Biomedical Equipment Specialist

The Biomedical Equipment Support Specialist (BESS) works within the FMS Engineering Service at the VA Roseburg Health Care System in Roseburg, Oregon.

This is an open continuous announcement. Qualified candidates will be referred to the Selecting Manager approximately every 14 days from the date of posting until the closing date.

Qualifications:

Basic Requirements:

• United States Citizenship: Citizen of the United States. After a determination is made that it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens, necessary personnel may be appointed on a temporary basis under authority of 38 U.S.C. 7405 without regard to the citizenship requirements of 38 U.S.C. 7402 or any other law prohibiting the employment of or payment of compensation to a person who is not a citizen of the United States. Candidates must meet all other requirements for the grade and position concerned.
• Education: (1) Associates degree in Biomedical Electronics Technology, Biomedical Equipment Technology or Biomedical Engineering Technology or in a related technical field such as Electronic Technology or Information Technology and two years of experience as a Biomedical Equipment Support Specialist, Biomedical Equipment Technician, Field Service Engineer, Medical Equipment Repairer, or Information Technology Specialist. OR, (2) Bachelor's degree in Biomedical Engineering Technology or in a related field such as Electronics Engineering Technology (EET) or Information Technology. OR, (3) Completion of a military training program in biomedical equipment and two years of experience as a Biomedical Equipment Support Specialist or Biomedical Equipment Technician, Field Service Engineer, Medical Equipment Repairer or Information Technology Specialist..
• English Language Proficiency: Candidates will not be appointed under authority of 38 U.S.C. chapters 73 or 74, to serve in a direct patient-care capacity in VHA who is not proficient in written and spoken English. See Chapter 2, section D, paragraph 5a.

Grade Determinations
GS-5 (Entry Level) Requirements:
Experience or Education. None beyond basic requirements.

GS-7 (Developmental Level 1) Requirements:
Experience. At least one year of experience equivalent to the GS-5 grade level. In addition to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate all of the following KSAs:

1. Ability to read, interpret, and apply a great variety of technical data such as schematic drawings, wiring diagrams, table charts, mathematical expressions and formulas.
2. Ability to learn equipment maintenance, operating procedures, and repair procedures from training materials and courses.
3. Fundamental knowledge of electronics to include analog, digital and microprocessor theory, pneumatics, hydraulics, optics, electro-mechanics, physics, basic networking, and chemistry.
4. Knowledge of the use of standard level test equipment to include, but not limited to, multimeters, electrical safety analyzers, patient simulator, storage oscilloscopes, manometers, tachometers, etc.
5. Knowledge of anatomy, physiology, medical terminology, medical equipment, and technology.
6. Knowledge of basic networking, computer/server hardware/software and information technologies and computer virus protection software, available software patches and upgrades, and information security tools (i.e. Microsoft Office, Windows operating systems, McAfee, etc.).

GS-9 (Developmental Level 2) Requirements:
Experience. At least one year of experience equivalent to the GS-7 grade level. In addition to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate all of the following KSAs:

1. Knowledge of electronics and electricity including analog and intermediate digital electronics to test, calibrate, maintain, and repair biomedical equipment and moderately complex biomedical instrumentation systems.
2. Skill in the setup and use of standard and advanced level test equipment to perform precise and detailed analysis of the operating and design characteristics of equipment and initiate repairs, reconfiguration, or redesign of moderately complex medical systems.
3. Skill in applying theory, concepts, techniques, design characteristics, operation, and functions to assist and support installation, operation, test, maintenance, repair, design, and modification for a comprehensive range of medical equipment connected to networks or other operating systems.
4. Ability to evaluate practical and technical information from manufacturers, contract specifications, manuals, and historical data in order to perform analysis required to make effective recommendations concerning operation, maintenance, and repair of medical equipment.
5. Ability to perform testing and troubleshooting of medical devices involving their interfaces and connections to other medical devices, clinical systems, or information systems either directly or through the hospitals hardwired and wireless networks.
6. Ability to use application software and hardware as it relates to the operation and diagnostics of medical equipment.
7. Knowledge of computer equipment with a wide variety of software to input and retrieve data as required, and to prepare a variety of specific working documents and forms such as spreadsheet, database, word processing, and other similar products.

GS-11 (Full Performance Level) Requirements:
Experience. At least one year of experience equivalent to the GS-9 grade level. Certification as a Certified Biomedical Equipment Technician (CBET), Certified Laboratory Equipment Specialist (CLES), Net and A are highly desirable at this level but not required. In addition to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate all of the following KSAs:

1. Knowledge of a wide range of sciences including, but not limited to, electronics (analog and digital), computer science/networking, mechanical engineering design, pneumatics, hydraulics, chemistry, physiology, medical terminology, anatomy, optics, and biology to perform duties of a broad scope and nature on complex and sophisticated patient-related medical systems and sub-systems.
2. Ability to perform advanced testing and troubleshooting of medical devices involving their interfaces and connections to information systems either directly or through the hospitals hardwired and wireless networks.
3. Knowledge of codes and standards relevant to safe operation of medical instrumentation such as National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), Food and Drug Administration (FDA), Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC), the Joint Commission (TJC), and the Association for the Advancement of Medical Instrumentation (AAMI).
4. Skill in the use of all types of test and calibration equipment such as digital multi-meters, electrical safety analyzers, defibrillator analyzers, patient simulators, digital oscilloscopes, pulse generators, and Local Area Network (LAN) analyzers in performing troubleshooting/repair and preventive maintenance activities.
5. Ability to configure and maintain medical servers and desktop computers. (f) Knowledge of contracting regulations, requirements, and specific contract specifications including performance-based contracts.

References: VHA 5005, Appendix G49, Biomedical Equipment Specialist Qualification Standard. The 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-05 to GS-11.

Preferred Experience: Preferred minimum 3 years bio-med experience. This is a career ladder starting at GS-5 thru GS-11.

Physical Requirements: Heavy lifting (45 pounds and over); Heavy carrying (45 pounds and over); Reaching above shoulder; Walking (4 hours); Standing (4 hours); Repeated bending; Climbing, use of legs and arms; Both legs required; Ability for rapid mental and muscular coordinating simultaneously; Near vision correctable at 13" to 16" to Jaeger 1 to 4; Near vision correctable in one eye to 20/20 and to 20/40 in the other; Depth perception; Ability to distinguish shades of colors; Hearing (aid permitted); Mental & emotional stability required.

Environmental Factors: Outside and inside; Excessive heat; Excessive cold; Excessive noise, intermittent; Radiant energy; Electrical energy; Working around machinery with moving parts; Working closely with others; Working alone.