Healthcare Engineer-Project Engineer

U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs; Seattle (WA); On-site; USD 70,000 - 90,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

37-50 days of annual paid time off

Parental leave up to 12 weeks

Childcare subsidy for qualifying employees

Federal health/vision/dental insurance

Job summary

The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs is looking for a Healthcare Engineer in Seattle, Washington. The role involves providing engineering support to the healthcare system and maintaining specifications for construction projects.

Applicants must have a Bachelor's degree in Engineering or Architecture and proficiency in English. The position offers a competitive salary, paid time off, and a robust benefits package.

Qualifications

• United States Citizenship is required.
• Bachelor's degree must be accredited.
• Proficiency in English is mandatory.

Responsibilities

• Provide engineering support to the healthcare system.
• Maintain construction specifications and drawings.
• Conduct audits and inspections for compliance.

Skills

Knowledge of engineering principles

Proficient in spoken and written English

Ability to interpret codes and regulations

Project management skills

Education

Bachelor's degree in Engineering or Architecture

Job description

Summary

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.) at an assigned medical center and associated Community Based Outpatient Clinic.

Qualifications

NOTE: THE 2-PAGE RESUME REQUIREMENT DOES NOT APPLY TO THIS OCCUPATIONAL SERIES. FOR MORE INFORMATION - REFER TO REQUIRED DOCUMENTS BELOW. To qualify for this position - applicants must meet all requirements within 30 days of the closing date of this announcement.

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
• NOTE: Foreign Education: To be creditable - engineering - architecture or related education completed outside the U.S. must be submitted to a private organization that specializes in the interpretation of foreign educational credentials and such education must have been deemed at least equivalent to a Bachelor's degree as outlined in paragraph 3.b
• of this appendix
• English Language Proficiency: Healthcare Engineer candidates must be proficient in spoken and written English in accordance with 38 U.S.C. 7403(f)
• Grade Determinations: Healthcare Engineer - GS-07 Experience: None beyond the basic requirements
• Assignment: At the entry level - Healthcare Engineers serve in a career development position - performing under close supervision of a supervisor or qualified individual who reviews and ensures the employee meets competency requirements
• At the entry level - they perform general healthcare engineering assignments to gain knowledge and experience necessary to support engineering operations - project management and compliance
• Developmental assignments include - but are not limited to - assessing healthcare facility programs and making recommendations to assure compliance with relevant regulations - guidelines and standards
• applying engineering and code related knowledge to support the operational engineering requirements of the healthcare system
• and preparing material on current technical topics and trends for presentation to the supervisor
• Healthcare Engineer - GS-09 Experience or Education: Candidates at this level must meet one of the following: One year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade
• 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 paragraph 3.b OR Bachelor's degree as outlined in paragraph 3.b.(1) 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
• *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
• Assignment: At the developmental level 1 - Healthcare Engineers receive guidance from more experienced staff members and require frequent and direct supervision
• Employees complete technical assignments in the engineering field as assigned by senior Healthcare Engineers and may be required to rotate through - and participate in - the operations of other hospital services
• At the GS-9 grade level - employees function in a developmental capacity with oversight by a supervisor for more complex assignments
• Healthcare Engineer - GS-11 Experience or Education: Candidates at this level must meet one of the following: One year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade
• OR Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree in Engineering or a related field of engineering as outlined in paragraph 3.b.(1)
• OR Master of Engineering degree - Master of Architecture degree - Master of Science degree in Engineering or a related field of study as outlined in paragraph 3.b.(1) - 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 paragraph 3.b.(1) 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
• *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 effective 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
• Assignment: At developmental level 2 - Healthcare Engineers function on a semi-independent basis with limited oversight by senior Healthcare Engineers
• They conduct audits and inspections of worksites to assure compliance - prepare reports and findings - devise solutions and implement corrective actions with limited oversight
• They perform project management related to the healthcare setting with limited oversight
• Requirements continue in Education section below.

Duties

• Duties will vary by grade - but at the GS-12 level: The position provides engineering support to the assigned healthcare system and is responsible for maintaining construction specifications and drawings - maintaining technical reference library of codes - standards - and other regulations which are applicable to the engineering construction industries Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) - National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) - American National Standards Institute (ANSI) - and others
• The position serves as a healthcare engineering advisor - engineer consultant - engineer designer - contract administrator - project manager - construction coordinator - and instructor during the design and construction of all projects assigned
• The position is responsible for providing healthcare engineering support to all assigned projects
• The position is responsible for performing the duties of a Contracting Officer Representative (COR) on professional design and construction projects - training service staff on technical issues and assisting the service staff on the completion of technical and administrative issues regarding infrastructure related operations of the medical facility
• The position serves as resident and program engineer consisting of the planning - design - and overseeing of major healthcare system projects
• oversees Professional Architecture/Engineering (A/E) and Construction contracts to ensure the contractor is in compliance with all contractual requirements - healthcare regulations and codes - specifications and schedules are met in accordance with the government's requirements for VA owned and leased facilities
• The position maintains COR certification to oversee the administration of Facility Engineering Service's Architect/Engineer and Construction Contracts
• The position supports and advances patient care by applying engineering and managerial skills to healthcare engineering as demonstrated by the following major responsibilities: Conducts capital asset and infrastructure planning and design for the medical facility spanning initial strategic planning - concept development - design - construction - and effective implementation of complex buildings - utilities - and medical support systems
• Manages healthcare engineering project design and administers construction in accordance with VA policies and procedures - VA Design Guides - VA Design Manuals - VA Master Specifications and related industry codes and standards
• Performs healthcare engineering project construction management and post project activities while ensuring continuity of building and utility services for medical facility operations
• Assists in the provision of a continuing education program for clinical staff and maintenance personnel addressing the principles and application of building and utility systems in the delivery of health care
• This includes a curriculum that addresses the safe and effective use of medical gases - emergency power - ventilation - and other healthcare infrastructure related technology
• This requires skill to effectively communicate - both orally and in writing - with a wide variety of individuals - including technical and professional clinical staff - to communicate technical information
• Assists in development and implementation of the environment of care program that meets current Joint Commission - Food and Drug Administration (FDA) - College of American Pathologists (CAP) - NFPA - and VA requirements - particularly as it relates to construction safety and infection control
• Work Schedule: Monday thru Friday 7:30am-4:00pm
• Recruitment Incentive: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station: 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: AD-HOC Virtual: This is not a virtual position
• Functional Statement #: 000000 Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized