Healthcare Engineer

Full Job Description

The position serves as a Project Engineer at an assigned Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Healthcare System, Fayetteville NC VA Coastal Health Care System.

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.

To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement, 03/10/2026.

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.

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; (Transcripts required). 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; Documentation must be provided.

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. Documentation must be provided.

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: (a) One year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade; 5 OR, (b) 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.(1); OR (c) 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.

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: (a) One year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade; OR (b) Ph.D.

or equivalent doctoral degree in Engineering or a related field 6 of engineering as outlined in paragraph 3.b.(1); OR (c) 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 (d) 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.

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 7 related to the healthcare setting with limited oversight. Healthcare Engineer, GS-12. Experience. One year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade.

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 8 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.

References: VA Handbook 5005/150 Physical Requirements: The work environment involves everyday risks or discomforts that require normal safety precautions typical of such places as offices, training rooms, and libraries.

The work area is adequately lighted, heated, and ventilated. The incumbent must also work outdoors in all types of weather.

There may be occasional exposure to moderate risks or discomforts in storage areas or hazardous waste sites.

For more information on these qualification standards, please visit the United States Office of Personnel Management's website at https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/general-schedule-qualification-standards/.

Major Duties:

This 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 maintains COR certification to oversee the administration of Facility Engineering Service's Architect/Engineer and Construction Contracts.

Duties Include but not limited to: Determines the requirements for healthcare projects in relation to the needs of the Healthcare System, inclusive of the parent site, as well as off-site locations under the auspice of the Healthcare System, whether VA owned or leased.

Provides a broad review of all disciplines of Engineering when applied to a healthcare environment to support construction document reviews and preparation.

Performs evaluations on medical care programs and services to ensure assigned projects are aligned and support the healthcare organization's needs and requirements for expansion of service and/or efficient flow of operation.

Makes recommendations relating to energy conservation for feasibility and cost effectiveness and supports the facilities energy goals.

Promotion Potential: The selectee may be promoted to the full performance level without further competition when all regulatory, qualification, and performance requirements are met.

Selection at a lower grade level does not guarantee promotion to the full performance level. Work Schedule: Monday - Friday, 8:00am-16:30pm Virtual: This is not a virtual position.

Position Description/PD#: Healthcare Engineer/PD000000 Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized