Summary
The position serves as a Project Engineer at an assigned Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Healthcare System. This position performs project planning, produces designs, manages designs, manages construction, and provides construction administration for Minor Construction Projects, Non-Recurring Maintenance (NRM) Projects, Station Level Projects, and Leases, including all areas and aspects (architectural, electrical, life safety, mechanical, civil, structural, etc.).
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Duties
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This is an open-continuous announcement. The initial cut-off date for referral of eligible applications will be August 25, 2026 with subsequent cut-off dates on the 25th of each month. Eligible applications received after that date will be referred at regular intervals or as additional vacancies occur on an as-needed basis until positions are filled. Applications will be accepted on an ongoing basis and qualified candidates will be considered as vacancies become available. Applications will remain on file until December 31, 2026.
Total Rewards of a Allied Health Professional
Major Duties:
The position provides engineering support to the assigned healthcare system and is responsible for maintaining construction specifications and drawings, maintaining technical reference library of codes, standards, and other regulations which are applicable to the engineering construction industries Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), American National Standards Institute (ANSI), and others. The position serves as a healthcare engineering advisor, engineer consultant, engineer designer, contract administrator, project manager, construction coordinator, and instructor during the design and construction of all projects assigned. The position is responsible for providing healthcare engineering support to all assigned projects. The position is responsible for performing the duties of a Contracting Officer Representative (COR) on professional design and construction projects, training service staff on technical issues and assisting the service staff on the completion of technical and administrative issues regarding infrastructure related operations of the medical facility.
Planning & Design: Collaborates closely with the Contracting Officer in the design of capital projects; serves as the Contracting Officer's Representative (COR) on the design of capital projects. The incumbent determines requirements, reconnaissance, location, and prepares designs, specifications and cost estimates. Work complexities require not only adaptation or modification of precedents but a versatile and innovative approach to solve problems where serious conflicts exist between management requirements and engineering principles. Evaluates design objectives, performs complex technical calculations, and identifies economical and efficient procedures for project design and performance considering all influences.
Construction Management: Collaborates closely with Contracting Officer in the construction of capital projects: serves as the Contracting Officer's Representative (COR) on the construction of capital projects. Plans specific objectives for the program, including required innovations and improvisations/ Prepares detailed cost estimates for use in obtaining project funding and bid evaluation. Reviews and evaluates shop drawings, samples and material certifications submitted by contractor for contract and performance requirements, recommending approval, rejection or receipt.
Facility and Non-Recurring Maintenance: Collaborates closely with the Contracting Officer in the design and construction of non-recurring maintenance projects: serves as the Contracting Officer Representative. Provided guidance, development and coordination for the planning, design, and oversight of maintenance projects. Plans specific objectives for the maintenance project. Consults with contractor personnel to resolve difficult and complex unforeseen problems and latent conditions developing during maintenance.
Professional Engineering/Architectural Advice: Serves as a subject matter expert in all aspects of engineering design and management. Provides professional advice to peers, subordinates or non-professional administrators or managers; including senior level management officials. Ensures the accuracy of the Capital Asset Inventory. Reviews or directs the review of plans, specifications, and analyses of design as submitted by subordinate engineers. Provided professional advice to improve such plans, specifications and analyses.
Work Schedule: Monday - Friday, 7:00am - 3:30pm
Telework: Ad-hoc - as determined by the agency policy.
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Functional Statement #: 000000
Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized
Financial Disclosure Report: Not required
Physical Requirements: Work is performed under a variety of-conditions at construction sites (indoor, outdoor, dirty, dusty, greasy, hot, damp, etc.) and in an office or shop setting. Normal safety precautions apply with use of safety shoes and hard hats regularly, and special equipment occasionally. Incumbent will be required to visit a variety of hospital environments, including general medical and surgical, neuropsychiatry, nursing home care, and research. There is occasional exposure to high voltage, high noise levels, and the possibility of electrical shock, bums, cuts, and bruises.
Requirements
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Conditions of employment
- 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 form(s) of identification will be required to complete pre-employment requirements (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 utilized as an acceptable form of identification for employment.
- Must pass pre-employment physical examination.
- Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP).
- Complete all application requirements detailed in the "Required Documents" section of this announcement.
As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you will be required to serve a 1 or 2-year trial period during which we will evaluate your fitness and whether your continued employment advances the public interest. In determining if your employment advances the public interest, we may consider:
- your performance and conduct;
- the needs and interests of the agency;
- whether your continued employment would advance organizational goals of the agency or the Government; and
- whether your continued employment would advance the efficiency of the Federal service.
Upon completion of your trial period, your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest.
Qualifications
Applicants pending the completion of educational or certification/licensure requirements may be referred and tentatively selected but may not be hired until all requirements are met.
Basic Requirements:
- 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. Healthcare Engineer candidates must be proficient in spoken and written English in accordance with 38 U.S.C. § 7403(f).
- Education:
- (1) Bachelor's degree or higher in Engineering or Architecture. To be acceptable, the curriculum must be from a school with at least one curriculum accredited by the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology, Engineering Accreditation Commission (excludes engineering technology) or National Council of Architectural Registration Boards curriculum. Examples of acceptable engineering and architectural degrees include, but are not limited to: Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Biomedical Engineering, Civil Engineering, Architecture and Architectural Engineering. OR
- (2) Evidence of passing the Fundamentals of Engineering Examination with a bachelor's degree. Evidence can be in the form of an Engineering in Training certificate issued from any State, the District of Columbia, Guam or Puerto Rico, or test results from the National Council of Examiners for Engineering and Surveying (NCEES) identifying a passing score. OR
- (3) Evidence of current professional registration or licensure as a Professional Engineer or Architect. Evidence of current professional registration or licensure can be from any State, the District of Columbia, Guam or Puerto Rico.
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 meet the criteria).
Grade Determinations:
GS-07 Healthcare Engineer (Entry Level Developmental)
- No additional requirements beyond the basic requirements.
GS-09 Healthcare Engineer (Developmental) -
Experience/Education Requirement:
- In addition to meeting the basic requirements, to qualify for the GS-09 you must meet one of the following:
- You must have at least 1 year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level (GS-7) OR
- Master of Engineering degree or Master of Architecture degree or Master of Science degree in Engineering or a related field of study as outlined in basic requirements; OR
- Bachelor's degree as outlined in paragraph basic requirements plus two full years of progressively higher-level graduate education in a related field of study, provided the applicant's total background demonstrates the core competencies for GS-09 level assignment.
Knowledge, Skills and Abilities (KSAs).
- In addition to the experience or education above, the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs:
- (a) Knowledge of the principles, theories, concepts and practices of the engineering profession.
- (b) Ability to interpret relevant codes, regulations, guidelines and standards to make recommendations to assure compliance with healthcare facility programs.
- (c) Ability to understand the operational professional engineering needs of clinical services in the healthcare system.
- (d) Ability to prepare material on current technical topics and trends for presentation to other technical staff and mid-level hospital management and to keep abreast of changes in engineering technology related to a healthcare facility.
GS-11: Healthcare Engineer (Developmental) -
Experience or Education.
- In addition to meeting the basic requirements, to qualify for the GS-11 you must meet one of the following:
- You must have at least 1 year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level (GS-9) OR
- Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree in Engineering or a related field of engineering as outlined in basic requirements; OR
- Master of Engineering degree, Master of Architecture degree, Master of Science degree in Engineering or a related field of study as outlined in basic requirements, plus 1 full year of progressively higher level graduate education in a related field of study, provided the applicant's total background demonstrates the knowledge, skills and abilities for GS-11 level assignment; OR
- Bachelor's degree as outlined in basic requirements plus 3 full years of progressively higher-level graduate education in a related field of study, provided the applicant's total background demonstrates the knowledge, skills and abilities for GS-11 level assignment.
Knowledge, Skills and Abilities (KSA).
- In addition to the experience or education above, the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs:
- (a) Knowledge of either mechanical, electrical, structural, civil or other engineering/architectural principles, practices and their applications in the healthcare environment.
- (b) Knowledge of basic project management principles as applied to the healthcare setting.
- (c) Ability to apply healthcare engineering related standards, codes, policies and regulations, inclusive of, state and local codes.
- (d) Ability to communicate effective orally and in writing with internal and external customers with tact and diplomacy.
- (e) Ability to develop material for clinical or administrative staff that addresses the principles and application of engineering technology and/or theory used in healthcare.
- (f) Ability to advise staff on emerging engineering technology related to a healthcare facility, while keeping abreast of changes in such technology and utilizing the information to solve healthcare facility engineering challenges.
GS 12: Healthcare Engineer (Full Performance Level) Experience Requirement:
(1)
Experience. One year of experience equivalent to the next lower (GS 11) grade.
(2)
Knowledge, Skills and Abilities (KSAs).
- In addition to meeting the experience requirements for this grade level, the candidate must fully demonstrate the following KSAs:
- (a) Knowledge of mechanical, electrical, structural, civil and other engineering/architectural principles, practices and their applic
