Occupation · SOC 17-2031
Bioengineers and Biomedical Engineers
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.
Median wage
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Projected growth
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—
Annual openings
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per year
Employed (US)
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Job Zone 4
Typical preparation
Considerable preparation
Stackable credential programs
205 mapped
Core skills
WritingReading ComprehensionActive ListeningSpeakingComplex Problem SolvingCritical ThinkingJudgment and Decision MakingMathematics
Knowledge areas
Engineering and TechnologyComputers and ElectronicsMathematicsDesignPhysics
Technology & tools
Enterprise resource planning ERP softwareDevelopment environment softwareMedical softwareGraphics or photo imaging softwareAnalytical or scientific software
Representative tasks
Evaluate the safety, efficiency, and effectiveness of biomedical equipment.Prepare technical reports, data summary documents, or research articles for scientific publication, Design or develop medical diagnostic or clinical instrumentation, equipment, or procedures, using th
Competency framework
Skill expectations by proficiency level.
emerging
Biomedical equipment safety checklists — apply established evaluation protocols under direct supervision in a clinical or laboratory setting.Technical report drafts — compile data summaries using prescribed templates with guidance from senior engineers on a regulated project team.Engineering and biobehavioral science principles — recognize and apply foundational concepts when assisting in the design of basic medical instrumentation.Research data — collect and record experimental measurements accurately under the direction of life scientists or medical researchers in a multidisciplinary lab.Medical software applications — operate and configure existing systems under supervision to support diagnostic or clinical workflows.Experiment databases — enter, organize, and maintain records of experiment characteristics and results using established database structures.Statistical modeling software — execute pre-built models or simulations under guidance to support preliminary data analysis.Current scientific literature — review assigned journal articles and trade publications to summarize relevant findings for the project team.CAD software tools — create basic engineering drawings or schematics for biomedical device components following documented specifications.Regulatory submission requirements — identify applicable standards and compile supporting documentation under senior engineer oversight.
developing
Biomedical equipment performance — evaluate safety, efficiency, and effectiveness using standardized test protocols with limited oversight in a hospital or research facility.Technical reports and data summaries — author clear, well-structured documents for regulatory submissions or internal stakeholders with routine peer review.Medical diagnostic instrumentation — contribute to design and development cycles, applying engineering principles independently for familiar device categories.Interdisciplinary research teams — collaborate with life scientists, chemists, and medical scientists to address engineering aspects of biological systems in ongoing studies.Custom software adaptations — modify or configure existing computer hardware or software solutions to meet defined medical science requirements.Experiment result databases — design and maintain database schemas, validate data integrity, and generate routine reports for research tracking.Statistical models and simulations — develop and validate quantitative models using analytical software to support product or research decisions.Scientific and industry literature — synthesize emerging findings from journals and trade sources and present relevance to current projects at team meetings.Systems analysis — assess how biomedical device subsystems interact and identify performance gaps in familiar engineering contexts.CAD and CAM software — produce detailed design drawings and manufacturing documentation for medical device components within an established product-development workflow.
proficient
Biomedical equipment safety and efficacy — conduct comprehensive, autonomous evaluations across diverse device classes and recommend corrective actions in clinical or manufacturing environments.Research articles and patent applications — independently author, revise, and finalize technical documents for scientific publication, regulatory bodies, and intellectual property filings.Novel medical diagnostic and clinical instrumentation — lead full design and development cycles from concept through validation, integrating engineering and biobehavioral science principles.Cross-disciplinary research initiatives — drive the engineering contribution to complex biological-systems studies alongside medical scientists, managing scope and methodology independently.Medical hardware and software systems — architect and develop purpose-built computational solutions for advanced diagnostic or therapeutic applications without routine oversight.Research data infrastructure — design scalable database architectures, establish data governance practices, and perform advanced querying to support multi-study programs.Advanced statistical models and simulations — build, calibrate, and interpret sophisticated simulation frameworks that inform critical design or clinical decisions.Scientific literature synthesis — critically evaluate and integrate findings from diverse sources to identify knowledge gaps and shape research or product strategy.Systems evaluation — analyze full-system performance against engineering and clinical requirements, recommend design changes, and verify outcomes across non-routine scenarios.Technology design — specify and prototype innovative biomedical technologies by selecting and integrating appropriate engineering methods, materials, and computational tools.
advanced
Organizational equipment evaluation strategy — establish enterprise-wide frameworks and standards for assessing biomedical equipment safety, efficiency, and effectiveness across business units or research portfolios.Scientific publication and regulatory strategy — direct the preparation and dissemination of high-impact research, patent portfolios, and regulatory submissions, setting quality and compliance standards for the engineering organization.Biomedical innovation roadmap — define the multi-year vision and technical direction for medical instrumentation and device development programs, aligning with clinical, regulatory, and commercial goals.Research partnership leadership — initiate and govern large-scale interdisciplinary collaborations with academic institutions, clinical partners, and industry consortia to advance bioengineering knowledge.Digital health and software strategy — lead the selection, adaptation, and deployment of medical software and computational platforms at organizational scale, ensuring integration with clinical and regulatory ecosystems.Enterprise data governance — architect and champion organization-wide data management policies, experiment databases, and analytics capabilities that underpin evidence-based decision-making.Modeling and simulation capability building — establish organizational centers of excellence in statistical modeling and simulation, setting methodology standards and mentoring engineering teams.Knowledge management and learning culture — institute structured processes for monitoring scientific and technological advances and translating insights into strategic program decisions and talent development.Engineering talent development — mentor, coach, and evaluate biomedical engineers across career stages, designing learning strategies and competency pathways that build organizational capability.Systems-level judgment and risk governance — exercise authoritative judgment on complex cross-functional engineering and clinical trade-offs, setting organizational risk tolerance and approval criteria for critical biomedical programs.
Also known as
45 alternate job titles map to this occupation.
Biomedical Service EngineerOrthopedic DesignerYield EngineerBiomaterials EngineerBiochemistry Chemical Engineering AnalystBiomedical Technician (Biomedical Tech)Biomedical Engineering InternSustaining EngineerBiomedical EngineerBiomedical Engineering TechnologistBioprocess EngineerBiomedical Analytical ScientistBioengineerSupplier Quality Engineer (SQE)EngineerClinical Engineering Technician (Clinical Engineering Tech)Biochemical Development EngineerStack Yield EngineerBiomechanical EngineerField EngineerResearch EngineerFermentation EngineerClinical Applications SpecialistBioprocess Development EngineerProcess EngineerGenetic EngineerClinical Biomedical EngineerBiochemical EngineerYield Improvement EngineerDialysis EngineerClinical EngineerPharmaceutical EngineerMedical EngineerBiomedical ScientistResearch Biomedical EngineerBiomedical Field Service EngineerBiomedical Engineering Research AssistantImaging Service EngineerProcess Development EngineerBioinformatics Engineer