Biomedical Engineer 1 (one year term position)

POSITION OBJECTIVE 
Working under general supervision, the Engineer 1 will be a member of a multidisciplinary research and development team designing and investigating new Class III medical devices for neuromodulation with a focus on restoring motor and sensory function in the upper limb.  This position will be responsible for providing engineering support to clinical research studies and will work closely with other project team members including, but not limited to, principal investigator, study investigators, clinicians, study coordinators, clinical engineers, regulatory specialists, senior biomedical engineers, and students. The roles and responsibilities of the Biomedical Engineer include: 1) provide engineering support and perform technical objectives, 2) maintain and support the technology, systems, and infrastructure (hardware and software) for investigators and staff on the team, and 3) assist with data collection and analysis in clinical research studies. The engineer will be responsible for maintaining laboratory equipment, efficient and centralized data management, developing hardware and software to support research experiments, providing high level computing infrastructure support, and testing and operation of computer codes. In addition, the position will provide support to the supervisors by assisting in preparation of regular reports and experimental protocols.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS
1. Perform specific aspects of a broader engineering problem. Perform engineering tasks to support the development of brain-computer interface technology and peripheral nerve interface technology and the study of these technologies in clinical trials. Engineering tasks may pertain to computer, electrical, biomedical and/or mechanical engineering fields. Identify tasks, plan and carry out technical steps required, seek assistance within or outside the research team as needed, and coordinate work efforts with supervisors. (20%) 
2. Apply methods and techniques, adjust and correlate data, determine errors in results, and follow the operation through a series of related steps to completion. Design, plan, and execute experiments with clinical research participants. Collect and analyze data from clinical research experiments. Maintain records of experiments. May be assisted in work by a technician or student helper. (20%)
3. Support complex scientific and research programs related to neural engineering and neural devices; monitor and oversee experimental process; design and develop prototypes, specialized equipment, and/or systems to support research objectives. (15%)
4. Exercise judgment on certain details of the work and in assisting in making preliminary selections and adoptions of possible alternatives.  Exercise judgment on designing, implementing, and testing technology and systems to meet project objectives while maintaining participant safety and compliance with all applicable regulations. (15%)  
5. Record results for a particular experiment or closely related series of experiments. Maintain records of experiments. Design, maintain, and interrogate databases for research-related operational information. Design, maintain, and coordinate team members in utilization of data storage servers, cloud storage, and high-performance computing systems. Design, maintain, and coordinate team members in utilization of code repositories. (10%)

NONESSENTIAL FUNCITONS
1. Order laboratory supplies. Apply engineering skills and knowledge to select and procure any required equipment, hardware, software and/or tools for projects by contacting outside vendors, marketing, and/or sales representatives to exchange information as needed. Coordinate with outside vendors or collaborators and perform necessary tasks to troubleshoot research equipment and systems and resolve technical issues. (5%)
2. Maintain test equipment utilized in experiments. Establish supply inventory, manage laboratory supplies, coordinate routine maintenance of laboratory equipment, and maintain test equipment utilized in experiments. (5%)
3. Develop, maintain, and update lab-related Standard Operation Procedures (SOPs) under the direction of supervisors to ensure efficient lab operation. Provide support to senior team members to prepare and submit monthly and/or quarterly technical progress reports as required. Assist with technical record-keeping duties to ensure conformance to regulatory policies and ensure efficient lab operation. (5%)
4. Perform other duties as assigned. (5%)

CONTACTS
Department: Daily contact with supervisor and/or other engineering staff to discuss research and maintain workflow.
University: Infrequent contact with other departments to share information. Occasional contact with administrative personnel as needed to perform project duties. 
External: Moderate contact with vendors to exchange technical information, procure quotes for services or equipment, and resolve troubleshooting or equipment maintenance issues. Occasional contact with collaborating institutions to discuss research results and processes. 
Students: Frequent contact with student employees to exchange information, discuss research, and develop experiments and systems.

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES
This position has no direct supervision of staff employees.

QUALIFICAITONS
Experience: 0 to 2 years of professional engineering experience.
Education: Bachelor¿s degree in biomedical, electrical, or computer engineering, or equivalent. Master¿s degree in engineering or engineering management is preferred.

REQUIRED SKILLS  
1. Has knowledge of concepts and procedures in the biomedical, electrical, and/or computer engineering field(s). 
2. Ability to interact with and effectively communicate with colleagues, supervisors, and research participants in a respectful and professional manner as well as face to face. 
3. Has knowledge and ability to interpret and apply relevant codes, regulations, guidelines and standards associated with development, testing, documentation and deployment of medical technology.
4. Must have critical thinking and decisive judgment skills, and the ability to work towards objectives with minimal supervision
5. Ability to organize and prioritize responsibilities while paying close attention to detail. 
6. Ability to meet consistent attendance.

WORKING CONDITIONS
The primary work location is the Neural Engineering Center in the Wickenden Building on the Case Western Reserve University campus. The work environment for this job is indoors and primarily computer based. Therefore, there will be a large amount of time spent at a desk. When working with the clinical research team, the candidate will need to provide their own transportation to facilities at partner institutions in the Cleveland area, including the Cleveland VA Medical Center, University Hospitals, and MetroHealth Medical Center. At these clinical locations, the Engineer will work as a team with other engineers, students, and research subjects. The candidate may occasionally be asked to assist with technical tasks in operating rooms of partner institutions during surgeries related to the research projects. There will be minimal travel to conferences possible.
 

This is a Term position. They are treated like regular staff positions for medical and dental benefits eligibility, vacation, holidays, and sick time.  Term employees are not eligible for life insurance, retirement, long term disability, short term disability, tuition assistance, layoff status, or severance pay.  Staff in term positions are also subject to the performance management review process and positive corrective action when work performance or behavior is unsatisfactory or unacceptable.  Term employment does not alter the employment-at-will employee status of these employees.

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In employment, as in education, Case Western Reserve University is committed to Equal Opportunity and Diversity.  Women, veterans, members of underrepresented minority groups, and individuals with disabilities are encouraged to apply.

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Case Western Reserve University provides reasonable accommodations to applicants with disabilities.  Applicants requiring a reasonable accommodation for any part of the application and hiring process should contact the Office of Equity at 216-368-3066 to request a reasonable accommodation.  Determinations as to granting reasonable accommodations for any applicant will be made on a case-by-case basis.

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