Medical Instrument Technician - Echocardiogram

The Advanced Medical Instrument Technician (MIT), Echocardiogram, serves as a specialized technician with focused cardiac knowledge above full performance level in the Hospital and Specialty Care Division of the Puget Sound VA Health Care System. The MIT performs all duties related to the support of echocardiography services in the facility.

Duties include but are not limited to:

• Responsible for all of the technical quality of work performed in the lab. Responsible for insuring procedures are accomplished within the established time frames and are coordinated with the other sections of the hospital. Must be able to instruct lower level technicians in established work standards by clearly defining specific tasks and job technique requirements, and provide on the job training.
• Provides scheduling for inpatients and ensures that patients requiring emergent or critical procedures are triaged appropriately. Appropriately directs lower level technicians regarding triage of emergent or critical procedures.
• Ensures procedures performed are appropriate and necessary based upon the information provided. This is accomplished independently while complying to established criteria and/or special education.
• Possess specialized knowledge, skills and abilities in order to provide expert guidance to lower level technicians regarding special requests, unusual findings, emergent evaluations or imaging difficulties.
• In both the inpatient and outpatient setting, receives the patient and explains the purpose and methodology of the procedures in a manner that the patient will understand. Independently positions the patient in accordance to any patient limitations and obtains diagnostic ultrasound images of the heart and all required measurements.
• Performs specialized cardiac ultrasound examinations, including but not limited to: Transthoracic Echo, Stress Echo, Transesophageal Echo, Contrast Echocardiograms, and Agitated Saline Bubble Echocardiograms.
• Makes routine and non-routine dimensional and Doppler measurements from digitized images per established protocol and industry standards. Provides guidance to lower level technicians regarding non-routine measurements.
• Proficient with common computer programs and specialized cardiac ultrasound exam analyzing systems to prepare study for report generation and interpretation.
• Accurately maintains procedure and patient records following strict guidelines regarding confidentiality. Provides these records and reports to the supervisory level as requested.
• Responsible for the orientation and instruction of lower level technicians and cardiology fellows, in proper calibration, maintenance and operational techniques of all ultrasound equipment and related peripheral accessories. Works collaboratively with biomedical engineering staff to ensure proper functioning of all equipment.
• Has a thorough knowledge of JCAHO and other regulatory standards. Responsible for proper education and adherence to all strict environmental guidelines regarding equipment, supply and room cleanliness and provides training to lower level technicians.
• Maintains a professional level of knowledge that allows for the education and training of subordinate employees. Responsible for maintaining continuing education and staying current in the latest technology.
• Actively participates in lab meetings with responsibilities including presenting cases, article reviews, lab reports and providing education.
• Provides for emergency coverage as needed and distributes work evenly among employees.
• Maintains workload records, and provides progress reports to supervisory level.
• Possess the ability to resolve simple issues and complaints, while referring more complex issues to the supervisory level.

Total Rewards of a Allied Health Professional

Work Schedule: Monday-Friday, 8:00am-4:30pm.
Recruitment/Relocation Incentives (Sign-on Bonus): Not authorized.
Permanent Change of Station (Relocation Assistance): Not authorized.
Pay: Competitive salary and regular salary increases. When setting pay, a higher step rate of the appropriate grade may be determined after consideration of higher or unique qualifications or special needs of the VA (Above Minimum Rate of the Grade).
Paid Time Off: 37-50 days of annual paid time offer per year (13-26 days of annual leave, 13 days of sick leave, 11 paid Federal holidays per year).
Selected applicants may qualify for credit toward annual leave accrual, based on prior [work experience] or military service experience.
Parental Leave: After 12 months of employment, up to 12 weeks of paid parental leave in connection with the birth, adoption, or foster care placement of a child.
Child Care Subsidy: After 60 days of employment, full time employees with a total family income below $144,000 may be eligible for a childcare subsidy up to 25% of total eligible childcare costs for eligible children up to the monthly maximum of $416.66.
Retirement: Traditional federal pension (5 years vesting) and federal 401K with up to 5% in contributions by VA
Insurance: Federal health/vision/dental/term life/long-term care (many federal insurance programs can be carried into retirement)
Telework: Not available.
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Functional Statement #: 000000
Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not authorized.

Applicants pending the completion of educational or certification/licensure requirements may be referred and tentatively selected but may not be hired until all requirements are met.

Basic Requirements:

• United States Citizenship: Non-citizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Policy.
• English Language Proficiency: Medical Instrument Technicians must be proficient in spoken and written English in accordance with chapter 2, section D, paragraph 5a, this part.

May qualify based on being covered by the Grandfathering Provision as described in the VA Qualification Standard for this occupation (only applicable to current VHA employees who are in this occupation and meet the criteria).

Grade Determinations: GS 09 Medical Instrument Technician (Echocardiology)

• Experience. At least 1 year experience comparable to the next lower grade level, which is directly related to the duties of the position to be filled, and must fully meet the KSAs at that level. This would be experience which demonstrates possession of the knowledge required in order to provide all aspects of echocardiography services. In addition, the candidate must demonstrate the following technical KSAs and the potential to acquire the assignment specific KSAs designated by an asterisk (*):
• Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities.
  • Knowledge of the more complex examination and treatment procedures and techniques in order to provide training and supervision in these procedures, to evaluate and initiate performance improvement projects, and to write policies, procedures, and protocols, that pertain to Echocardiography.
  • *2. Knowledge of JCAHO and other regulatory requirements.
  • 3. Ability to communicate effectively and professionally with employees at varying grade levels.
  • *4. Ability to manage and supervise employees.
  • *5. Ability to provide, or provide for, staff development and training.
• Certification: Registration by Cardiovascular Credentialing International (CCI) as a Registered Cardiac Sonographer (RCS) or by the American Registry of Diagnostic Medical Sonographers (ARDMS) as a Registered Diagnostic Cardiac Sonographer (RDCS) is highly desirable. Basic Cardiac Life Support (BCLS) and Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS) certifications are also desirable.

Preferred Experience:

• Graduated from an accredited echo sonography training college/university that includes in-lab and hands-on clinical internships.
• RDCS Certified.
• Expertise on 3D imaging, TEE, DSE, TME, and Strain.
• On-Call availability for emergent/urgent studies (8-12 weeks per year).
• Knowledge with ICE (intra-cardiac echo) imaging acquisition preferred.

Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/.

The full performance level of this vacancy is 09. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is GS-09

Physical Requirements: There are no physical requirements for this occupation per OCHCO Communications email to VA Handbook 5019, updated on 04/17/2026.

Note: Only education or degrees recognized by the U.S. Department of Education from accredited colleges, universities, schools, or institutions may be used to qualify for Federal employment. You can verify your education here: http://ope.ed.gov/accreditation/. If you are using foreign education to meet qualification requirements, you must send a Certificate of Foreign Equivalency with your transcript in order to receive credit for that education. For further information, visit: https://sites.ed.gov/international/recognition-of-foreign-qualifications/.

• You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job.
• All applicants tentatively selected for VA employment in a testing designated position are subject to urinalysis to screen for illegal drug use prior to appointment. Applicants who refuse to be tested will be denied employment with VA.
• Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959.
• Must be proficient in written and spoken English.
• Subject to background/security investigation.
• Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process. Acceptable form(s) of identification will be required to complete pre-employment requirements (https://www.uscis.gov/i-9-central/form-i-9-acceptable-documents). Effective May 7, 2025, driver's licenses or state-issued identification cards that are not REAL ID compliant cannot be utilized as an acceptable form of identification for employment.
• Must pass pre-employment physical evaluation.
• Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP).
• Complete all application requirements detailed in the "Required Documents" section of this announcement.

As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you will be required to serve a 1 or 2-year trial period during which we will evaluate your fitness and whether your continued employment advances the public interest. In determining if your employment advances the public interest, we may consider:

• your performance and conduct;
• the needs and interests of the agency;
• whether your continued employment would advance organizational goals of the agency or the Government; and
• whether your continued employment would advance the efficiency of the Federal service.

Upon completion of your trial period, your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest.