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Bioengineers and Biomedical Engineers

SOC 17-2031.00Job Zone 4 · Considerable Preparationv.26.05

Context coveredThis framework covers the full practice context of bioengineers and biomedical engineers working in clinical, research, manufacturing, and regulatory environments—from entry-level laboratory and design support through executive leadership of biomedical innovation programs.

Sources:O*NET v30.2O*NET Resource Center — Occupational Information Network, v30.2 (Sept 2025). Opens in new tab.SkillsCrosswalkSkillsCrosswalk — O*NET enrichment + adjacency index. Opens in new tab.
Emerging
Entry / Apprentice
  1. Biomedical equipment safety checklists — apply established evaluation protocols under direct supervision in a clinical or laboratory setting.
  2. Technical report drafts — compile data summaries using prescribed templates with guidance from senior engineers on a regulated project team.
  3. Engineering and biobehavioral science principles — recognize and apply foundational concepts when assisting in the design of basic medical instrumentation.
  4. Research data — collect and record experimental measurements accurately under the direction of life scientists or medical researchers in a multidisciplinary lab.
  5. Medical software applications — operate and configure existing systems under supervision to support diagnostic or clinical workflows.
  6. Experiment databases — enter, organize, and maintain records of experiment characteristics and results using established database structures.
  7. Statistical modeling software — execute pre-built models or simulations under guidance to support preliminary data analysis.
  8. Current scientific literature — review assigned journal articles and trade publications to summarize relevant findings for the project team.
  9. CAD software tools — create basic engineering drawings or schematics for biomedical device components following documented specifications.
  10. Regulatory submission requirements — identify applicable standards and compile supporting documentation under senior engineer oversight.
Developing
Mid-level / Established
  1. Biomedical equipment performance — evaluate safety, efficiency, and effectiveness using standardized test protocols with limited oversight in a hospital or research facility.
  2. Technical reports and data summaries — author clear, well-structured documents for regulatory submissions or internal stakeholders with routine peer review.
  3. Medical diagnostic instrumentation — contribute to design and development cycles, applying engineering principles independently for familiar device categories.
  4. Interdisciplinary research teams — collaborate with life scientists, chemists, and medical scientists to address engineering aspects of biological systems in ongoing studies.
  5. Custom software adaptations — modify or configure existing computer hardware or software solutions to meet defined medical science requirements.
  6. Experiment result databases — design and maintain database schemas, validate data integrity, and generate routine reports for research tracking.
  7. Statistical models and simulations — develop and validate quantitative models using analytical software to support product or research decisions.
  8. Scientific and industry literature — synthesize emerging findings from journals and trade sources and present relevance to current projects at team meetings.
  9. Systems analysis — assess how biomedical device subsystems interact and identify performance gaps in familiar engineering contexts.
  10. CAD and CAM software — produce detailed design drawings and manufacturing documentation for medical device components within an established product-development workflow.
Proficient
Senior / Expert IC
  1. Biomedical equipment safety and efficacy — conduct comprehensive, autonomous evaluations across diverse device classes and recommend corrective actions in clinical or manufacturing environments.
  2. Research articles and patent applications — independently author, revise, and finalize technical documents for scientific publication, regulatory bodies, and intellectual property filings.
  3. Novel medical diagnostic and clinical instrumentation — lead full design and development cycles from concept through validation, integrating engineering and biobehavioral science principles.
  4. Cross-disciplinary research initiatives — drive the engineering contribution to complex biological-systems studies alongside medical scientists, managing scope and methodology independently.
  5. Medical hardware and software systems — architect and develop purpose-built computational solutions for advanced diagnostic or therapeutic applications without routine oversight.
  6. Research data infrastructure — design scalable database architectures, establish data governance practices, and perform advanced querying to support multi-study programs.
  7. Advanced statistical models and simulations — build, calibrate, and interpret sophisticated simulation frameworks that inform critical design or clinical decisions.
  8. Scientific literature synthesis — critically evaluate and integrate findings from diverse sources to identify knowledge gaps and shape research or product strategy.
  9. Systems evaluation — analyze full-system performance against engineering and clinical requirements, recommend design changes, and verify outcomes across non-routine scenarios.
  10. Technology design — specify and prototype innovative biomedical technologies by selecting and integrating appropriate engineering methods, materials, and computational tools.
Advanced
Lead / Principal / Executive
  1. Organizational equipment evaluation strategy — establish enterprise-wide frameworks and standards for assessing biomedical equipment safety, efficiency, and effectiveness across business units or research portfolios.
  2. 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.
  3. 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.
  4. Research partnership leadership — initiate and govern large-scale interdisciplinary collaborations with academic institutions, clinical partners, and industry consortia to advance bioengineering knowledge.
  5. 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.
  6. Enterprise data governance — architect and champion organization-wide data management policies, experiment databases, and analytics capabilities that underpin evidence-based decision-making.
  7. Modeling and simulation capability building — establish organizational centers of excellence in statistical modeling and simulation, setting methodology standards and mentoring engineering teams.
  8. Knowledge management and learning culture — institute structured processes for monitoring scientific and technological advances and translating insights into strategic program decisions and talent development.
  9. Engineering talent development — mentor, coach, and evaluate biomedical engineers across career stages, designing learning strategies and competency pathways that build organizational capability.
  10. 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.

AI-at-Work Competency Framework

Sources:Anthropic Economic IndexAnthropic Economic Index — release_2026_03_24. Opens in new tab.Jadhav & Danve, 2026Skill Automation Feasibility Index — Jadhav & Danve, 2026 (arXiv:2604.06906). Opens in new tab.WEF Skills TaxonomyWEF Skills Taxonomy 2021 — Building a Common Language for Skills at Work. Opens in new tab.

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  4. Advanced
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Sources:Pathsmith™ Durable SkillsPathsmith™ Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab.O*NET v30.2O*NET Resource Center — Occupational Information Network, v30.2 (Sept 2025). Opens in new tab.
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O*NET enrichment · skillscrosswalk.com

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Source anchors that ground each statement

Related titles
Analytical Biochemical Engineer · Biochemical Development Engineer · Biochemical Engineer · Biochemistry Chemical Engineering Analyst · Bioengineer · Bioinformatics Engineer · Biomaterials Engineer · Biomechanical Engineer · Biomedical Analytical Scientist · Biomedical Engineer · Biomedical Engineering Intern · Biomedical Engineering Research Assistant
RAPIDS apprenticeships
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O*NET skills
WritingReading ComprehensionActive ListeningSpeakingComplex Problem SolvingCritical ThinkingJudgment and Decision MakingMathematicsScienceMonitoringOperations AnalysisActive LearningSystems AnalysisSystems EvaluationTechnology DesignLearning StrategiesTime ManagementInstructingProgrammingQuality Control AnalysisCoordinationManagement of Personnel ResourcesSocial Perceptiveness
Knowledge domains
Engineering and TechnologyComputers and ElectronicsMathematicsDesignPhysicsBiologyEnglish LanguageMedicine and DentistryEducation and TrainingChemistryAdministration and Management
Abilities
Inductive ReasoningOral ComprehensionWritten ComprehensionOral ExpressionWritten ExpressionProblem SensitivityDeductive ReasoningInformation OrderingNear VisionFluency of Ideas
Work styles
Intellectual CuriosityAttention to DetailInnovationDependabilityCautiousnessAdaptability
Technology
Enterprise resource planning ERP softwareDevelopment environment softwareMedical softwareGraphics or photo imaging softwareAnalytical or scientific softwareComputer aided design CAD softwareObject or component oriented development softwareCharting softwareComputer aided manufacturing CAM softwareProgram testing software
Tasks · seed anchors for statements
  1. Evaluate the safety, efficiency, and effectiveness of biomedical equipment.
  2. Prepare technical reports, data summary documents, or research articles for scientific publication, regulatory submissions, or patent applications.
  3. Design or develop medical diagnostic or clinical instrumentation, equipment, or procedures, using the principles of engineering and biobehavioral sciences.
  4. Conduct research, along with life scientists, chemists, and medical scientists, on the engineering aspects of the biological systems of humans and animals.
  5. Adapt or design computer hardware or software for medical science uses.
  6. Maintain databases of experiment characteristics or results.
  7. Develop statistical models or simulations, using statistical or modeling software.
  8. Read current scientific or trade literature to stay abreast of scientific, industrial, or technological advances.
CIP education codes
14.050114.070214.4501

Sources: O*NET v30.2 (CC BY 4.0), SkillsCrosswalk.com, LER.me®, Anthropic Economic Index, SAFI (Jadhav & Danve, 2026), WEF Skills Taxonomy 2021, Pathsmith™ Durable Skills Framework. © 2026 EBSCOed.