The Center for Devices and Radiological Health Careers
- Interdisciplinary Engineer
- Health Communication Specialist
- Product Safety & Regulatory Compliance Engineer
- Environmental Health Officer
- Polymer Chemist/Chemical Engineer
Individuals working at jobs in the CDRH can feel the satisfaction of knowing they’re doing things to help the public live safer and healthier lives. The Center for Devices and Radiological Health (CDRH), which is a division of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), is the organization in charge of ensuring consumers and patients have access to high-quality and safe medical devices and radiation-emitting products. They also provide the public with science-based information on the products they test and evaluate. Individuals interested in jobs in the CHRH are typically required to meet the specialized experience requirements at the level required for Federal service jobs as set by the CDRH. Here are 5 jobs in the CDRH.
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1. Interdisciplinary Engineer
An interdisciplinary engineer is an engineer with training in two or more areas of engineering. This individual must first obtain an undergraduate degree in engineering and then obtain training and experience working in the areas found in the CDRH job descriptions. Interdisciplinary engineering programs are often chosen by students who want to learn engineering courses but don’t plan on working in engineering, which is often the case for those working at jobs in the CDRH. They provide expertise on mobile medical applications, identifying methods for medical device surveillance and researching/reviewing digital health technologies.
2. Health Communication Specialist
A health communications specialist teaches others about healthy lifestyle choices, medical treatments, disease preventions and also has the job of ensuring the public is educated in these issues and any issues that can affect the health and welfare of the public. A health communications specialist working at a job in the CDRH will evaluate communications needs; develop external and internal communications materials and programs; develop risk communications related to safety initiatives for public use; and execute projects involving strategies for communications components.
3. Product Safety & Regulatory Compliance Engineer
The product safety and regulatory compliance engineer provides guidance, expertise, and support necessary to ensure compliance and regulatory requirements are met and businesses processes are such that all products are safe and conform to public and company requirements. Their knowledge and training in mechanical, electrical and product safety engineering, as well as their knowledge of FDA regulations, put them in positions where they can determine if the products and medical devices are designed correctly and in conformance with legal regulations.
4. Environmental Health Officer
Also known as environmental health practitioners or public health inspectors, the environmental health officer is the professional tasked with carrying out measures aimed at protecting public health, including providing support to minimize safety and health hazards as well as administering and enforcing laws and regulations related to environmental health. Their knowledge of risk assessment, food science, and environmental science and technology allow them to possess strong investigative skills necessary to enforce public health-related legislation.
5. Polymer Chemist/Chemical Engineer
Although the chemical engineer can get by with a master’s degree in chemical engineering, the individual working as a polymer chemist is typically required to possess a Ph.D. in polymer chemistry/engineering or a related field. This employee has many responsibilities, including the following.
- Collaborate and conduct research on polymers used in medical devices
- Develop innovative experiments to evaluate the efficacy, safety, and performance of the device materials
- Evaluate medical device materials to ensure they’re in compliance with FDA regulations
- Act in the role of a technical expert when reporting to the CDRH and the FDA scientific and medical experts at the agencies.
The Center for Devices and Radiological Health is dedicated to finding ways to ensure the public is safe from faulty medical devices and unhealthy access to radiation. Working for the CDRH not only puts employees in careers that continue to be in demand but also allows them to play an important role in keeping society as healthy as possible.
