Surgical Technician

US-Department-of-Veterans-Affair; Pensacola (FL); On-site; USD 42,000 - 66,000; Full time

Job summary

The US Department of Veterans Affairs is seeking a Surgical Technician to support the surgical team during procedures, under general supervision. The ST plans and helps implement complex operations ensuring a sterile environment.

Qualified candidates will have experience with sterile technique, instrument handling, and infection control principles to protect the sterile field throughout surgeries.

Qualifications

• Specialized experience in surgical support
• Knowledge of sterile field and aseptic technique
• Experience handling medical instruments during surgery
• Understanding infection control and universal precautions

Responsibilities

• Assist surgeon and team during surgical procedures
• Plan and implement complex procedures under supervision
• Maintain sterile field and handle instruments and supplies during operations

Skills

Sterile technique

Surgical instrument handling

Infection control

Aseptic technique

Job description

The Surgical Technician (ST) is a member of the surgical team and provides assistance to the surgeon and other team members during surgical procedures. The ST participates with the surgical team members in planning and implementing complex procedures under the general supervision of the surgical team. To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement, 08/27/2026.

You may qualify based on your experience as described below:

Specialized Experience: You must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade GS-06 in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization. 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.

Examples of specialized experience would typically include, but are not limited to:

• Use of medical instruments, human anatomy, physiology, and aseptic technique to prepare and protect sterile field during surgery
• Exercising sterile technique to include sterilizer operations and tests to determine the effectiveness of sterilization, packaging, storage, and shelf life
• Use of handling medical instruments, supplies and equipment during all surgical procedures
• Use of performing proper cleaning techniques, as well as the proper handling and rotation of sterile supplies
• Handling contaminated items, quality control, and personal hygiene, using knowledge of universal precautions and implementing infection control policies and procedures.

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/.