Summary Report for:
17-2031.00 - 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.
The occupation code you requested, 17-2199.01 (Biochemical Engineers), is no longer in use. In the future, please use 17-2031.00 (Bioengineers and Biomedical Engineers) instead.
Sample of reported job titles: Biomedical Electronics Technician, Biomedical Engineer, Biomedical Engineering Technician, Biomedical Equipment Technician (BMET), Biomedical Technician, Engineer, Process Engineer, Research Engineer, Research Scientist
Tasks | Technology Skills | Tools Used | Knowledge | Skills | Abilities | Work Activities | Detailed Work Activities | Work Context | Job Zone | Education | Credentials | Interests | Work Styles | Work Values | Related Occupations | Wages & Employment | Job Openings | Additional Information
Tasks
- 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.
- Evaluate the safety, efficiency, and effectiveness of biomedical equipment.
- Develop models or computer simulations of human biobehavioral systems to obtain data for measuring or controlling life processes.
- Research new materials to be used for products, such as implanted artificial organs.
- Write documents describing protocols, policies, standards for use, maintenance, and repair of medical equipment.
- Conduct training or in-services to educate clinicians and other personnel on proper use of equipment.
- Analyze new medical procedures to forecast likely outcomes.
- Advise hospital administrators on the planning, acquisition, and use of medical equipment.
- Advise manufacturing staff regarding problems with fermentation, filtration, or other bioproduction processes.
- Collaborate with manufacturing or quality assurance staff to prepare product specification or safety sheets, standard operating procedures, user manuals, or qualification and validation reports.
- Communicate with bioregulatory authorities regarding licensing or compliance responsibilities.
- Communicate with suppliers regarding the design or specifications of bioproduction equipment, instrumentation, or materials.
- Confer with research and biomanufacturing personnel to ensure the compatibility of design and production.
- Consult with chemists or biologists to develop or evaluate novel technologies.
- Design and deliver technology, such as prosthetic devices, to assist people with disabilities.
- Design or conduct follow-up experimentation, based on generated data, to meet established process objectives.
- Design or develop medical diagnostic or clinical instrumentation, equipment, or procedures, using the principles of engineering and biobehavioral sciences.
- Design or direct bench or pilot production experiments to determine the scale of production methods that optimize product yield and minimize production costs.
- Develop bioremediation processes to reduce pollution, protect the environment, or treat waste products.
- Develop methodologies for transferring procedures or biological processes from laboratories to commercial-scale manufacturing production.
- Develop statistical models or simulations using statistical or modeling software.
- Lead studies to examine or recommend changes in process sequences or operation protocols.
- Maintain databases of experiment characteristics or results.
- Manage teams of engineers by creating schedules, tracking inventory, creating or using budgets, or overseeing contract obligations or deadlines.
- Prepare project plans for equipment or facility improvements, including time lines, budgetary estimates, or capital spending requests.
- Prepare technical reports, data summary documents, or research articles for scientific publication, regulatory submissions, or patent applications.
- Read current scientific or trade literature to stay abreast of scientific, industrial, or technological advances.
- Recommend process formulas, instrumentation, or equipment specifications, based on results of bench or pilot experimentation.
- Review existing manufacturing processes to identify opportunities for yield improvement or reduced process variation.
Technology Skills
- Analytical or scientific software — ANSYS; SAS
; Stratasys FDM MedModeler; The MathWorks MATLAB
(see all 54 examples)
- Charting software
- Compliance software — Equipment compliance testing software
- Computer aided design CAD software
— Autodesk AutoCAD
; Dassault Systemes SOLIDWORKS
; PTC Creo Elements/Pro; Zuken (see all 13 examples)
- Computer aided manufacturing CAM software — Rapid prototyping software
- Configuration management software — IBM Rational ClearCase
- Data base reporting software — SAP BusinessObjects Crystal Reports
- Data base user interface and query software — Failure rate database software; Microsoft Access
; Structured query language SQL
; Thomson Reuters EndNote (see all 5 examples)
- Development environment software — Hardware description language HDL; Integrated development environment IDE software
; Microsoft Visual Basic
; National Instruments LabVIEW
(see all 11 examples)
- Electronic mail software — Microsoft Outlook
- Enterprise application integration software — Extensible markup language XML
; Rapid application development RAD software
- Enterprise resource planning ERP software
— Ab Initio; ERP software; SAP software
- Enterprise system management software — Splunk Enterprise
- Graphics or photo imaging software — Microsoft Visio
- Medical software — Electromyograph analysis software; Gait analysis software; Medical information software; Virtual instrument software (see all 7 examples)
- Object or component oriented development software — C++
; Oracle Java
; Python
; R
- Office suite software — Microsoft Office
- Operating system software — Linux
; Microsoft operating system; Microsoft Windows
; Red Hat Enterprise Linux
(see all 5 examples)
- Pattern design software — Diagramming software
- Presentation software — Microsoft PowerPoint
- Program testing software — Defect tracking software; System testing software; User interface design software
- Project management software — Microsoft Project
; Project estimation software
- Requirements analysis and system architecture software — IBM Rational RequisitePro; Requirements management software; Unified modeling language UML
- Spreadsheet software — Microsoft Excel
- Web platform development software — Hypertext markup language HTML
; Hypertext preprocessor PHP; JavaScript
- Word processing software — Microsoft Word
Hot Technology — a technology requirement frequently included in employer job postings.
Tools Used
- Accelerometers
- Acoustic sensors — Acoustic measurement systems
- Air samplers or collectors — Aerosol analyzers
- Amplifiers — Bio-signal amplifiers; Radio frequency amplifiers
- Analytical balances
- Autosamplers
- Bacteria transformation kits — Bacteria-based biosensors; Rapid toxicity testing systems
- Benchtop centrifuges — Centrifuges
- Binocular light compound microscopes — Inverted light microscopes
- Biometric identification equipment — Bio-sensors
- Blotting or transfer apparatus — Electroblotting apparatus
- Calorimeters — Bomb calorimeters; Differential scanning calorimeters
- Camera based vision systems for automated data collection — Eye tracking devices
- Cardiac pacemaker generator or cardiac resynchronization therapy pacemaker CRT-P — Defibrillator testing devices; Pacemaker analyzers; Pacemaker testing devices
- Chemical absorption gas analyzers — Surface area analyzers
- Chemiluminescence or bioluminescence analyzers — Chemiluminescence analyzers
- Circuit tester — Circuit analyzers
- Complementary deoxyribonucleic acid cDNA synthesis kits — Deoxyribonucleic acid DNA synthesizers
- Compression testers — Material tension/compression testing devices
- Computed tomography CT or CAT radiotherapy simulators — Maskless photolithography equipment
- Deflecting devices — Deflectors
- Desktop computers
- Digital camcorders or video cameras — Camcorders
- Digital cameras — High-speed digital cameras
- Dissolved oxygen meters — Dissolved oxygen polarographic measurement devices; Dissolved oxygen probes
- Drug delivery system or accessories — Micropumps; Microvalves
- Dry wall single chamber carbon dioxide incubators — Carbon dioxide CO2 incubators
- Dye sublimination printers — Sublimation printers
- Dynamometers
- Electro pneumatic transducers — Pressure transducers
- Electroencephalograph EEG or accessories — Electroencephalography EEG equipment
- Electrometers — Biomedical device electrical safety testers; Electrosurgery testing devices; Pressure and temperature measurement devices; Ventilator performance analyzers (see all 7 examples)
- Electromyography EMG units or accessories — Electromyographs EMG
- Electronic actuators — Motion actuators
- Electronic counters — Automated particle counters; Condensation nuclei counters CNC; Optical particle counters
- Electronic loads — Load sensors
- Endoscope maintenance units or accessories — Endovascular stent-graft testing instruments
- Extruders
- Fatigue testers — Cardiovascular prosthetic device testers; Material fatigue and dynamics characterization devices; Servopneumatic axial test instruments
- Flame ionization analyzers — Flame ionization detectors FID
- Flexure or transverse testing machines — Finger joint flexure testers; Multi-axis kinematic knee simulators; Spine simulators
- Flow injection analysis equipment — Flow control devices
- Fluorescent microscopes — Fluorescence microscopes
- Fog or mist generators — Aerosol generators
- Force or torque sensors — Strain gauge conditioners
- Forced air or mechanical convection general purpose incubators — Incubators
- Freeze dryers or lyopholizers — Freeze dryers
- Frequency calibrator or simulator — Bio-signal simulators
- Gas chromatographs — Gas chromatographs GC
- Gas detectors — Toxic gas detectors
- Gas or vapour concentration measuring instruments — Gas flow control systems
- Gel documentation systems — Protein gel electrophoresis
- Glass injection moldings — Glass micromolds
- Hardness testers — Hardness testing devices
- Hemacytometer sets — Molecular cytosensors
- HEPA filtered enclosures — Biosafety cabinets
- High pressure liquid chromatograph chromatography — High pressure liquid chromatographs HPLC
- Immunology or serology quality controls or calibrators or standards — Immuno-sensors
- Impact testers
- Inductively coupled plasma ICP spectrometers — Plasma excitation chambers
- Infrared spectrometers — Fourier transform infrared FTIR spectrometers
- Injection molding machines — Plastic injection molding machines
- Instrumentation for capillary electrophoresis — Capillary electrophoresis systems
- Ion chromatographs
- Isolators
- Laboratory vacuum pumps — Molecular vacuum pumps
- Laminar flow cabinets or stations — Laminar flow hoods
- Laser cutting machine — Laser ablation machines
- Liquid chromatographs — Fast protein liquid chromatographs FPLC; Refractive index detectors
- Luxmeters — Digital luxmeters
- Magnetometers — Superconducting quantum interference devices SQUID
- Mass spectrometers — Ion trap mass spectrometers; Quadrupole mass spectrometers
- Medical computed tomography CT or CAT scanners or tubes — Optical coherence tomography OCT scanners; Optical tomographic imaging scanners
- Medical magnetic resonance imaging MRI scanners — Biomagnetic imaging scanners; Functional magnetic resonance imaging fMRI scanners; Magnetic resonance imaging MRI systems; Ultra high speed magnetic resonance imaging MRI scanner machines (see all 5 examples)
- Medical positron emission tomography PET units — Positron emission tomography PET scanners
- Medical radiation dosimeters — Radiation compliance testing devices
- Medical single photon emission computed tomography SPECT units — Single photon emission computed tomography SPECT scanners
- Medical ultrasound or doppler or echo probes — Ultrasound indention probes
- Medical ultrasound or doppler or echo transducers or accessories — Ultrasound transducers
- Medical ultrasound or doppler or pulse echo or echography units for general diagnostic use — Ultrasonic testing apparatus; Ultrasound imaging scanners
- Medical x ray units for general diagnostic use — X ray machines
- Microbiology analyzers — Flow cytometers
- Microbiology fermentation equipment — Microbial fermenters
- Microcontrollers — Basic stamp microcontrollers
- Microplate readers — Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay ELISA plate readers
- Microplate washers
- Microplates — Microplating equipment
- Microscopic structure estimation apparatus — Microfluidic networks
- Milling machines
- Modulators — Acousto-optic modulators
- Multimeters
- Neuromuscular stimulators or kits — Grass stimulators
- Notebook computers — Laptop computers
- Nuclear magnetic resonance NMR spectrometers — Nuclear magnetic resonance NMR spectroscopes
- Optical diffraction apparatus — Low-pressure impactors; Particle size classifiers
- Orbital shakers
- Organic carbon analyzers — Total organic carbon TOC analyzers
- Oscilloscopes
- Oxygen sensors — Oxygen meters
- Personal computers
- pH electrodes — Electrode bevelers; Electrode pullers; Electroplating apparatus; Microelectrodes
- pH meters
- Phase modulation circuit — Frequency shifters
- Photosynthesis measurement apparatus — Plant photosynthesis meters
- Physiological recorders — Activity monitoring devices; Polygraph recorders; Torsiometers; Two-point discriminators (see all 7 examples)
- Piezo electric crystals — Piezoelectric ceramic transducers; Piezoelectric sensors
- Plastic injection moldings — Micromolding lithography equipment
- Pneumatic actuators — Servopneumatic actuators
- Pressure indicators — Environmental conditions measurement devices; Force platforms; Pinch gauges; Posturographic measurement systems (see all 7 examples)
- Pressure sensors
- Proton spectrometers — Electrical particle detectors
- Pulse oximeter units — Pulse oximeters
- Q Meters — Quantum-based switching applications Q-switch electron waveguides
- Rapid amplification or complementary deoxyribonucleic acid ends RACE technology products — Polymerase chain reaction PCR equipment; Real-time polymerase chain reaction PCR equipment
- Reactors or fermenters or digesters — Enzymatic membrane reactors
- Refrigerated and heated reach in environmental or growth chambers — Environmental growth chambers
- Rheometers
- Robot machines — Biomimetic robots
- Robotic or automated liquid handling systems — Liquid handling robots
- Scanning electron microscopes — Multi-photon microscopes; Scanning electron microscopes SEM
- Scanning light or spinning disk or laser scanning microscopes — Confocal laser scanning microscopes
- Scanning probe microscopes — Scanning probe microscopes SPM
- Skinfold calipers
- Sonometers — Digital sonomicrometers
- Spectrofluorimeters or fluorimeters — Fluorospectrometers; Spectrofluorimeters
- Spectrometers — Ultraviolet spectrometers
- Spectrophotometers — Microplate spectrophotometers; Optical particle detectors; Ultraviolet spectrophotometers
- Spirometers or its accessories or its supplies — Spirometers
- Steam autoclaves or sterilizers — Autoclaves
- Sterilization sets — Sterilization-in-place equipment
- Strain gauges
- Sugar analyzers
- Surface tension measuring instruments — Contact angle goniometers; Pulsating bubble surfactometers PBS
- Temperature cycling chambers or thermal cyclers — Thermal cyclers
- Tensiometers — Tensionmeters
- Tension testers — Prosthetic limb testers
- Thermocouples — Flash point detectors
- Thickness measuring devices — Anthropometers; Ellipsometers
- Tissue culture apparatus — Soft materials in-vitro simulation system
- Tissue culture coated plates or dishes or inserts — Polymer matrices; Polymer scaffolds
- Tissue culture incubators — Bioreactors; Cell culture bioreactors
- Titration equipment — Automatic titrators
- Transmission electron microscopes — Micromanipulation microrheology microscopes
- Treadmills — Physical conditioning treadmill exercisers
- Tweezers — Optical traps
- Ultra pure water systems — Ion exchange purification systems
- Viscosimeters — Cone-plate viscometers; Viscometers
- Wattmeters — Ultrasound wattmeters
- Wave generators — Arbitrary waveform generators
- Wear testers — Spinal disk implant wear testers
- X ray and fluoroscopy RF radiotherapy planning simulators — X ray lithography equipment
- X ray diffraction equipment — X ray diffractometers
Knowledge
- Engineering and Technology — Knowledge of the practical application of engineering science and technology. This includes applying principles, techniques, procedures, and equipment to the design and production of various goods and services.
- Computers and Electronics — Knowledge of circuit boards, processors, chips, electronic equipment, and computer hardware and software, including applications and programming.
- Mathematics — Knowledge of arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, statistics, and their applications.
- Design — Knowledge of design techniques, tools, and principles involved in production of precision technical plans, blueprints, drawings, and models.
- Biology — Knowledge of plant and animal organisms, their tissues, cells, functions, interdependencies, and interactions with each other and the environment.
- Physics — Knowledge and prediction of physical principles, laws, their interrelationships, and applications to understanding fluid, material, and atmospheric dynamics, and mechanical, electrical, atomic and sub- atomic structures and processes.
- English Language — Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.
- Chemistry — Knowledge of the chemical composition, structure, and properties of substances and of the chemical processes and transformations that they undergo. This includes uses of chemicals and their interactions, danger signs, production techniques, and disposal methods.
- Medicine and Dentistry — Knowledge of the information and techniques needed to diagnose and treat human injuries, diseases, and deformities. This includes symptoms, treatment alternatives, drug properties and interactions, and preventive health-care measures.
- Mechanical — Knowledge of machines and tools, including their designs, uses, repair, and maintenance.
- Administration and Management — Knowledge of business and management principles involved in strategic planning, resource allocation, human resources modeling, leadership technique, production methods, and coordination of people and resources.
Skills
- Critical Thinking — Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
- Active Listening — Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
- Complex Problem Solving — Identifying complex problems and reviewing related information to develop and evaluate options and implement solutions.
- Judgment and Decision Making — Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.
- Reading Comprehension — Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.
- Science — Using scientific rules and methods to solve problems.
- Speaking — Talking to others to convey information effectively.
- Mathematics — Using mathematics to solve problems.
- Monitoring — Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.
- Operations Analysis — Analyzing needs and product requirements to create a design.
- Systems Analysis — Determining how a system should work and how changes in conditions, operations, and the environment will affect outcomes.
- Systems Evaluation — Identifying measures or indicators of system performance and the actions needed to improve or correct performance, relative to the goals of the system.
- Writing — Communicating effectively in writing as appropriate for the needs of the audience.
- Active Learning — Understanding the implications of new information for both current and future problem-solving and decision-making.
- Coordination — Adjusting actions in relation to others' actions.
- Instructing — Teaching others how to do something.
- Technology Design — Generating or adapting equipment and technology to serve user needs.
- Time Management — Managing one's own time and the time of others.
- Learning Strategies — Selecting and using training/instructional methods and procedures appropriate for the situation when learning or teaching new things.
- Management of Personnel Resources — Motivating, developing, and directing people as they work, identifying the best people for the job.
- Negotiation — Bringing others together and trying to reconcile differences.
- Persuasion — Persuading others to change their minds or behavior.
- Quality Control Analysis — Conducting tests and inspections of products, services, or processes to evaluate quality or performance.
- Service Orientation — Actively looking for ways to help people.
- Social Perceptiveness — Being aware of others' reactions and understanding why they react as they do.
- Programming — Writing computer programs for various purposes.
Abilities
- Deductive Reasoning — The ability to apply general rules to specific problems to produce answers that make sense.
- Inductive Reasoning — The ability to combine pieces of information to form general rules or conclusions (includes finding a relationship among seemingly unrelated events).
- Written Comprehension — The ability to read and understand information and ideas presented in writing.
- Oral Comprehension — The ability to listen to and understand information and ideas presented through spoken words and sentences.
- Problem Sensitivity — The ability to tell when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong. It does not involve solving the problem, only recognizing there is a problem.
- Mathematical Reasoning — The ability to choose the right mathematical methods or formulas to solve a problem.
- Near Vision — The ability to see details at close range (within a few feet of the observer).
- Oral Expression — The ability to communicate information and ideas in speaking so others will understand.
- Originality — The ability to come up with unusual or clever ideas about a given topic or situation, or to develop creative ways to solve a problem.
- Written Expression — The ability to communicate information and ideas in writing so others will understand.
- Category Flexibility — The ability to generate or use different sets of rules for combining or grouping things in different ways.
- Flexibility of Closure — The ability to identify or detect a known pattern (a figure, object, word, or sound) that is hidden in other distracting material.
- Information Ordering — The ability to arrange things or actions in a certain order or pattern according to a specific rule or set of rules (e.g., patterns of numbers, letters, words, pictures, mathematical operations).
- Speech Recognition — The ability to identify and understand the speech of another person.
- Visualization — The ability to imagine how something will look after it is moved around or when its parts are moved or rearranged.
- Fluency of Ideas — The ability to come up with a number of ideas about a topic (the number of ideas is important, not their quality, correctness, or creativity).
- Number Facility — The ability to add, subtract, multiply, or divide quickly and correctly.
- Speech Clarity — The ability to speak clearly so others can understand you.
- Perceptual Speed — The ability to quickly and accurately compare similarities and differences among sets of letters, numbers, objects, pictures, or patterns. The things to be compared may be presented at the same time or one after the other. This ability also includes comparing a presented object with a remembered object.
- Selective Attention — The ability to concentrate on a task over a period of time without being distracted.
- Far Vision — The ability to see details at a distance.
Work Activities
- Analyzing Data or Information — Identifying the underlying principles, reasons, or facts of information by breaking down information or data into separate parts.
- Making Decisions and Solving Problems — Analyzing information and evaluating results to choose the best solution and solve problems.
- Getting Information — Observing, receiving, and otherwise obtaining information from all relevant sources.
- Interacting With Computers — Using computers and computer systems (including hardware and software) to program, write software, set up functions, enter data, or process information.
- Processing Information — Compiling, coding, categorizing, calculating, tabulating, auditing, or verifying information or data.
- Thinking Creatively — Developing, designing, or creating new applications, ideas, relationships, systems, or products, including artistic contributions.
- Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge — Keeping up-to-date technically and applying new knowledge to your job.
- Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates — Providing information to supervisors, co-workers, and subordinates by telephone, in written form, e-mail, or in person.
- Estimating the Quantifiable Characteristics of Products, Events, or Information — Estimating sizes, distances, and quantities; or determining time, costs, resources, or materials needed to perform a work activity.
- Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events — Identifying information by categorizing, estimating, recognizing differences or similarities, and detecting changes in circumstances or events.
- Interpreting the Meaning of Information for Others — Translating or explaining what information means and how it can be used.
- Monitor Processes, Materials, or Surroundings — Monitoring and reviewing information from materials, events, or the environment, to detect or assess problems.
- Organizing, Planning, and Prioritizing Work — Developing specific goals and plans to prioritize, organize, and accomplish your work.
- Evaluating Information to Determine Compliance with Standards — Using relevant information and individual judgment to determine whether events or processes comply with laws, regulations, or standards.
- Developing Objectives and Strategies — Establishing long-range objectives and specifying the strategies and actions to achieve them.
- Documenting/Recording Information — Entering, transcribing, recording, storing, or maintaining information in written or electronic/magnetic form.
- Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships — Developing constructive and cooperative working relationships with others, and maintaining them over time.
- Developing and Building Teams — Encouraging and building mutual trust, respect, and cooperation among team members.
- Provide Consultation and Advice to Others — Providing guidance and expert advice to management or other groups on technical, systems-, or process-related topics.
- Coordinating the Work and Activities of Others — Getting members of a group to work together to accomplish tasks.
- Scheduling Work and Activities — Scheduling events, programs, and activities, as well as the work of others.
- Communicating with Persons Outside Organization — Communicating with people outside the organization, representing the organization to customers, the public, government, and other external sources. This information can be exchanged in person, in writing, or by telephone or e-mail.
- Drafting, Laying Out, and Specifying Technical Devices, Parts, and Equipment — Providing documentation, detailed instructions, drawings, or specifications to tell others about how devices, parts, equipment, or structures are to be fabricated, constructed, assembled, modified, maintained, or used.
- Inspecting Equipment, Structures, or Material — Inspecting equipment, structures, or materials to identify the cause of errors or other problems or defects.
- Judging the Qualities of Things, Services, or People — Assessing the value, importance, or quality of things or people.
- Guiding, Directing, and Motivating Subordinates — Providing guidance and direction to subordinates, including setting performance standards and monitoring performance.
- Training and Teaching Others — Identifying the educational needs of others, developing formal educational or training programs or classes, and teaching or instructing others.
- Coaching and Developing Others — Identifying the developmental needs of others and coaching, mentoring, or otherwise helping others to improve their knowledge or skills.
- Monitoring and Controlling Resources — Monitoring and controlling resources and overseeing the spending of money.
Detailed Work Activities
- Research engineering aspects of biological or chemical processes.
- Develop software or computer applications.
- Evaluate characteristics of equipment or systems.
- Create models of engineering designs or methods.
- Prepare procedural documents.
- Analyze operational data to evaluate operations, processes or products.
- Train personnel on proper operational procedures.
- Advise customers on the use of products or services.
- Confer with technical personnel to prepare designs or operational plans.
- Communicate technical information to suppliers, contractors, or regulatory agencies.
- Design medical devices or appliances.
- Recommend technical design or process changes to improve efficiency, quality, or performance.
- Develop operational methods or processes that use green materials or emphasize sustainability.
- Develop technical methods or processes.
- Devise research or testing protocols.
- Estimate operational costs.
- Estimate time requirements for development or production projects.
- Maintain operational records or records systems.
- Prepare contracts, disclosures, or applications.
- Prepare detailed work plans.
- Prepare technical reports for internal use.
- Supervise engineering or other technical personnel.
- Update technical knowledge.
Find occupations related to multiple detailed work activities
Work Context
- Electronic Mail — 100% responded “Every day.”
- Indoors, Environmentally Controlled — 97% responded “Every day.”
- Face-to-Face Discussions — 66% responded “Every day.”
- Work With Work Group or Team — 66% responded “Extremely important.”
- Telephone — 54% responded “Once a week or more but not every day.”
- Duration of Typical Work Week — 67% responded “More than 40 hours.”
- Freedom to Make Decisions — 57% responded “Some freedom.”
- Spend Time Sitting — 57% responded “More than half the time.”
- Structured versus Unstructured Work — 60% responded “Some freedom.”
- Contact With Others — 40% responded “Contact with others most of the time.”
- Importance of Being Exact or Accurate — 40% responded “Very important.”
- Letters and Memos — 50% responded “Once a month or more but not every week.”
- Impact of Decisions on Co-workers or Company Results — 50% responded “Important results.”
- Time Pressure — 47% responded “Once a month or more but not every week.”
- Level of Competition — 40% responded “Moderately competitive.”
- Coordinate or Lead Others — 46% responded “Important.”
- Responsibility for Outcomes and Results — 38% responded “Moderate responsibility.”
- Frequency of Decision Making — 30% responded “Once a month or more but not every week.”
- Responsible for Others' Health and Safety — 33% responded “Moderate responsibility.”
- Consequence of Error — 31% responded “Fairly serious.”
Job Zone
Title | Job Zone Four: Considerable Preparation Needed |
Education | Most of these occupations require a four-year bachelor's degree, but some do not. |
Related Experience | A considerable amount of work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is needed for these occupations. For example, an accountant must complete four years of college and work for several years in accounting to be considered qualified. |
Job Training | Employees in these occupations usually need several years of work-related experience, on-the-job training, and/or vocational training. |
Job Zone Examples | Many of these occupations involve coordinating, supervising, managing, or training others. Examples include real estate brokers, sales managers, database administrators, graphic designers, chemists, art directors, and cost estimators. |
SVP Range | (7.0 to < 8.0) |
Education
![]() Percentage of Respondents |
Education Level Required |
---|---|
53 ![]() ![]() |
Bachelor's degree |
30 ![]() ![]() |
Master's degree |
7 ![]() ![]() |
Doctoral degree |
Interests
Interest code: IR Want to discover your interests? Take the O*NET Interest Profiler at My Next Move.
- Investigative — Investigative occupations frequently involve working with ideas, and require an extensive amount of thinking. These occupations can involve searching for facts and figuring out problems mentally.
- Realistic — Realistic occupations frequently involve work activities that include practical, hands-on problems and solutions. They often deal with plants, animals, and real-world materials like wood, tools, and machinery. Many of the occupations require working outside, and do not involve a lot of paperwork or working closely with others.
Work Styles
- Integrity — Job requires being honest and ethical.
- Cooperation — Job requires being pleasant with others on the job and displaying a good-natured, cooperative attitude.
- Attention to Detail — Job requires being careful about detail and thorough in completing work tasks.
- Analytical Thinking — Job requires analyzing information and using logic to address work-related issues and problems.
- Persistence — Job requires persistence in the face of obstacles.
- Achievement/Effort — Job requires establishing and maintaining personally challenging achievement goals and exerting effort toward mastering tasks.
- Dependability — Job requires being reliable, responsible, and dependable, and fulfilling obligations.
- Initiative — Job requires a willingness to take on responsibilities and challenges.
- Innovation — Job requires creativity and alternative thinking to develop new ideas for and answers to work-related problems.
- Adaptability/Flexibility — Job requires being open to change (positive or negative) and to considerable variety in the workplace.
- Independence — Job requires developing one's own ways of doing things, guiding oneself with little or no supervision, and depending on oneself to get things done.
- Self Control — Job requires maintaining composure, keeping emotions in check, controlling anger, and avoiding aggressive behavior, even in very difficult situations.
- Concern for Others — Job requires being sensitive to others' needs and feelings and being understanding and helpful on the job.
- Stress Tolerance — Job requires accepting criticism and dealing calmly and effectively with high stress situations.
- Leadership — Job requires a willingness to lead, take charge, and offer opinions and direction.
Work Values
- Independence — Occupations that satisfy this work value allow employees to work on their own and make decisions. Corresponding needs are Creativity, Responsibility and Autonomy.
- Achievement — Occupations that satisfy this work value are results oriented and allow employees to use their strongest abilities, giving them a feeling of accomplishment. Corresponding needs are Ability Utilization and Achievement.
- Working Conditions — Occupations that satisfy this work value offer job security and good working conditions. Corresponding needs are Activity, Compensation, Independence, Security, Variety and Working Conditions.
Wages & Employment Trends
Median wages (2019) | $43.95 hourly, $91,410 annual |
State wages | |
Local wages | |
Employment (2019) | 21,200 employees |
Projected growth (2019-2029) | ![]() |
Projected job openings (2019-2029) | 1,400 |
State trends | |
Top industries (2019) |
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics 2019 wage data
and 2019-2029 employment projections
.
"Projected growth" represents the estimated change in total employment over the projections period (2019-2029). "Projected job openings" represent openings due to growth and replacement.
Sources of Additional Information
Disclaimer: Sources are listed to provide additional information on related jobs, specialties, and/or industries. Links to non-DOL Internet sites are provided for your convenience and do not constitute an endorsement.
- American Association for the Advancement of Science
- American Board for Certification in Orthotics, Prosthetics and Pedorthics
- American Chemical Society
- American Institute of Chemical Engineers
- American Society for Healthcare Engineering
- American Society for Microbiology
- American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers
- Association for the Advancement of Medical Instrumentation
- Biomedical Engineering Society
- IEEE Engineering in Medicine and Biology Society
- International Society for Pharmaceutical Engineering
- National Fire Protection Association
- Occupational Outlook Handbook: Biomedical engineers
- Society for Biomaterials
- Society for Industrial Microbiology and Biotechnology
- Society for Neuroscience
- Society of Women Engineers
- SPIE
- The American Society of Mechanical Engineers