The Biomedical Equipment Support Specialist (BESS) provides clinical and administrative support to staff, patients and administrators relating to the facility wide lifecycle management of medical equipment. Biomedical support requires the application of engineering and mechanical concepts to provide lifecycle management and technical support to improve clinical care provided by the VA.
There are positions available at Gainesville and Lake City. Applicants can select their preference. Qualifications:To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement. 07/09/2026
Basic Requirements for all grades:
- United States Citizenship: Non-citizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Policy.
- English Language Proficiency: Candidates must be proficient in spoken and written English in accordance with 38 U.S.C. 7403(f).
- Education, Experience, or Certification:
- Associates or higher degree in the biomedical technology or biomedical engineering field; OR
- Associates or higher degree in electronics, a field of information technology, or engineering (other than biomedical engineering) AND 1 year of creditable experience; OR
- Completion of the Department of Defense (DOD) biomedical equipment technician training program; OR
- Completion of a DOD training program in repair and maintenance of electronic systems or information technology AND 1 year of creditable experience; OR
- Completion of a biomedical engineering technician or Healthcare
Technology Management (HTM) certificate program that included an internship or apprenticeship; OR - Completion of biomedical engineering technician or HTM certificate program that did not include an internship AND 1 year of creditable experience; OR
- Hold or having ever held certification as a Certified Biomedical Equipment Technician (CBET), Certified Radiology Equipment Specialist (CRES), Certified Laboratory Equipment Specialist (CLES), or Certified Healthcare Technology Manager (CHTM). Continuous maintenance of certification is not required throughout VHA employment.
- **If claiming education or certification as proof of meeting basic requirements, documents are required to be submitted with application.
- May qualify based on being covered by the Grandfathering Provision as described in the VA Qualification Standard for this occupation (only applicable to current VHA employees who are in this occupation AND have been since Sept 2018).
- Foreign Education. To be creditable, education completed outside the U.S. must be deemed at least equivalent to that gained in a conventional U.S. program by a private organization specializing in the interpretation of foreign educational credentials.
- The evaluation document must be submitted with your application.
GRADE DETERMINATIONS. In addition to the basic requirements for employment, candidates must meet the following grade-determining criteria for placement at grade level specified.
Biomedical Equipment Support Specialist (Imaging), GS-12:- Experience: At least one year of experience equivalent to the GS-11 grade level which include but are not limited to the following:
- Ability to perform advanced testing and troubleshooting of medical devices involving their interfaces and connections to information systems either directly or through the hospitals hardwired and wireless networks; Knowledge of codes and standards relevant to safe operation of medical instrumentation such as National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), Food and Drug Administration (FDA), Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC), the Joint Commission (TJC), and the Association for the Advancement of Medical Instrumentation (AAMI; Skill in the use of all types of test and calibration equipment such as digital multi-meters, electrical safety analyzers, defibrillator analyzers, patient simulators, digital oscilloscopes, pulse generators, and Local Area Network (LAN) analyzers in performing troubleshooting/repair and preventive maintenance activities; Skill in interpreting a variety of technical data including schematic drawings and wiring diagrams; Skill in applying networking principles, such as Access Control List (ACL), Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol (TCP/IP), and Virtual Local Area Networks (VLAN); Ability to maintain medical computers and software; Ability to manage projects involving medical equipment and clinical systems; Knowledge of contracting regulations, requirements, and specific contract specifications including performance-based contracts
- Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSAs). While we no longer require essay-style responses to our Knowledge's Skills, Abilities, and Other Characteristics (KSAOs), you must be able to demonstrate that you possess the (below) competencies which are necessary to perform the work of the position. Please ensure your resume/CV/application contains sufficient information to support the level of experience/education/training listed below; otherwise, we will not be able to award you credit for the experience/education/training you claim. If selected, you may be required to submit narrative responses then. In addition to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs on their resume and in their experience:
- (a) Knowledge of imaging principles including techniques, technologies, radiological practices, and procedures.
- (b) Knowledge of HL7 and DICOM standards.
- (c) Skill in applying standards for safe operation of medical equipment and clinical systems including National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), Nuclear Radiation Commission (NRC), Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the Joint Commission (TJC), and the American College of Radiology (ACR).
- (d) Ability to resolve complex failures on imaging equipment and clinical systems.
- (e) Ability to perform advanced testing to troubleshoot imaging equipment and clinical system interfaces.
Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/.
The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-12.
Physical Requirements. The position is mostly sedentary. Occasionally require duties that are physically demanding involving walking, sitting, standing, climbing ladders, crouching, crawling, stooping, reaching, kneeling, and some prolonged periods of intense concentration, under adverse conditions. Lifting of objects between 10 and 40 pounds is common, and on occasion lifting of heavier objects is necessary. Trips to satellite outpatient clinics are sometimes necessary and will involve transportation via station vehicle or privately-owned vehicle.Education:
Education, Experience, or Certification: 1.) Associates or higher degree in the biomedical technology or biomedical engineering field;
OR2.) Associates or higher degree in electronics, a field of information technology, or engineering (other than biomedical engineering) AND 1 year of creditable experience;
OR3.) Completion of the Department of Defense (DOD) biomedical equipment technician training program;
OR4.) Completion of a DOD training program in repair and maintenance of electronic systems or information technology AND 1 year of creditable experience;
OR5.) Completion of a biomedical engineering technician or Healthcare Technology Management (HTM) certificate program that included an internship or apprenticeship;
OR6.) Completion of biomedical engineering technician or HTM certificate program that did not include an internship AND 1 year of creditable experience;
OR7.) Hold or having ever held certification as a Certified Biomedical Equipment Technician (CBET), Certified Radiology Equipment Specialist (CRES), Certified Laboratory Equipment Specialist (CLES), or Certified Healthcare Technology Manager (CHTM). Continuous maintenance of certification is not required throughout VHA employment.
**Transcripts or certifications must be uploaded with application if claiming.**Note: Only education or degrees recognized by the U.S. Department of Education from accredited colleges, universities, schools, or institutions may be used to qualify for Federal employment. You can verify your education here: http://ope.ed.gov/accreditation/. If you are using foreign education to meet qualification requirements, you must send a Certificate of Foreign Equivalency with your transcript in order to receive credit for that education. For further information, visit: https://sites.ed.gov/international/recognition-of-foreign-qualifications/.Employment Type: OTHER