Career Advancement in Biomedical Engineering

Biomedical engineers develop new devices and create medical equipment that improve human health and help people thrive after trauma: advanced imaging systems, medical instruments, bioartificial organs, bionic limbs and eyes, sensory aids, and more. To accomplish this, they apply engineering principles to healthcare and medicine. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the field is growing faster than the national average rate of job growth and offers a range of positions at all levels, from entry-level to senior leadership.¹

This article will explore how you can prepare to advance your career in biomedical engineering, including pursuing professional development opportunities and obtaining advanced degrees and certifications.

1. Set Clear Goals and Objectives

Taking a structured approach can help you create the career path you want and land your ideal job. Start by setting your long-range goals, and then break them down into short-term objectives. Create individual steps that you can take to meet your short-term goals, and set deadlines for finishing each one. For example, if you have a long-range career goal of moving into a managerial role, some of your short-term objectives might include:

• Obtain a master's degree in biomedical engineering
• Find a mentor 
• Get published in a professional journal
• Expand your professional network
• Take project management training classes
• Seek out leadership opportunities in your current position 

Prioritize items based on your goals and next steps. You’ll likely find it helpful to keep track of your progress in a spreadsheet or a project management app and make adjustments to your plan as needed.²

2. Pursue Continuous Learning and Professional Development

Biomedical engineers are rapidly developing new technologies and materials. Although you can enter the field with a bachelor’s degree, you should expect to engage in ongoing learning throughout your career. The field is broad and, through advanced coursework and/or additional training, you can choose to specialize in areas such as biomaterials or neuroengineering.³

Join professional organizations such as the Biomedical Engineering Society (BES)—the Maryland-based professional society for biomedical engineers—and take advantage of webinars, conferences and symposia to continue your professional development. Subscribing to industry journals can also help you keep up with research and advancements in the field.³

3. Build a Strong Professional Network

Start building your professional network early in your career and continue to do so as you take on more senior roles. Make it a point to attend a variety of in-person events with your professional associations. Follow up on connections through LinkedIn, which is a powerful professional networking platform. Take advantage of LinkedIn's features by keeping your profile updated and adding new skills as you progress in your career. By publishing valuable content related to biomedical engineering, you can build your reputation as an authority in the industry. Your efforts will help you get noticed by recruiters and other hiring professionals, so you'll be well-positioned to make an upward career move when the time is right.⁴

As you build your network, you’ll develop a community of seasoned professionals to choose from when you’re ready to collaborate. Actively participating in the scientific community will put you in a good position when you’re looking to assemble a research team or secure funding for a project.⁵

4. Showcase Your Leadership Skills

Biomedical engineers work hard, throughout their education and careers, at developing technical skills. Although such proficiencies are necessary to succeed as an engineer, they’re different from the skills you’ll need as a leader. To be an effective leader, you’ll need to focus on the big picture, including the growth of your team and building relationships.⁶ According to Dr. Dennis W. Hess, Emeritus Professor of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering at the Georgia Institute of Technology, in his book Leadership by Engineers and Scientists: Professional Skills Needed to Succeed in a Changing World, many problems that engineering leaders face are related more to time and project management issues than technical ones.

Communication is another critical leadership skill that can help you advance your career. Learning to focus more on intentions and outcomes rather than technical details when communicating with colleagues can help you demonstrate your proficiency not only as an engineer but as a successful leader.⁶

5. Expand Your Technical and Interpersonal Skills

If you want to advance into senior-level positions, you’ll need to focus on honing interpersonal skills as well as technical ones.⁷ Become adept at cross-collaboration by learning to communicate effectively with people from different backgrounds and positions. As a senior biomedical engineer, you’ll be called on to communicate frequently with non-technical stakeholders as well as technical experts; professionals in these positions need strong interpersonal skills to lead research and development teams.⁷

6. Earn Advanced Degrees and Certifications

Upper-level biomed positions usually require an advanced degree with a biomedical engineering focus, such as a Master of Science in Biomedical Engineering. If you want to move up, you'll need to go to graduate school, where you can prepare for leadership roles and develop specialized skills.

In addition to obtaining a graduate degree, you can become more competitive for senior roles by earning certifications such as a Certified Clinical Engineer (CCE), Certified Biomedical Equipment Technician (CBET), or Certified Biomedical Auditor (CBA).⁸

7. Get Involved in Research and Publishing

Seek out research and publication opportunities as soon as you're in a position to do so. If you’re currently in graduate school, you can often find research positions through your university. You can also find research teams to join through resources such as the Institute for Broadening Participation. This nonprofit organization was created to increase access to science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) education and careers. Its distinguished faculty and advisory panel aggregate research opportunities, fellowships, positions and professional development opportunities in many STEM fields, including biomedical engineering.⁹

8. Commit to Mentoring and Knowledge-Sharing

Mentoring gives you the opportunity to share your expertise and help aspiring biomedical engineers. By sharing your knowledge, you can also gain experience as an authority and improve your leadership and interpersonal skills. Further, many steps you take to advance your career will work in concert toward more than one goal.¹⁰ Sharing what you know with others promotes collaboration and innovation in the field and helps you build your professional network.

Your company may have a formal mentorship program for biomedical engineers, in which you can participate once you qualify, or you can go through professional organizations such as the BES, your alma mater or a local university.¹¹ The time commitment for mentoring will vary, but meeting once a month for an hour with a mentee is fairly standard. Plan to spend 30 minutes to an hour preparing for each one-hour meeting, both in researching and preparing an agenda.¹²

Making the Transition to Management and Leadership Roles

Moving into senior leadership roles requires deliberate planning. Start by assessing your skills and identifying any weaknesses that are keeping you from advancing. Fill in any skills gaps so you’ll be qualified for the positions you want. Executive positions, in particular, require an understanding of the financial and business aspects of development that enable you to make strategic plans and informed decisions.¹³

Position Yourself for Upper-Level Biomedical Engineering Jobs

To become the standout choice for leadership opportunities in biomedical engineering, you need the best possible qualifications. Don’t wait to deepen your expertise in the online MS in Biomedical Engineering program from the Case School of Engineering. Led by an acclaimed faculty of experts, this practice-oriented program accommodates your commitments to life at work and at home, so you can enjoy the flexibility to study any time, from anywhere.

Now is the time to gain the experience and credentials that can advance your career. Start by scheduling a call with an admissions outreach advisor today.