Biomedical Engineering Supervisor

Biomedical engineering is the science of blending biology with technology for the purpose of improving health care. Because it’s so complex, it demands careful and constant oversight, a responsibility which falls on Biomedical Engineering Supervisors. As a Biomedical Engineering Supervisor, you’re a mid-level Manager who supervises people, processes, and products.

Employed by universities, hospitals, and medical manufacturers, a Biomedical Engineering Supervisor leads a team of Biomedical Engineers who execute complicated engineering projects. These projects involve designing medical devices that replace body parts, like artificial organs; pinch-hit for them, like heart-lung machines; or monitor them, like pacemakers.

Typically, you’re charged with assigning tasks to individual Engineers, then consulting and guiding them as projects progress from beginning to end. Although you don’t micromanage them, the fact is: It’s up to you to look over employees’ shoulders in order to make sure their work is done well, accurately, on time, and on budget.

In addition to supervising, your job is representing Engineers to senior-level management. When employees have concerns about time, talent, money, or strategy, they expect you to convey them, asking for more direction or resources as needed. In exchange, senior-level management expects you to execute certain personnel functions, including training, performance reviews, and conflict resolution.

Basically, your job is keeping the people below you happy and productive, the result of which is better medical products and healthier patients.