Biomedical engineering represents new areas of medical research and product development; biomedical engineers' work helps pave the way for new ways to help treat injuries and diseases. As medicine is a field with vast numbers of specific disciplines, there are many different sub-fields in which biomedical engineers work. Some work to improve and develop new machinery, such as robotic surgery equipment; others endeavor to create better, more reliable replacement limbs (or parts which help existing limbs function better, such as joint replacements). New and more comfortable patient beds, monitoring equipment, and electronics are also products that often begin as concepts from the biomedical engineer's or involve some level of input from them.

Biomedical engineers often work as part of a team, sometimes in a support role and less often in a supervisory role. These engineers must be able to communicate effectively, not just with teammates but also with medical personnel who will be using their products as well. As with almost any engineering job, the biomedical engineer should have a firm grasp of engineering principles, as well as the mathematics and science concepts that are prerequisite to that understanding. Depending on the area in which they work, some engineers also have to look at their ideas from a marketing standpoint and have the knowledge to make good decisions on that front.

To become a biomedical engineer, a bachelor's degree is typically the minimum requirement (with a master's degree much preferred) in an area relevant to this field, which include engineering, medicine, chemistry, and fields relevant to the specific area of research in which the prospective engineer wishes to enter. (Copyright 2018 PayScale.com)

Biomedical Engineer Tasks

• Designs and develops biomedical equipment and technology.
• Writes reports, documents, and manuals for biomedical products.
• Installs, adjusts, and maintains biomedical equipment.
• Test and evaluates the safety and efficiency of biomedical equipment.