BIOMEDICAL ENGINEER JOB

Biomedical engineers apply engineering principles and materials technology to healthcare. This can include researching, designing and developing medical products, such as joint replacements or robotic surgical instruments; designing or modifying equipment for clients with special needs in a rehabilitation setting; or managing the use of clinical equipment in hospitals and the community. Rethinking the design until it works correctly, assessing the potential wider market for products or modifications suggested by health professionals or others, approaching marketing and other industry companies to sell the product.

Biomedical engineers can be employed by health services, medical equipment manufacturers and research departments/institutes. Job titles can vary depending on the exact nature of the work as well as biomedical engineer you are likely to come across bioengineer; design engineer clinical engineer and rehabilitation engineer. Work activities vary, depending on where you work and the seniority of the post, but typically involve using computer software and mathematical models to design, develop and test new materials, devices and equipment.

This can involve programming electronics; building and evaluating prototypes troubleshooting, liaising with technicians and manufacturers to ensure the feasibility of a product in terms of design and economic viability, conducting research to solve clinical problems using a variety of means to collate the necessary information, liaising closely with other medical professionals, such as doctors and therapists, and with end-users (patients), discussing and solving problems with manufacturing, quality, purchasing and marketing departments, arranging clinical trials of medical products.

Writing reports and attending conferences and exhibitions to present your work and latest designs to a range of technical and non-technical audiences, meeting with senior health service staff or other managers to exchange findings, dealing with technical queries from hospitals and GPs and giving advice on new equipment, testing and maintaining clinical equipment, training technical or clinical staff, investigating safety-related incidents, keeping up to date with new developments in the field, nationally and internationally.