Surgical Technician

US-Department-of-Veterans-Affair; Louisville (KY); On-site; USD 42,000 - 54,000; Full time

Job summary

The United States Department of Veterans Affairs in Louisville, KY is seeking a Surgical Technician to assist the surgeon and team during procedures ranging from biopsies to vascular reconstructions.

The role emphasizes sterile technique, anatomy knowledge, and aseptic practice, with the option to substitute graduate education for experience as outlined in official standards.

Applicants must meet the requirements by the closing date and be prepared to adapt to a dynamic surgical environment.

Qualifications

• IOR requires one year of graduate education or equivalent combination with specialized experience.
• Specialized experience includes sterile technique, anatomy, and aseptic practice.
• Knowledge of operation and function of surgical instruments and equipment.

Skills

Sterile technique

Anatomy knowledge

Surgical instruments

Aseptic technique

Medical terminology

Education

Graduate education (1 year)

Tools

Sterilizer operation

Instrument testing

Sterilization procedures

Job description

The Surgical Technician (ST) is an integral member of the surgical team and provides assistance to the surgeon and other team members during surgical procedures ranging from local anesthesia cases (biopsies and excisions) to vascular and micro-vascular surgery, including ear, hand, facial, and vascular reconstruction. The incumbent must be prepared to adapt to new procedures in a constantly changing surgical environment. To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement, 09/18/2026.

You may qualify based on your experience and/or education as described below:

Individual Occupational Requirement for Health Aid and Technician Series (0640):

Positions in this series range widely in type and include support duties to medical or health personnel such as audiologists, speech pathologists, medical officers, and optometrists. Therefore, technician experience is experience that required application of the knowledge, methods, and techniques of the position to be filled.

Specialized Experience (GS-7):

In addition to the IOR state above, you must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade GS-6 in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization. Examples of specialized experience would typically include, but are not limited to:

• Knowledge of highly technical medical instruments, human anatomy, physiology, and aseptic technique to prepare and protect the sterile field during surgery.
• Knowledge of sterile technique to include sterilizer operation and tests to determine the effectiveness of sterilization, packaging, storage, and shelf life.
• Knowledge of a wide variety of complex surgical procedures and possible complications in order to prepare for the procedure.
• Knowledge of pathology care and handling of specimens correctly are essential for the prevention of damage to or loss of specimens and eventual diagnosis.
• Knowledge of operation and function of all surgical instruments and equipment, testing procedures to assure all equipment works, and proper postoperative decontamination procedures.
• Advanced knowledge of medical terminology to be able to understand written requests and provide proper documentation of procedures.

OR,

• Education: Applicants may substitute education for the required experience. To qualify based on education for this grade level you must have Applicants may substitute education for the required experience. To qualify based on education for this grade level you must have one full year of graduate education. One year of full-time graduate education is considered to be the number of credit hours that the school attended has determined to represent 1 year of full-time study. If that information cannot be obtained from the school, 18 semester hours should be considered as satisfying the 1 year of full-time study requirement. Part-time graduate education is creditable in accordance with its relationship to a year of full-time study at the school attended. (COPY OF TRANSCRIPT REQUIRED).

OR,

• Combination: Applicants may also combine education and experience to qualify at this level. You must have an equal combination of specialized experience and graduate education.

For more information on these qualification standards, please visit the United States Office of Personnel Management's website at https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/general-schedule-qualification-standards/.