The Healthcare Engineer supports planning, design, and oversight of major VA healthcare system projects at White City, Oregon, ensuring facilities meet regulatory standards and project schedules. The role emphasizes management of architectural and engineering contracts to verify contractor compliance with regulatory requirements for VA owned and leased facilities.

Responsibilities

Serves as a resident and program engineer, directing planning, design, and supervision of major healthcare system projects while administering professional A/E and Construction contracts to ensure contractor compliance with obligations, healthcare regulations, codes, specifications, and schedules in line with VA standards for owned and leased facilities.
Leads capital asset and infrastructure planning for the medical facility, guiding activities from strategic planning through concept development, design, construction, to the implementation of complex buildings, utilities, and clinical support systems.
Oversees healthcare project design and construction management in accordance with VA policies, Design Guides and Manuals, Master Specifications, and relevant industry codes and standards.
Provides construction management and post-project activities to maintain uninterrupted building and utility services for medical operations.
Supports ongoing education programs for clinical staff and maintenance personnel on the principles and application of building and utility systems in healthcare delivery.
Develops curricula addressing the safe and effective use of medical gases, emergency power, ventilation, and other infrastructure technologies relevant to healthcare facilities.
Maintains effective oral and written communication with a broad range of stakeholders, including clinical and technical staff, to convey complex technical information.
Assists in developing and implementing the environment of care program to meet Joint Commission, FDA, CAP, NFPA, and VA requirements, with emphasis on construction safety and infection control.
Coordinates construction activities across diverse interrelated systems and services, monitoring planning and resolving design issues for multidisciplinary projects throughout the full life cycle from planning to warranty.

Requirements

U.S. citizenship is required to apply.
Male applicants born after December 31, 1959 must be registered with Selective Service.
Proficiency in both written and spoken English is required.
A probationary period may be required.
Subject to background and security investigation.
Selected applicants will complete an online onboarding process.
Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is required for all VA health care personnel.
COVID-19 vaccination is required for all Veterans Health Administration health care personnel, with details provided in Additional Information.
Grandfathering provisions may apply for current VHA employees in this occupation who meet criteria.
A Bachelor's degree or higher in Engineering or Architecture is required.
Evidence of passing the Fundamentals of Engineering exam with a bachelor's degree.
Evidence of current professional registration or licensure as a Professional Engineer or Architect.
For foreign education, credentials must be evaluated by a private organization to determine equivalency to a U.S. bachelor's degree.

Education

A Bachelor's degree or higher in Engineering or Architecture is required.

Transcript submission is required if education forms part of your qualifications. Only degrees recognized by the U.S. Department of Education from accredited institutions may be credited for federal employment. If using foreign education, submit a Certificate of Foreign Equivalency with your transcript to receive credit.

Benefits

Pay: Competitive salary with regular increases.
Paid Time Off: 37 to 50 days per year, including 13-26 days of annual leave, 13 days of sick leave, and 11 federal holidays.
Parental Leave: Up to 12 weeks of paid leave after 12 months of service for birth, adoption, or foster care placement.
Child Care Subsidy: After 60 days, eligible employees with family income below $144,000 may receive up to 25% of eligible childcare costs, up to a monthly maximum of $416.66.
Retirement: Traditional federal pension with 5 years vesting and a federal 401K with up to 5% VA contributions.
Insurance: Federal health, vision, dental, life, and long-term care insurance, transferable into retirement where applicable.
Telework: Ad hoc.
On-site: This is not a virtual position; on-site work is required.
Permanent Change of Station: Not authorized.

Open to

The public: U.S. citizens, nationals or those who owe allegiance to the United States.
Federal employees - Competitive service: Current federal employees whose agencies follow OPM rules and pay scales.
Federal employees - Excepted service: Current federal employees whose agencies have their own hiring rules, pay scales and evaluation criteria.
Agency clarification: A two-page resume is not required for this position; refer to Required Documents for details.

Additional information

Selected applicants may receive credit toward annual leave for prior federal or military service, affecting accrual rates.
An option to opt in to make your resume available to agency hiring managers may be presented; opting in does not affect your application.
This announcement may be used to fill additional vacancies.
The position is in the Excepted Service and does not confer competitive status.
VA encourages applicants with disabilities to apply.
Health care personnel are required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19, subject to valid accommodations; further details will be provided if selected.
Under the Fair Chance to Compete Act, the VA does not request criminal history before a tentative job offer; see HRA/OSP for more information.

Healthcare Engineer