Healthcare Engineer

Summary

The employee serves as the resident Healthcare Engineer and Energy Management expert for the VA Greater Los Angeles Healthcare System, providing specialized technical support to the VISN, VACO, and the Executive Office of the President in implementing laws, Executive Orders, and VA policies related to energy management while ensuring alignment with national sustainability goals and supporting required compliance activities.

Duties

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• Manages energy, water conservation, sustainability, and climate change adaptation programs to support facility and organizational goals.
• Oversees efforts to optimize utility systems, improve energy efficiency, and reduce water consumption across the healthcare system.
• Ensures Energy Management activities comply with applicable Federal laws, Executive Orders, VA directives, and design and construction standards.
• Develops and implements strategies to strengthen climate resiliency and support long-term sustainability objectives.
• Conducts monitoring and analysis of facility energy performance, identifies improvement opportunities, and recommends corrective actions.
• Coordinates with facility leadership, VISN, and national program offices to ensure alignment with VA sustainability and energy priorities.
• Prepares required reports, documentation, and data submissions related to energy use, water efficiency, and sustainability initiatives.
• Advises leadership and stakeholders on best practices, compliance requirements, and emerging energy and sustainability policies.
• Supports implementation of energy-related projects and initiatives, ensuring cost-effective practices and adherence to technical standards.
• Determines project requirements for all healthcare system locations, including VA-owned and leased sites.
• Assesses organizational and departmental needs using applicable guidelines, standards, and regulatory criteria.
• Evaluates project execution methods and identifies risks, developing mitigation strategies.
• Minimizes impacts to patient care during construction and ensures safe, continuous operations.
• Identifies necessary temporary measures to protect patients and staff while maintaining clinical care standards.
• Applies detailed knowledge of healthcare operations and supporting utility systems.
• Reviews programs and projects for compliance with environmental, safety, and security requirements.
• Plans and designs phased construction approaches to reduce risks and avoid disruption to patient treatment activities.
• Manages shifting priorities and deadlines driven by engineering workload.
• Responds immediately to utility and equipment failures to ensure uninterrupted patient care.
• Prioritizes frequent requests while maintaining continuity of medical facility operations.
• Applies engineering judgment to adapt or refine methods and resolve complex, unique issues.
• Researches trends, develops new approaches, and recommends sound engineering practices.
• Evaluates conflicting or incomplete information to propose effective solutions.
• Directs and guides contractors on construction activities within the medical facility.
• Approves construction methods to ensure patient and staff safety.
• Trains contractors on medical-facility requirements, including infection control and safety measures.
• Conducts daily safety and compliance reviews.
• Ensures proper procedures for hazardous materials.
• Coordinates construction schedules; inspects materials and workmanship.
• Prepares cost estimates, reports, and project documentation.
• Resolves unforeseen construction issues and updates drawings or specifications.
• Reviews and evaluates contractor submittals and recommends approval or rejection.
• Supports construction projects, space changes, and planning for medical technologies.
• Assists with site prep and design for equipment installations and facility projects.
• Contributes to conceptual and detailed infrastructure planning.
• Provides project support for design reviews, construction, and equipment installation in clinical areas.
• Collaborates with clinical and Biomedical Engineering staff on space design and specifications.
• Researches best practices and current design trends for medical spaces.
• Assists in monitoring and reporting on construction and utilities programs for accreditation compliance.
• Keeps current with standards interpretations and reporting requirements.
• Supports presentations and documentation for accreditation reviews.
• Helps manage information security for engineering databases and building automation systems.
• Assists with documenting backups, disaster recovery, and security requirements.
• Supports oversight of networked system safeguards.

Work Schedule: Monday to Friday from 07:00 a.m. - 03:30 p.m.

Compressed/Flexible:Not Authorized

Recruitment Incentive (Sign-on Bonus): Not Authorized

Permanent Change of Station (Relocation Assistance): Not Authorized

Telework: Not Authorized

Virtual: This is not a virtual position.

Functional Statement #: 000000

Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized

Requirements

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Conditions of employment

• You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job.
• All applicants tentatively selected for VA employment in a testing designated position are subject to urinalysis to screen for illegal drug use prior to appointment. Applicants who refuse to be tested will be denied employment with VA.
• 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 dentification 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:

• 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. Titles may vary from educational institutions and change over time;

~OR~

• 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~

• 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.

Grade Determinations ~ GS-13 Requirements:

(1) Experience. One year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade; ~AND~

(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 current and evolving concepts and principles of general engineering to resolve novel or obscure problems; extend and modify techniques; develop new approaches that guide other engineers who solve a variety of technical problems; and/or apply new, innovative or experimental advanced engineering theories, developments or practices.

(b) Skill in construction, capital planning, and multiple healthcare system portfolio management inclusive of budget development and tracking.

(c) Skill to collaborate with persons having different viewpoints, goals, or objectives to achieve a common understanding of the problem and a satisfactory solution by justifying, defending, negotiating, or settling controversial and far-reaching matters through active participation in conferences, meetings, or presentations.

(d) Ability to interpret broad guidelines and exercise considerable judgment and ingenuity in interpreting and adapting existing guides, developing new and improved hypotheses, concepts, or approaches to previously tested or reported and/or in developing new policies that advance the organization.

(e) Ability to coordinate and interact with regional facilities, national and corresponding staff for the implementation and coordination of policies and program plans to apply prioritization methodologies that align facilities' capital asset requests and develop infrastructure options that result in the efficacious use of regional level capital strategic plans.

(f) Ability to adapt and apply trends in healthcare delivery systems that impact long-term capital assets (such as aging equipment and physical plants) for regionally integrated healthcare systems.

(g) Ability to consult and collaborate with all organizational levels in a national healthcare organization, outside organizations and businesses regarding both strategic and financial activities of a regional healthcare organization.

(h) Ability to implement and/or sustain a capital asset and construction program that meets healthcare facility related standards, codes, policies, and regulations inclusive of state and local codes.

****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).

Assignment: The position works independently with broad discretion, serving as a Healthcare Engineer Energy Manager and subject-matter expert in healthcare engineering and capital programs. The role supports clinical stakeholders, acquisition staff, contractors, and leadership by leading engineering programs, technology assessments, and implementation of emerging technologies. The position contributes to safe and efficient healthcare delivery, manages complex healthcare construction projects, and develops solutions within applicable regulations and standards.

Reference: VA Handbook 5005, Part II, Appendix G72. Healthcare Engineer Qualification Standards, GS-0801The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-13. For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/.

The full performance level of this vacancy is G-13.

Physical Requirements: The work is performed in typical office and training environments with normal safety precautions. The Chief Engineer may also work outdoors in all weather and may encounter moderate risks in storage or hazardous waste areas. The work is primarily sedentary but requires periodic walking, standing, climbing ladders, bending, kneeling, lifting light items, and travel by motor vehicle.

Education

IMPORTANT: A transcript must be submitted with your application if you are basing all or part of your qualifications on education.

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