Healthcare Engineer

Support patient care through healthcare facilities planning, design, and construction oversight at the Battle Creek VA Medical Center.

Responsibilities

• Plan and develop capital assets and infrastructure for a medical facility, covering strategic planning, concept development, design, construction, and implementation for complex buildings, utilities, and medical support systems.
• Manage healthcare engineering project design and administer construction work in line with VA policies and procedures, including VA Design Guides, VA Design Manuals, VA Master Specifications, and applicable industry codes and standards.
• Provide construction management and post-project activities to help ensure continuity of building and utility services for ongoing medical facility operations.
• Assist with a continuing education program for clinical staff and maintenance personnel focused on building and utility systems used in delivery of health care.
• Support training topics including the safe and effective use of medical gases, emergency power, ventilation, and other healthcare infrastructure related technology.
• Help facilitate effective oral and written communication with a wide variety of individuals involved in healthcare facilities and operations.
• Assist in developing and implementing an environment of care program aligned with Joint Commission, FDA, CAP, NFPA, and VA requirements, with emphasis on construction safety and infection control.

Requirements

• U.S. citizenship required to apply.
• Selective Service Registration required for males born after 12/31/1959.
• Proficiency in written and spoken English.
• Subject to background and security investigation.
• Selected applicants must complete an online onboarding process and provide acceptable form(s) of identification for pre-employment requirements (see: https://www.uscis.gov/i-9-central/form-i-9-acceptable-documents).
• Effective May 7, 2025: driver’s licenses or state-issued identification cards that are not REAL ID compliant cannot be used as acceptable identification for employment.
• Pass a pre-employment physical evaluation.
• Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is required for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP).
• Complete all application requirements listed in the Required Documents section of the announcement.
• A current, valid state-issued Driver’s License is required; photographs are not accepted and a copy should not be submitted with the application package. If an interview is requested, provide a copy of your current, valid state-issued Driver’s License.
• Serve a 2-year trial period where fitness and whether continued employment advances the public interest are evaluated.
• Education: Bachelor’s degree or higher in Engineering or Architecture from a program with at least one accredited curriculum by the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (Engineering Accreditation Commission, excludes engineering technology) or National Council of Architectural Registration Boards.
• Alternative qualification options include:
  • Evidence of passing the Fundamentals of Engineering Examination with a bachelor’s degree (engineering-in-training certificate or NCEES test results identifying a passing score).
  • Evidence of current professional registration or licensure as a Professional Engineer or Architect (from any State, the District of Columbia, Guam or Puerto Rico).
• GS-7: No additional requirements beyond basic requirements.
• GS-9: At least 1 year of experience equivalent to GS-7, or a Master of Engineering/Master of Architecture/Master of Science in Engineering (or related field), or a Bachelor’s degree plus two full years of progressively higher-level graduate education in a related field.
• GS-11: At least 1 year of experience equivalent to GS-9, or a Ph.D. (or equivalent) in Engineering or related field, or a Master’s degree plus 1 full year of progressively higher-level graduate education in a related field, or a Bachelor’s degree plus 3 full years of progressively higher-level graduate education in a related field.
• GS-12: At least 1 year of experience equivalent to GS-11.
• Preferred: Construction Project Management experience.

Work Schedule

• Monday through Friday, 8:00AM to 4:30PM.
• 80 hours per pay period (2 weeks).
• Hours may be rotated or extended based on the needs of the Medical Center and Veterans.

Compensation

• Salary: USD 58,193 - 129,225 per yearly.
• Competitive salary with regular salary increases.
• Pay may be set at a higher step rate within the appropriate grade after consideration of higher or unique qualifications or special needs of the VA (Above Minimum Rate of the Grade).

Benefits

• Annual paid time off: 37-50 days per year (13-26 days annual leave, 13 days sick leave, 11 paid Federal holidays).
• After 12 months of employment: up to 12 weeks of paid parental leave.
• After 60 days of employment: full time employees with total family income below $144,000 may be eligible for a childcare subsidy up to 25% of eligible childcare costs (up to $416.66 monthly maximum).
• Traditional federal pension (5 years vesting) and federal 401K with up to 5% in contributions by VA.
• Federal health/vision/dental/term life/long-term care coverage; many federal insurance programs can be carried into retirement.

Additional Information

• Location: Battle Creek, MI (onsite).
• Telework: Not Available.
• Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
• Recruitment/Relocation incentives (sign-on bonus): Not Authorized.
• Permanent Change of Station (relocation assistance): Not Authorized.
• PCS: Not Authorized.
• Functional Statement IDs: 91334-S, 91335-S, 91336-S, 91320-S.
• Excepted Service position; does not confer competitive status.
• VA encourages persons with disabilities to apply.
• Fair Chance to Compete Act: VA prohibits requesting an applicant’s criminal history prior to accepting a tentative job offer.
• This announcement may be used to fill additional vacancies.
• Receiving Service Credit for Earning Annual (Vacation) Leave: selected applicants may qualify based on prior work or military service experience; credited service must be requested and approved prior to appointment date and is not guaranteed.
• Optional resume opt-in may be available during the application process; it does not affect consideration for this announcement.

Open To

• The public: U.S. Citizens, Nationals, or those who owe allegiance to the U.S.
• Federal employees (excepted service): current federal employees whose agencies have their own hiring rules, pay scales, and evaluation criteria.
• Internal to an agency: current federal employees of the hiring agency that posted the job announcement.
• Referral order:
  • 1) Current permanent employees of the Battle Creek VA Medical Center and employees of the outpatient clinics located in Muskegon, Lansing, Wyoming and Benton Harbor.
  • 2) All other VA employees.
  • 3) Current permanent Federal employees of other agencies.
  • 4) All other applicants.

Job Function Context: The Healthcare Engineer functions under the Facilities Management Service at the Battle Creek VA Medical Center.

Education Documents: A transcript and/or certificate must be submitted if qualifications are based on education; only education recognized by the U.S. Department of Education from accredited institutions may be used. Foreign education requires a Certificate of Foreign Equivalency with the transcript. Education verification: http://ope.ed.gov/accreditation/. Additional guidance: https://sites.ed.gov/international/recognition-of-foreign-qualifications/.