Job profile: Clinical engineer

Clinical engineers are professionals who support and advance patient care by applying engineering and management skills to healthcare technology.

What are the typical progression routes?

Job description - Clinical Engineer

A Clinical Engineer designs equipment for monitoring, diagnosis, treatment and rehabilitation or research. They may design laser equipment or electronic aids for patients with disabilities and investigate the mechanics of the human body. They use physical sciences and their knowledge of materials and manufacturing to make significant contributions to the diagnosis and the treatment of disease, and to the rehabilitation of patients with disabilities.
 
Activities
  • Designing/developing Instruments for patients.
  • Deal with custom design and manufacture of aids
  • Research into the mechanics of the body
  • Building and testing of new equipment
  • Managing expensive hospital equipment
 
Competencies
  • Good communication skills
  • Work as a team member
  • Keep up to date on scientific and medical research
  • Be sensitive
  • Practically minded
 
What are the routes in?
An honours degree in a physical or engineering science is required to work as a clinical engineer.Entry requirements for a degree are five GCSEs (A-C)/S grades (1-3) plus two A levels/three Highers, usually including maths and physics. Equivalent qualifications may be accepted.With experienced in a related field, you may be able to gain recognition of skills through Accredited Prior Learning (APL).
 
Routes for employment include hospitals, universities, research establishments such as the Medical Research Council, and manufacturers of medical equipment.For those interested in research, universities are an option.Clinical engineers can be self-employed. The NHS is another route of employment and offers good opportunities and promotion prospects.Chartered engineers may progress into senior general management and be responsible for a team of incorporated engineers and technicians.
 
What is the work like?
Clinical engineers based in hospitals normally spend about half their time in clinics and the rest in workshops. There hours consist of a full weeks work, but they can expect to have extra on-call or standby duties in hospitals. Part time work is an option.This career involves travelling to different hospital sites or to meetings and conferences. Overseas travel is common in the medical equipment industry.