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Biomedical Engineer

Mataaro Rongoā Koiora

Biomedical engineers design, build and maintain medical equipment, artificial body parts and computer programs to help treat disabilities, diseases, or injuries.

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Secondary education

A tertiary entrance qualification is required to enter further training. Useful subjects include biology, chemistry, design and visual communication, digital technologies, mathematics and physics.

Study fields

Study levels

  • Bachelor's degree
  • Master's degree and above

Useful experience

Useful experience for biomedical engineers includes:

  • engineering work
  • work with computers and electronics
  • experience in the health care industry.

What you will do

Biomedical engineers may do some or all of the following:

  • consult and collaborate with doctors and other medical staff
  • conduct research and publish the results
  • keep up to date with biotechnical developments
  • design and develop products such as medical scanning devices, machines, artificial body parts and software
  • repair medical equipment
  • test products with patients or volunteers
  • train medical staff in how to use devices, and provide technical support when devices are in use.

Skills and knowledge

Biomedical engineers need to have:

  • knowledge of engineering and biology
  • design skills
  • skill in computer modelling and software design
  • skill in interpreting design specifications
  • knowledge of anatomy and physiology (the science of how the body functions), and medical terms.
Pay

Graduate biomedical engineers usually earn

$50K-$55K

per year

Experienced biomedical engineers can earn

$110K-$130K

per year

Job opportunities
Good
Chances of getting a job as a biomedical engineer are good due to a shortage of workers.
Length of training
4
years of training required

Industry

Health

Biomedical engineers design, build and maintain medical equipment, artificial body parts and computer programs to help treat disabilities, diseases, or injuries.

Similar jobs in this industry

Entry requirements

To become a biomedical engineer you need to have one of the following:

  • Bachelor of Engineering (Biomedical Engineering) (Honours)
  • Bachelor of Engineering (Honours) in a relevant discipline such as electronic engineering or mechanical engineering and applied science subjects.

To work in research you usually need a Doctorate in Engineering.

Chances of getting a job

The number of biomedical engineers has been rising in recent years. However, more are needed to meet demand caused by:

  • experienced staff often leaving for better paid positions overseas
  • an ageing population with more health problems
  • increasing use of sophisticated medical devices in the health industry.

According to the Census, 216 biomedical engineers worked in New Zealand in 2018.

Types of employers varied

Biomedical engineers work for a range of employers, including:

  • research institutes at universities
  • public hospitals
  • veterinary clinics and research institutes
  • private businesses that provide biomedical products.

Some biomedical engineers also work in film animation, where their knowledge of body movement is useful.

Find out more about training

Engineering New Zealand
64 4 473 9444 - hello@engineeringnz.org - www.engineeringnz.org

Progression and specialisations

Biomedical engineers may move into managerial roles. Those who work in universities may become tertiary lecturers, assistant professors, or professors.

Biomedical engineers may specialise in areas such as:

  • biotechnology – developing commercial products using living material. For example, designing organisms to produce antibiotics
  • instrumentation – development of new instruments, such as heart monitoring systems, for diagnosis, treatment or measurement of body processes
  • medical software development
  • nanotechnology – research and development of tiny products, such as microscopic sensors, that can measure changes in body tissue
  • prosthetic and implant development – artificial replacements for body parts including limbs and internal organs
  • systems monitoring – monitoring and testing of health care systems
  • tissue engineering – repairing or making artificial replacements for tissues such as blood vessels and skin.

Working conditions

Biomedical engineers:

  • usually work normal business hours, but may work long hours on projects or after hours if they work for a hospital
  • work in offices, factories, research institutes, hospitals and rehabilitation units
  • may travel overseas for research and conferences.

Physical Requirements

Biomedical engineers working with electronics need to have normal colour vision so they can distinguish between different coloured electrical cables.

Useful personal qualities

Biomedical engineers need to be:

  • practical and logical
  • accurate, with an eye for detail
  • creative and innovative
  • able to work well under pressure
  • problem-solvers
  • able to work alone or as part of a team.

Industry

Health

Biomedical engineers design, build and maintain medical equipment, artificial body parts and computer programs to help treat disabilities, diseases, or injuries.

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