Medical Instrument Technician (Diagnostic Ultrasound)

U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs; Des Moines (IA); On-site; USD 50,000 - 70,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

37–50 days paid time off per year

Federal health, vision, dental, life, long-term care insurance

401(k) with 5% employer match

Job summary

The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs is seeking a full-time Medical Instrument Technician (Diagnostic Ultrasound) for the Diagnostic Imaging Service Line in Des Moines, Iowa. This position involves performing diagnostic ultrasound examinations and operating specialized equipment.

Qualified applicants must have U.S. citizenship, with no specific educational requirements, and proficiency in English. The role offers competitive salary, generous paid time off, and is not eligible for telework.

Qualifications

• Must be a U.S. citizen.
• Experience in diagnostic ultrasound examination is preferred.
• Must be proficient in spoken and written English.

Responsibilities

• Coordinates technical procedures with independent judgment.
• Operates specialized ultrasound equipment.
• Evaluates critical and emergency procedures.

Skills

Knowledge of ultrasound procedures

Independent judgment

Technical KSA evaluation

Communication skills

BCLS and ACLS certifications

Education

No specific educational requirements

Tools

Ultrasound equipment

Vista radiology package

Job description

Summary

The VA Central Iowa Health Care System is recruiting for 1 full‑time Medical Instrument Technician (Diagnostic Ultrasound) for the Diagnostic Imaging Service Line.

Qualifications

• United States Citizenship: Non‑citizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Policy
• Education: There are no specific educational requirements for this occupation
• Licensure or Certification: Licensure or Certification is not required for this occupation but is strongly desirable at GS‑6 or above
• Physical Requirements: You will be asked to participate in a pre‑employment examination or evaluation as part of the pre‑employment process. Questions about physical demands or environmental factors may be addressed at the time of evaluation or examination. See VA Directive and Handbook 5019.
• English Language Proficiency: Must be proficient in spoken and written English in accordance with chapter 2 – section D – paragraph 5a of VA Handbook
• Grade Determinations: GS‑9 Medical Instrument Technician (Diagnostic Ultrasound). At least 1 year of experience comparable to the next lower grade level, directly related to the duties of the position, and must fully meet the KSAs at that level
• Specialized Experience: Performing diagnostic ultrasound examination on multiple areas of the body (abdomen, pelvis, transvaginal, chest, small parts, thyroid, breast, scrotum), vascular studies, biopsy assistance, surgical procedures, and fluid aspirations
• Technical KSAs: Knowledge of complex examination and treatment procedures; ability to evaluate and initiate performance improvement projects; write policies and procedures for diagnostic ultrasonography; knowledge of JCAHO and other regulatory requirements; ability to communicate effectively and professionally with employees at varying grade levels; potential to acquire assignment‑specific KSAs
• Certification: Registration by CCI or ARDMS is highly desirable. BCLS and ACLS certifications are also desirable
• Preferred Experience: Registry in abdominal OB/GYN or vascular

Duties

• Coordinates technical procedures requiring independent judgment, ingenuity, and initiative in the application of high‑frequency ultrasound waves
• Applies principles of ultrasound and operates specialized equipment, approving acceptability or rejectability of scans
• Controls technical factors on the ultrasound unit (time, gain, amplitude, velocity, frequency, attenuation, absorption, reflection, scattering, refraction, diffraction)
• Selects appropriate transducer and transmits between non‑focused, fixed‑focus, linear phased array, and annular phased array
• Sets up and adjusts all equipment and manually maneuvers the transducer to perform the exam
• Ensures proper alignment and position of the patient; receives patients, explains procedures, assists movement to and from chairs, carts, and tables
• Evaluates critical and emergency procedures, rearranging priorities as needed
• Performs ultrasonography studies, records and prepares media for interpretation by the staff radiologist
• Maintains patient records in the Vista radiology package
• Provides input to the schedule and explains procedures to patients during examinations
• Obtains relevant diagnostic examinations for physicians to correlate scans with clinical history
• Performs vascular studies including carotid duplex, ABI, arterial duplex, venous duplex, renal artery duplex, and visceral vascular exams
• Performs preoperative vein mappings for vascular surgeons and chronic venous insufficiency studies
• Assists radiologists with biopsy procedures, determining location, depth, and needle angle for lesions
• Assists in surgical procedures and fluid aspirations, applying sterile technique
• Distinguishes artifacts from normal or pathological processes and recognizes equipment limitations
• Consults with the staff radiologist to determine proper diagnosis
• Communicates professionally with employees at varying grade levels
• Performs other duties as assigned within scope of MIT technologist
• Requires 25% travel
• A valid driver’s license is required
• Work Schedule: Monday–Friday, 7:30 a.m.–4:00 p.m. with on‑call rotations
• Recruitment Incentive: Not authorized. Permanent Change of Station: Not authorized. Pay: Competitive salary with regular increases
• Paid Time Off: 37–50 days per year (13–26 days annual leave, 13 sick days, 11 federal holidays)
• Parental Leave: up to 12 weeks paid after 12 months of employment
• Child Care Subsidy: eligible after 60 days of employment for total family income below $144,000
• Retirement: federal pension (5‑year vesting) and 401(k) up to 5% employer match
• Insurance: Federal health, vision, dental, life, long‑term care
• Telework: Not available. Virtual: Not a virtual position