Healthcare Engineer (Project Engineer)

Healthcare Engineer (Project Engineer) at Salem VAMC focuses on project planning, design, construction management, and administration for minor construction, non-recurring maintenance, station-level projects, and leases at the medical center and CBOCs.

Responsibilities

• Plan, design, and oversee major healthcare system projects to meet objectives and timelines.
• Manage professional architecture/engineering contracts and construction contracts, ensuring adherence to contract terms, healthcare regulations, codes, specifications, and schedules in line with VA requirements for owned and leased facilities.
• Provide engineering support, maintain construction specifications and drawings, and manage a technical reference library of codes and standards (OSHA, NFPA, ANSI, etc.).
• Fulfill Contracting Officer Representative duties on design and construction projects, train service staff on technical topics, and assist with technical and administrative issues related to facility operations.
• Serve as Integrated Project Team Chairperson, leading a multidisciplinary team of internal and external stakeholders with recognized project management expertise.
• Participate in planning deliberations and contribute to management decisions through teamwork and collaboration to achieve healthcare system goals.

Requirements

• United States Citizenship is required; non-citizens may be appointed when qualified citizens cannot be recruited.
• English language proficiency (speaking and writing).
• Education:
  • Bachelor's degree or higher in Engineering or Architecture from a program accredited by ABET Engineering Accreditation Commission or NCARB for architecture.
  • Evidence of passing the Fundamentals of Engineering Examination with the bachelor's degree.
  • Current professional registration or licensure as a Professional Engineer.
• Grandfathering provisions may apply per VA Qualification Standards for current VHA employees in this occupation.
• Grade determinations require appropriate experience and education at GS-7, GS-9, GS-11, or GS-12 levels with corresponding KSAs as detailed in the qualification standard.

Benefits

• Recruitment incentive (sign-on bonus).
• Paid time off totaling 37 to 50 days per year (13–26 days annual leave, 13 days sick leave, 11 federal holidays).
• Parental leave up to 12 weeks after 12 months of employment.
• Child care subsidy up to 25% of eligible childcare costs, up to $416.66 monthly, based on income under $144,000.
• Retirement benefits including a traditional federal pension with 5 years vesting and a federal 401K with up to 5% VA contributions.
• Federal health, vision, dental, term life, and long-term care insurance.

This job is open to

• The public: U.S. Citizens, Nationals, or those who owe allegiance to the United States.

Education and Certification

• The position maintains COR certification to oversee Facility Engineering Service, Architect/Engineer, and Construction Contracts administration.
• Serves as Integrated Project Team Chairperson and is a recognized expert in project management.
• A transcript must be submitted with your application if you base all or part of your qualifications on education.
• Only education or degrees recognized by the U.S. Department of Education from accredited institutions may be used to qualify for Federal employment. Foreign education must be evaluated for equivalency with a Certificate of Foreign Equivalency if applicable.

Additional Information

• Receiving service credit for annual leave accrual may apply based on prior federal or military service to determine leave accrual rates.
• During the application process you may opt in to make your resume available to agency hiring managers; opting in does not affect eligibility.
• This opportunity may be used to fill additional vacancies and is in the Excepted Service.
• VA encourages applicants with disabilities; health-related VA positions fall under Title 38 and are not covered by Schedule A.
• If you cannot apply online, contact the agency for alternate submission methods.
• Fair Chance Act restrictions apply before requesting criminal history information, per VA HR guidance.