare Engineers at the full performance level. They work independently, under general supervision with wide latitude to exercise independent judgment. Healthcare Engineers demonstrate intimate grasp of high order healthcare engineering and capital subject matter. They serve as institutional resources for healthcare delivery processes and systems, working extensively with clinical stakeholders, acquisition staff, contractors and executive leadership by leading healthcare engineering programs, technology assessments, integration planning and implementation of both current and emerging technologies. Healthcare Engineers support the delivery of healthcare to Veterans by contributing to the education of clinical staff, planners and leadership to ensure safe and efficient healthcare delivery. Healthcare Engineers plan, execute and document highly complex, multi-faceted healthcare facility construction projects and inspections while prioritizing resources against approved scopes of work, contract documents and budgets. They identify problems and develop innovative solutions within the context of applicable rules, regulations and procedures, as it relates to the healthcare environment.

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-12.

Physical Requirements

The work is primarily sedentary, although some physical effort may be required, e.g., walking, standing, climbing ladders, stooping, kneeling, and carrying light items such as manuals or briefcases, or driving or traveling by motor vehicle.