Bioengineers and Biomedical Engineers

What the job really is

Apply knowledge of engineering, biology, chemistry, computer science, and biomechanical principles to the design, development, and evaluation of biological, agricultural, and health systems and products, such as artificial organs, prostheses, instrumentation, medical information systems, and health management and care delivery systems.

At a glance

• Sector: Architecture & Engineering
• O*NET-SOC code: 17-2031
• O*NET job zone: 4 — considerable preparation
• Work sample tasks on file: 12
• Tools and technologies listed: 12

What you actually do

Work sample tasks recorded for this occupation:

• Evaluate the safety, efficiency, and effectiveness of biomedical equipment.
• Prepare technical reports, data summary documents, or research articles for scientific publication, regulatory submissions, or patent applications.
• Design or develop medical diagnostic or clinical instrumentation, equipment, or procedures, using the principles of engineering and biobehavioral sciences.
• Conduct research, along with life scientists, chemists, and medical scientists, on the engineering aspects of the biological systems of humans and animals.
• Adapt or design computer hardware or software for medical science uses.
• Maintain databases of experiment characteristics or results.
• Develop statistical models or simulations, using statistical or modeling software.
• Read current scientific or trade literature to stay abreast of scientific, industrial, or technological advances.
• Manage teams of engineers by creating schedules, tracking inventory, creating or using budgets, or overseeing contract obligations or deadlines.
• Develop models or computer simulations of human biobehavioral systems to obtain data for measuring or controlling life processes.
• Design or conduct follow-up experimentation, based on generated data, to meet established process objectives.
• Write documents describing protocols, policies, standards for use, maintenance, and repair of medical equipment.

Tools and technology

Adobe Illustrator, Adobe Photoshop, Autodesk AutoCAD, C, C++, Dassault Systemes SolidWorks, Extensible markup language XML, Hypertext markup language HTML, JavaScript, Linux, Microsoft Access, Microsoft Azure software

What employers expect you to already be comfortable with.

Where this job leads

Related occupations — the usual moves up and sideways:

• Nanotechnology Engineering Technologists and Technicians
• Nanosystems Engineers
• Bioinformatics Scientists
• Biochemists and Biophysicists
• Molecular and Cellular Biologists
• Bioinformatics Technicians
• Data Scientists
• Industrial Engineering Technologists and Technicians

Getting in

O*NET assigns this occupation job zone 4 (considerable preparation). The related occupations above are the realistic routes in and out.

Find openings

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Check this against the source

O*NET OnLine: Bioengineers and Biomedical Engineers — the authoritative public-domain profile this page is derived from, including the full task list, reported skills and the wage estimates for your region.

Derived and rewritten from the public-domain O*NET database (U.S. Department of Labor / Employment and Training Administration). Figures are observations, not promises — always confirm salary, licensing and visa requirements with the employer and the relevant authority.