Biomedical Equipment Support Specialist

The Biomedical Equipment Support Specialist position is in the Healthcare Technology Management (HTM) department at the VA Maine Healthcare System located at the Portland ME location. This position is full time at 40 hours per week. "The 2-page Resume requirement does not apply to this occupational series. For more information, refer to Required Documents below."

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. Biomedical Engineers must be proficient in spoken and written English in accordance with Chapter 2, Section D, paragraph 5A, VA Handbook 5005, as required by 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 one (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. 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 Grade Determinations: GS 5 Experience or Education: None beyond the basic requirements. GS 7 Experience: Must have one (1) year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level (GS 5). Experience includes but is not limited to: Receive guidance from more experienced staff members and require regular supervision. BESSs at this GS 5 grade level perform basic tasks designed to prepare them for promotion. They troubleshoot and perform planned maintenance on general medical equipment. Entry-level BESSs assist with incoming inspections and documentation. In addition to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs: (a) Knowledge of physics, anatomy, and physiology. (b) Knowledge of electronics such as analog, digital, and microprocessor theory. (c) Knowledge of the use of standard level test equipment such as multi-meters, electrical safety analyzers, patient simulators, storage oscilloscopes, manometers, and tachometers. (d) Knowledge of basic networking concepts, such as computer and server hardware and software functionality, information technologies and computer virus protection software, available software patches and upgrades, and information security tools (for example, Microsoft Office, Windows operating systems, and McAfee). (e) Skill in documenting all services provided in support of medical equipment and clinical systems in a computerized maintenance management system. (f) Ability to learn equipment operating and maintenance procedures. GS 9 Experience: Must have one (1) year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level (GS 7). Experience includes but is not limited to: Perform an increasing range of duties, under less frequent supervision, but receive guidance and direction regarding unfamiliar or unusual situations for more complex issues designed to prepare them for promotion. They troubleshoot and perform planned maintenance on general medical equipment. Developmental-level BESSs assist with incoming inspections and documentation. In addition to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs: (a) Knowledge of basic networking concepts including Access Control List (ACL), Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol (TCP/IP), and Virtual Local Area Networks (VLAN). (b) Knowledge of computer and server hardware and software functionality including virus protection, operating system patches and upgrades, and information security tools. (c) Ability to interpret a variety of technical data such as schematic drawings, wiring diagrams, table charts, mathematical expressions, and formulas. (d) Ability to use standard level test equipment including multi-meters, electrical safety analyzers, patient simulators, storage oscilloscopes, manometers, and tachometers. (e) Ability to perform equipment maintenance and operating procedures. GS 11 Experience: Must have one (1) year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level (GS 9). Experience includes but is not limited to: Perform increasingly more complex tasks designed to prepare them to work independently at the full performance level. They troubleshoot and perform planned maintenance on medical equipment. Developmental-level BESSs assist with incoming inspections and documentation. BESSs in this assignment receive increasingly less frequent supervision, direction, or guidance from more experienced staff members. In addition to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs: (a) Knowledge of standards including National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the Joint Commission (TJC), and the Association for the Advancement of Medical Instrumentation (AAMI) for safe operation of medical equipment and clinical systems. (b) Skill in using test and calibration equipment including digital multi-meters, electrical safety analyzers, defibrillator analyzers, patient simulators, manometers, tachometers, and Local Area Network (LAN) analyzers. (c) Skill in interpreting a variety of technical data including schematic drawings and wiring diagrams. 7 (d) Skill in applying networking principles, such as Access Control List (ACL), Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol (TCP/IP), and Virtual Local Area Networks (VLAN). (e) Ability to perform advanced testing to troubleshoot medical equipment and clinical system interfaces. (f) Ability to maintain medical computers and software. (g) Ability to manage projects involving medical equipment and clinical systems. 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 11. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is in the range of GS 7 to GS 11. Physical Requirements: See VA Directive and Handbook 5019, Employee Occupational Health Service.