Biomedical Equipment Support Specialist - Info Systems

Description:

Serves as a Biomedical Equipment Support Specialist (BESS) specializing in information systems within the Healthcare Technology Management (HTM) Service at the Bay Pines VA Healthcare System. The BESS maintains medical servers and networks, medical equipment, diagnostic software, virtual platforms, and clinical applications software.
**A Recruitment/Relocation Incentive may be authorized for a highly qualified candidate subject to approval, available funding, and in accordance with policy.**

Requirements:

To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement. 10/16/2025

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:
  1. Associates or higher degree in the biomedical technology or biomedical engineering field; OR
  2. Associates or higher degree in electronics, a field of information technology, or engineering (other than biomedical engineering) AND 1 year of creditable experience; OR
  3. Completion of the Department of Defense (DOD) biomedical equipment technician training program; OR
  4. Completion of a DOD training program in repair and maintenance of electronic systems or information technology AND 1 year of creditable experience; OR
  5. Completion of a biomedical engineering technician or Healthcare
     Technology Management (HTM) certificate program that included an internship or apprenticeship; OR
  6. Completion of biomedical engineering technician or HTM certificate program that did not include an internship AND 1 year of creditable experience; OR
  7. 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.
  8. **If claiming education or certification as proof of meeting basic requirements, documents are required to be submitted with application.
• 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 (Information Systems), 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) . In addition to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs on their resume and in their experience:
  • Knowledge of Health Level 7 (HL7) and Digital Imaging and
    Communications in Medicine (DICOM) standards.
  • Knowledge of advanced testing methods to troubleshoot networked
    medical equipment and clinical system interfaces.
  • Skill in maintaining computer and server based medical equipment,
    databases, and software.
  • Skill in managing medical equipment and clinical system projects that
    interface with an electronic health record or other information
    systems.
  • Skill in applying cybersecurity standards to medical devices and
    clinical systems such as Food and Drug Administration (FDA),
    Federal Information Security Modernization Act (FISMA), and
    National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) guidelines.
  • Ability to apply information security tools including virus protection,
    software updates, and operating system patches.
  • Ability to establish a medical network including VLAN configuration,
    Internet Protocol addressing, and network security.

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.