A biomedical engineer is a professional problem-solver who looks for ways to apply technological solutions to medical challenges. Biomedical engineering is a specialized field where engineering and medicine intersect.^{(See disclaimer 1)} It’s an exciting and innovative field that allows individuals to think both scientifically and creatively while they work toward making the world a better place for patients.

If you’re passionate about this career field, consider earning your biomedical engineering degree. 

Biomedical engineering is a subfield within the engineering field. Biomedical engineers first identify a problem that patients, doctors or other healthcare professionals are experiencing. Then, they brainstorm solutions and design new devices or other products intended to solve that problem.

In order to fully understand biomedical engineering (also called bioengineering), it’s necessary to have a working knowledge of the field of engineering as a whole. Engineering is the application of mathematics and scientific principles to practical issues and problems. Scientists may be credited with groundbreaking discoveries, but it is the engineers who find a way to apply the new knowledge to practical uses.

Biomedical engineers merge technological innovations with medical breakthroughs to develop new medical tools and devices that aim to enhance human health. Their work can range from designing sophisticated software to improving medical machinery to developing computer models to evaluate the efficacy of new pharmaceutical treatments. 

Bioengineers work on a diverse array of medical devices and systems, such as:

• Prosthetic limbs
• Artificial tissues and organs
• Implantable devices, including pacemakers
• Medical imaging technology
• Orthopedic implants

Some biomedical engineers work on creating new devices or improving existing medical tools and equipment, while others focus on biocompatible materials that are implanted in the human body. A bioengineer may work in dental science or veterinary medicine as well.

Is biomedical engineering a good career? If you’re interested in serving others, it can be. The job of a biomedical engineer is ultimately to improve wellness and quality of life. Bioengineers can focus on innovations that directly help patients or devices that allow healthcare providers to deliver better care.

What do biomedical engineers do? The specific job responsibilities of a biomedical engineer depend on the engineer’s employer and the particular project they are currently working on. 

In general, however, a biomedical engineer’s job duties can include any of the following:

• Design, develop and test medical devices, instruments and components for safety and effectiveness
• Develop and test prototypes collaboratively with healthcare providers and patients
• Demonstrate the proper operation of medical equipment to healthcare providers
• Analyze patient complaints and device failures and develop corrective actions
• Write and publish scientific findings in professional journals and present at scientific and  industry conferences

In addition, some biomedical engineers may be responsible for developing grant proposals in order to acquire funding for their work. Now that you’re familiar with a biomedical engineer job description, you may be interested in knowing what types of settings biomedical engineers work in.

A biomedical engineer will typically find work in a laboratory or clinical setting. 

Some common employers of biomedical engineers include:^{(See disclaimer 2,3)}

• Universities
• Research and development labs in life, physical and engineering sciences
• Medical equipment and supply manufacturers
• Professional and commercial equipment companies
• Healthcare and social assistance organizations
• Engineering services firms
• Hospitals
• Pharmaceutical companies
• Government agencies

It’s common for these professionals to work in teams with other experts, including other bioengineers, scientists and healthcare professionals. Although the majority of their work is typically performed in research and development labs, engineers may need to travel to healthcare sites to see their devices in action.

Biomedical engineers not only create a new biocompatible device — they also look for ways to refine and manufacture its design. This can make bioengineering a great career field for individuals who appreciate the value of continual improvement. 

Important skills and characteristics for a biomedical engineer include problem-solving, creative skills, math skills and analytical skills. If you decide to major in biomedical engineering in college, the coursework will provide opportunities for you to begin developing these crucial skills.

Important skills and characteristics include:^{(See disclaimer 4)}

• Problem-solving skills: All engineers are professional problem-solvers. Know that being an effective problem-solver doesn’t necessarily mean coming up with the right solution on the first try. Rather, it’s a process that involves a great deal of trial and error. Perseverance is an essential precursor to problem-solving.
• Analytical reasoning: Biomedical engineers must be able to accurately analyze the issues that patients and healthcare workers are experiencing in order to develop possible solutions.
• Creativity: Biomedical engineers tend to be highly creative thinkers who routinely explore out-of-the-box solutions to everyday problems.
• Communication skills: It’s common for these professionals to work collaboratively on teams that include other engineers, scientists and healthcare providers. Furthermore, engineers must often explain highly complex concepts to their non-engineer counterparts. Because of this, strong written and verbal communication skills are a must-have.
• Math skills: Biomedical engineers commonly use statistics and other advanced mathematics, such as calculus, in their work.

Although holding a graduate degree may help you position yourself to potentially pursue career advancement later on, a bachelor’s degree is sufficient to get started in this field.^{(See disclaimer 4)} A bachelor’s degree in biomedical engineering teaches all of the necessary competencies to pursue an early career position in the field, such as physics, biomechanics, computer-aided design and medical physiology.

During your time in school, consider pursuing a relevant internship to gain hands-on experience. For example, you might look for internship opportunities at hospitals or medical device manufacturers.^{(See disclaimer 4)}

Biomedical engineering is itself a subfield within the broader field of engineering, but there are indeed subfields or specializations within biomedical engineering.

Some specialty areas include:

• Bioinstrumentation: This specialty area is relatively new, with significant innovations being made during the past couple of decades. It brings together the disciplines of computer science, electronic engineering and biomedical engineering. This subfield focuses on the development of medical instruments, including medical measuring devices. Today, bioinstrumentation is integrated directly into daily life, such as fitness tracking smartwatches.
• Biomaterials: Biomaterial engineering merges chemistry, medicine, biology, tissue engineering and materials science. It explores the use of materials within medical devices or the human body. These materials include both naturally occurring ones and those produced artificially in labs. Consider, for example, hip implants coated with hydroxyapatite, which enables the implant to form a strong bond with the remaining natural bone.
• Medical Imaging: This area is where Biomedical Engineers can impact diagnostic medicine. Devices such as X-ray, CT, Ultrasound, MRI, and others are designed and refined by biomedical engineers. In addition to the machines themselves, biomedical engineers develop protocols for image collection and methods to read the images helping make clinical decisions through a specialty that GCU introduces to engineering students through coursework.
• Rehabilitation engineering: Rehabilitation engineers dedicate their careers to helping individuals who have physical and cognitive disabilities. The ultimate goal is to help individuals with disabilities live more independently. For example, a rehabilitation engineer might design a new prosthetic limb or develop a brain-computer interface that allows a person to use devices simply by thinking about the desired function.

These are just a few common examples. Other specialty areas include tissue engineering, neuroengineering, and medical device design.

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the median annual salary for bioengineers and biomedical engineers was $106,950 as of May 2024.^{(See disclaimer 5)}

The BLS estimates job growth for bioengineers and biomedical engineers to be 7% from 2023 through 2033, faster than average. At this rate of growth, employers expect to hire about 1,500 of these professionals during this time period.^{(See disclaimer 6)}

If you’re passionate about making a positive contribution to the lives of patients, consider earning your biomedical engineering degree at Grand Canyon University. The Bachelor of Science in Biomedical Engineering degree program guides students through comprehensive coursework blended with hands-on learning experiences. To further develop your expertise after earning your bachelor’s, explore GCU’s Master of Science in Biomedical Engineering to build advanced skills through specialized graduate-level study.