Biomedical Engineer

A biomedical engineer designs, develops, and tests medical devices, equipment, and systems used in healthcare settings across Australia. They apply engineering principles to solve clinical problems, ensuring devices comply with therapeutic goods regulations and safety standards whilst meeting the needs of healthcare practitioners and patients.

Design medical devices and diagnostic equipment using computer-aided design (CAD) software and validated simulation tools. Conduct feasibility studies and technical specifications for biomedical devices intended for the Australian healthcare market. Perform risk analysis and failure mode analysis (FMEA) on medical device prototypes to identify safety hazards. Test biomedical equipment performance against Australian Standards (AS/NZS) and International Organization for Standardization (ISO) medical device standards. Prepare technical documentation and design history files (DHF) required for Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) device classification and approval. Collaborate with clinical staff and healthcare professionals to validate device functionality in real-world hospital or aged care environments. Troubleshoot and optimise existing medical devices and hospital equipment to improve reliability and clinical performance. Select and specify appropriate materials, sensors, and electronic components that meet biocompatibility and sterilisation requirements.

The standard entry pathway requires a bachelor degree or higher (ABS Skill Level 1). Specific qualification requirements vary by employer and state. Some employers may accept equivalent experience. Check yourcareer.gov.au for available courses and dewr.gov.au/skills-reform/free-tafe for subsidised training options.

You'll spend months on paperwork and compliance for every device: TGA approval, design history files, and standards documentation can take longer than the actual engineering. Career changers often underestimate how much time goes to regulatory requirements rather than creative design work. Pay plateaus quickly unless you move into management.

Remote work is limited because you need to be onsite for prototype testing and clinical validation. Most positions are in established metro areas where device manufacturers have headquarters or major facilities.

Published for ANZSCO unit group 2339, the wider group this job sits in, not for this job on its own.

This is the median for full-time employees who are not managers and are paid at the adult rate, before tax and salary sacrifice. It is a guide to what the work pays, not a wage rate.

Source: ABS Survey of Employee Earnings and Hours, May 2025, customised report.

• Attention to Detailcore
• Digital Literacycore
• Health Terminology Literacycore
• Problem Solvingcore
• Process Improvement Identificationcore
• Quality Assurance and Checkingcore
• Regulatory and Legislative Awarenesscore
• Report Writingcore
• Research and Analysiscore
• Risk Identificationcore
• Stakeholder Communicationcore
• Team Collaborationcore
• Verbal Communicationcore
• Written Communicationcore
• Active Listening
• Adjust engineering designs
• Continuous Learning and Upskilling
• Goal Setting and Planning
• Incident Reporting
• Microsoft Office Suite Proficiency
• Negotiation
• Process Documentation
• Record Management
• Time Management and Prioritisation

• ABS OSCA 2024, occupation definition and task statements
• ABS Survey of Employee Earnings and Hours, May 2025, customised report.
• ABS, 2021 Census of Population and Housing based on usual place of residence (Custom Report). OSCA Experimental Estimates.

Role data is drawn from official Australian Government sources, and each figure names where it comes from. Where a role is not in the ABS classification, the page shows no government figures for it. Data may not reflect every local variation.

Where our numbers come from.

Last updated: 30 October 2026