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Biomedical Engineer

Overview and Key Facts

biomedical engineer wwith robotic arm patient
Education
Education
Bachelor's degree
Median Pay
Median Pay
$106,950
Job Growth
Job Growth
5.20%
(Below US Average)
Jobs in 2034
Jobs in 2034
23,300

What Do They Do?

A biomedical engineer could...

 
neck pain
Create a flexible artificial disc to replace a damaged cervical disc, relieving chronic neck pain.
heart with valve replacement
Invent a better aortic valve replacement so that heart patients can return to active lifestyles sooner.
child with cerebral palsy
Help a child with cerebral palsy walk by creating an internal medication pump for anti-muscle-spasm drugs.
ultrasound
Develop safe and accurate ultrasound technology to help doctors monitor babies in utero.
 
neck pain heart with valve replacement child with cerebral palsy ultrasound

Overview Listen to this section

Shakespeare described humans as a "piece of work," and others have called the body "the most beautiful machine," but like any machine, sometimes body parts need repairs or servicing when the body cannot take care of the problems itself. That's where biomedical engineers come in. They use engineering to solve problems in medicine, such as creating replacement body parts, drug-delivery systems, medical instruments, and test equipment. Their work helps restore health and function, and improves the quality of life for people who are sick or injured.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KSmQ3F21ovo

Do You Have the Skills and Characteristics of a Biomedical Engineer?


  1. Critical Thinking: ?
  2. Judgment and Decision Making: ?
  3. Active Listening: ?
  4. Complex Problem Solving: ?
  5. Reading Comprehension: ?
More skills...

Core Tasks

Think about if you'd like the typical tasks a Biomedical Engineer might do:
  • 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.

Salary & Job Openings

Median Salary (Yearly Pay)

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Future Jobs

Blast-Off:

How Will Biomedical Engineer Jobs Grow by 2034?
Projected % Growth
Rapid growth
(10% or higher)
Much faster than average
(7% - 10%)
Faster than average
(5% - 7%)
About as fast as average
(3% - 5%)
Slower than average
(0% - 3%)
Decreasing
Average of all U.S. jobs (5.3%)
Biomedical Engineer jobs (5.20%)
Source: https://www.bls.gov/emp/tables/occupational-projections-and-characteristics.htm

Steps to Get There: Becoming a Biomedical Engineer

High School Subjects to Study

Aim to study the yellow-shaded subjects.
Math
Algebra 1
Geometry
Algebra 2
Pre-Calculus
Calculus
Statistics
Science
Biology
Chemistry
Physics
Environmental Science
Physiology
Bio-Medical / Biotech
IT &
Engineering
Computer Science
Applied Technology
Drafting & CAD Training
Core
English
Foreign Language
Business
Psychology / Sociology

Career Pathway Listen to this section

A biomedical engineering student should first plan to become a good engineer, who then acquires a working understanding of life sciences and terminology, according to the Biomedical Engineering Society website. Good communication skills are also important, because biomedical engineers provide a vital link to professionals with different backgrounds.

Education- Typical Degree Needed After High School Listen to this section

Degree
Post
high school credential
AA
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctoral or Professional Degree

Typical degree for an entry-level position: Bachelor's degree ? Types of Degrees and Credentials

In college, prospective biomedical engineers usually select engineering as a field of study, and then choose a discipline concentration within engineering. Some students will major in biomedical engineering, while others might major in chemical, electrical, or mechanical engineering with a specialty in biomedical engineering. Many students continue their education in graduate school, where they obtain valuable biomedical research experience at the master's or doctoral level.

When entering the job market, the graduate should be able to point to well-defined engineering skills for application to the biomedical field, with a project or in-the-field experience in biomedical engineering. Some biomedical engineers also have advanced training in other fields. For example, many biomedical engineers also have a Doctor of Medicine (MD) degree, thereby combining an understanding of advanced technology with direct patient care or clinical research.

Companies That Hire Biomedical Engineers

Try it Out with an Activity or Project

STEM Activities

STEM activities are fun hands-on explorations that usually take from 10 minutes to one hour and use readily available household or classroom materials while introducing you to STEM concepts common in this career.

Science Project Ideas

Project Ideas are in-depth STEM explorations that have a strong focus on controlling variables, taking accurate measurements, and analyzing data suitable for investigating the scientific method or the engineering design process.

On the Job

Role Models

Meet Katie Hilpisch, a Senior Biomedical Engineer at Medtronic who is helping to find medical therapies for patients with heart problems.
My job is specific to helping find medical therapies for patients with heart problems. Other biomedical engineers look at how different substances interact in the human body and how to get images (MRI, echo) of our bodies.  
Katie Hilpisch, Senior Biomedical Engineer
Meet many inspiring bioengineers, including Dr. Joyce Wong who is hoping to treat heart disease in children by developing materials that can even grow inside the body.
If you are focused and you have the drive and desire, there are [undergraduate and graduate] programs out there for you… [focus on impactful areas with] highest unmet clinical needs. 
Joyce Wong, Ph.D., Professor of Biomedical Engineering and Materials Science and Engineering

Nature of the Work

Biomedical engineers develop devices and procedures that solve medical and health-related problems by combining their knowledge of biology and medicine with engineering principles and practices. Many do research with medical scientists to develop and evaluate systems and products, such as artificial organs, prostheses (artificial devices that replace missing body parts), instrumentation, medical information systems, and health-management and care-delivery systems.

Biomedical engineers also might design devices used in various medical procedures; imaging systems, such as magnetic resonance imaging (MRI); and devices for automating insulin injections or controlling body functions. Most engineers in this specialty need a solid background in another engineering specialty, such as mechanical or electronics engineering, in addition to specialized biomedical training. Some specialties within biomedical engineering are biomaterials, biomechanics, medical imaging, rehabilitation engineering, and orthopedic engineering.

In industry, they might create designs where an in-depth understanding of living systems and of technology is essential. They might be involved in performance testing of new or proposed products. Government positions often involve product testing and safety, as well as establishing safety standards for devices. In the hospital, biomedical engineers might provide advice on the selection and use of medical equipment and supervise its performance testing and maintenance.

They might also build customized devices for special healthcare or research needs. In research institutions, biomedical engineers supervise laboratories and equipment and participate in, or direct, research activities in collaboration with other researchers with such backgrounds as medicine, physiology, and nursing. Some biomedical engineers are technical advisors for marketing departments of companies, and some are in management positions.

Work Environment

Biomedical engineers are employed in education, industry, hospitals, research facilities of educational and medical institutions, and government regulatory agencies. They often serve a coordinating or interfacing function, using their background in both the engineering and medical fields.

They generally work indoors in environmentally controlled conditions, must be very exact and highly accurate in performing their jobs, are often required to wear protective or safety equipment, and require the use of their hands to handle and control objects, tools, or controls.

More Information

Ask Questions

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