Biomedical Equipment Support Specialist

Major duties include but are not limited to the following:

• Manages the lifecycle of medical equipment and clinical systems. Functions include: technology assessment including defining requirements and analyzing alternatives with clinical users; technology acquisition including technical evaluation and best value determination of proposed equipment and systems; technology implementation including site preparation incoming inspections device/system integration network device security implementation and clinical/technical training; technology sustainment including regular and unscheduled maintenance upgrades and enhancements continuing education; end of useful life tasks including decommissioning data sanitization and technical evaluation for condition prior to disposal; and strategic planning for end of life replacement in conjunction with clinical services.

• Troubleshoots medical equipment and clinical systems using a variety of technical data and completes corrective action.

• Performs incoming inspections and planned maintenance on medical equipment and clinical systems.

• Documents all work in the designated Computerized Maintenance Management System (CMMS).

• Responds to and remediates hazard alerts recall notifications and incidents concerning medical equipment and clinical systems. Documents all actions in the appropriate system. As assigned investigates remediates and documents recalls and safety alerts within established timeframes. Participates in local safety improvement processes such as Root Cause Analysis (RCA) safety work groups and Environment of Care Rounds. Identifies hazards during routine job performance and takes action to ensure they are addressed and corrected.

• Monitors system backups ensures network connectivity mitigates cybersecurity vulnerabilities and maintains clinical systems.

• Utilizes test equipment in accordance with manufacturer instructions.

• Manages projects involving medical equipment and clinical systems.

• Provides customer support to staff evaluates issues and needs responds with solutions and keeps customers abreast of status.

• Educates staff on the safe operation and user-level maintenance of medical equipment and clinical systems.

• Serves as a Contracting Officers Representative (COR) Subject Matter Expert on related contracts. As assigned functions as a Contracting Officer Representative (COR) and keeps appropriate certification levels. Uses knowledge of government contract procedures and documentation requirements to develop statements of work sole source justifications other applicable documentation (6550 Independent Government Cost Estimate (IGCE) etc.) and to oversee vendor work. Collaborates with Logistics and Contracting to procure parts and services.

• Develops documentation to purchase commodities and/or vendor services. Manages monitors and evaluates contractor performance and addresses issues or deficiencies.

• Complies with applicable standards policies procedures and regulatory requirements.

• Provides guidance and mentorship to expand professional knowledge and enhance technical skillsets.

• Maintains and enhances knowledge in technological advancements through professional development and technical training.

Conditions of employment

• You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job.
• All applicants tentatively selected for VA employment in a testing designated position are subject to urinalysis to screen for illegal drug use prior to appointment. Applicants who refuse to be tested will be denied employment with VA.
• Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959.
• Must be proficient in written and spoken English.
• Subject to background/security investigation.
• Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process. Acceptable form(s) of identification will be required to complete pre-employment requirements ( Effective May 7 2025 drivers licenses or state-issued dentification cards that are not REAL ID compliant cannot be utilized as an acceptable form of identification for employment.
• Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP).
• Complete all application requirements detailed in the Required Documents section of this announcement.

• your performance and conduct;
• the needs and interests of the agency;
• whether your continued employment would advance organizational goals of the agency or the Government; and
• whether your continued employment would advance the efficiency of the Federal service.

Qualifications

Basic Requirements:

Citizenship. Be a citizen of the United States (U.S.).

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.

Grandfathering Provision: 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). Employees in VHA in this occupation under a permanent appropriate and legal placement on the effective date of the qualification standard are considered to have met all qualification requirements for the grade and assignment held including positive education and certification.

Grade Determinations: In addition to the basic requirements for employment candidates must meet the following grade-determining criteria for placement at grade levels specified.

Creditable Experience. To be creditable the experience must have required the use of knowledge skills and abilities associated with current health care industry and required using knowledge skills and abilities (KSAs) directly applicable to the assignment and associated within the scope of the BESS profession. Experience is only creditable if it was acquired in the health care industry and is either directly related to the position to be filled or a related field (for example Biomedical Equipment Support Specialist Biomedical Equipment Technician Field Service Engineer Medical Equipment Repairer or Information Technology (IT) Specialist). Experience satisfying this requirement may be paid or non-paid employment as a BESS.

Part-Time Experience. Part-time experience is creditable according to its relationship to the full-time work week. For example a BESS employed 20 hours per week or on a half-time basis would receive 1 full-time work week of credit for each 2 weeks of service.

Quality of Experience. Qualifying experience must be at a level comparable to BESS experience at the next lower level and have been in the health care industry. For all assignments above the full performance level (FPL) the higher-level duties must consist of significant scope administrative independence complexity and range of variety as described in this standard at the specified grade level and performed be performed by the incumbent at least 25% of the time.

Biomedical Equipment Support Specialist GS-05
Experience or Education. None beyond the basic requirements.

Biomedical Equipment Support Specialist GS-07
Experience One year of creditable experience equivalent to the next lower grade.

Knowledge Skills and Abilities (KSAs). In addition to the experience above the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs:
(a) Knowledge of physics anatomy and physiology.
(b) Knowledge of electronics such as analog digital and microprocessor theory.
(c) Knowledge of the use of standard level test equipment such as multi- meters electrical safety analyzers patient simulators storage oscilloscopes manometers and tachometers.
(d) 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).
(e) Skill in documenting all services provided in support of medical equipment and clinical systems in a computerized maintenance management system.
(f) Ability to learn equipment operating and maintenance procedures.

Biomedical Equipment Support Specialist GS-09
Experience One year of creditable experience equivalent to the next lower grade.

Knowledge Skills and Abilities (KSAs) In addition to the experience above the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs:
(a) Knowledge of basic networking concepts including Access Control List (ACL) Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol (TCP/IP) and Virtual Local Area Networks (VLAN).
(b) Knowledge of computer and server hardware and software functionality including virus protection operating system patches and upgrades and information security tools.
(c) Ability to interpret a variety of technical data such as schematic drawings wiring diagrams table charts mathematical expressions and formulas.
(d) Ability to use standard level test equipment including multi-meters electrical safety analyzers patient simulators storage oscilloscopes manometers and tachometers.
(e) Ability to perform equipment maintenance and operating procedures.

Biomedical Equipment Support Specialist GS-11
Experience One year of creditable experience equivalent to the next lower grade.

Knowledge Skills and Abilities (KSAs) In addition to the experience above the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs:
(a) Knowledge of standards including National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) Food and Drug Administration (FDA) the Joint Commission (TJC) and the Association for the Advancement of Medical Instrumentation (AAMI) for safe operation of medical equipment and clinical systems.
(b) Skill in using test and calibration equipment including digital multi- meters electrical safety analyzers defibrillator analyzers patient simulators manometers tachometers and Local Area Network (LAN) analyzers.
(c) Skill in interpreting a variety of technical data including schematic drawings and wiring diagrams.
(d) Skill in applying networking principles such as Access Control List (ACL) Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol (TCP/IP) and Virtual Local Area Networks (VLAN).
(e) Ability to perform advanced testing to troubleshoot medical equipment and clinical system interfaces.
(f) Ability to maintain medical computers and software.
(g) Ability to manage projects involving medical equipment and clinical systems.

Reference: For more information on this qualification standard please visit full performance level of this vacancy is GS 11. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is in the range of GS 5 to GS 11.

Physical Requirements: You will be asked to participate in a pre-employment examination or evaluation as part of the pre-employment process for this position. Questions about physical demands or environmental factors may be addressed at the time of evaluation or examination.