Healthcare Engineer

The Healthcare Engineer role at the US Veterans Health Administration sits at the intersection of clinical care and engineering, guiding the Wilmington VA Medical Center and its community-based clinics through thoughtful planning, design, and construction oversight. This position emphasizes maintaining reliable healthcare infrastructure while adhering to VA design standards and industry codes, and it requires a doctoral level engineering degree to lead complex projects from concept to operation.

Location

Wilmington, DE (onsite)

Salary

USD 60,348 - 134,195 per year

Education

Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree in Engineering or a related field

Overview

The role focuses on capital asset and infrastructure planning for medical facilities, encompassing strategic planning, concept development, design, construction, and the effective deployment of complex buildings, utilities, and medical support systems. The engineer will lead project design and construction management in line with VA policies, manuals, and master specifications, ensuring uninterrupted building and utility services during and after project delivery. The position also supports ongoing education for clinical staff and maintenance personnel on building and utility systems related to healthcare delivery, including medical gases, emergency power, and ventilation, while contributing to the environment of care program to meet Joint Commission, FDA, CAP, NFPA, and VA requirements.

Responsibilities

• A. Conduct 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.
• B. Manage healthcare engineering project design and administer construction in accordance with VA policies and procedures, VA Design Guides, VA Design Manuals, VA Master Specifications and related industry codes and standards.
• C. Perform healthcare engineering project construction management and post project activities while ensuring continuity of building and utility services for medical facility operations.
• D. Assist 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, including effective communication with a diverse audience.
• E. Assist in development and implementation of the environment of care program that meets current Joint Commission, FDA, CAP, NFPA, and VA requirements, particularly for construction safety and infection control.

Requirements

• You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job.
• 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 forms of identification will be required to complete pre-employment requirements. Effective May 7, 2025, driver’s licenses or state ID cards that are not REAL ID compliant cannot be used as acceptable forms of identification for employment.
• Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is required for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel.
• Complete all application requirements detailed in the Required Documents section of this announcement.
• Trial period of 1 to 2 years, during which performance and fitness will be evaluated to determine continued employment and public interest.

Benefits

• Traditional federal pension with 5 years vesting and federal 401K with up to 5% VA contributions
• Federal health, vision, dental, term life, and long-term care insurance options
• Parental Leave: up to 12 weeks of paid leave after 12 months of employment for birth, adoption, or foster care
• Child Care Subsidy: eligibility after 60 days of employment for families with income below specified thresholds, up to 25% of eligible childcare costs, subject to monthly maximums
• Leave accrual credit for prior work or military service may be applied toward annual leave
• Paid Time Off: 37-50 days per year, including annual leave, sick leave, and federal holidays
• Telework: Not available
• Virtual: This is not a virtual position

Open to

• The public: U.S. Citizens, Nationals or those who owe allegiance to the U.S.
• Internal to an agency: Current federal employees of the hiring agency that posted the job announcement

Clarification from the agency

Open to the public. First area of consideration will be given to current, permanent Wilmington VA Medical Center employees. The 2-page resume requirement does not apply to this position. For more information, refer to the Required Documents section of the announcement.