Sterile Processing Technician

Job Title: Sterile Processing Technician I

Job Description

The Sterile Processing Technician I cleans, prepares, sterilizes, and stores surgical instruments and equipment to support a wide range of surgical and clinical services. This role focuses primarily on decontamination, ensuring that all instruments are processed safely and efficiently in accordance with departmental policies and regulatory standards. The technician also supports operating room operations by preparing case carts, distributing instruments, and maintaining a strong patient- and customer-focused approach while upholding strict quality, safety, and compliance requirements.

Responsibilities

• Perform daily sterile processing functions with primary assignments in decontamination and secondary assignments in instrument staging and preparation as needed.
• Clean, inspect, assemble, sterilize, and distribute surgical instruments and trays in accordance with departmental policies, regulatory standards, and infection control guidelines.
• Apply detailed knowledge of instrumentation handling, tray assembly, and special procedural items to ensure accuracy, completeness, and quality of all sets.
• Assemble surgical trays processed by the department when required, following standardized configurations and count sheets.
• Utilize sterilization and infection control principles to properly decontaminate instruments and equipment, ensuring safe handling and processing at all times.
• Dispense equipment and instrumentation to surgical areas and other clinical departments as needed to support patient care.
• Restock carts, complete case cart picking, and assist with operating room turnover to ensure timely readiness for surgical procedures.
• Perform put-aways of instruments, supplies, and equipment into appropriate storage locations, maintaining organization and inventory accuracy.
• Operate department equipment, including cart washers, decontaminators, ultrasonic equipment, computers, scanners, and related tools in a safe and efficient manner.
• Conduct routine instrument and equipment quality checks to identify damage, missing components, or maintenance needs, and escalate issues appropriately.
• Document required activities accurately and promptly using Epic and other designated systems.
• Maintain a strong patient- and customer-focused approach in all interactions with surgical, clinical, and support staff.
• Adhere to strict quality, safety, and compliance standards, including aseptic technique, decontamination protocols, and sterilization best practices.
• Collaborate with team members to support a high-volume sterile processing department serving multiple operating rooms, specialty services, and clinics.
• Work effectively with vendor-supplied instrument trays, ensuring proper handling, tracking, and processing.

Essential Skills

• Sterile processing experience with a minimum of 5+ years in a sterile processing role.
• Proficiency in instrumentation processing and sterilization, including decontamination, assembly, and packaging of surgical instruments and trays.
• Demonstrated experience in acute care settings, with knowledge of sterilization, decontamination, and aseptic technique.
• Ability to apply sterilization and infection control principles consistently in daily work.
• Experience working in a Level II trauma center or similar high-acuity facility.
• Ability to operate sterile processing equipment such as cart washers, decontaminators, ultrasonic cleaners, and related tools.
• Competence in using computers, scanners, and electronic documentation systems, including Epic, for tracking and recording sterile processing activities.
• Strong attention to detail and quality, with the ability to perform routine instrument and equipment quality checks.
• High School Diploma or GED.
• National certification in sterile processing, such as CBSPD or HSPA (IAHCSMM/HSPA).
• Current Basic Life Support (BLS) certification through the American Heart Association.
• Travel experience as a sterile processing professional within the last year.
• Ability to maintain a patient- and customer-focused mindset while working under strict quality and safety standards.
• Capability to achieve and maintain a rating of 3 or above in robotics instrumentation handling.

Additional Skills & Qualifications

• Experience supporting a broad range of surgical specialties, including robotics.
• Familiarity with sterile processing for multiple environments, such as surgical operating rooms, labor and delivery operating rooms, cath lab, and outpatient clinics.
• Experience working with vendor instrument trays from manufacturers such as Stryker, Zimmer, Medtronic, Depuy, and other major vendors.
• Comfort working primarily in decontamination while flexing to other sterile processing functions as needed.
• Strong communication and teamwork skills to collaborate effectively with operating room and clinical staff.
• Ability to adapt to varying shift schedules, including day and night shifts, and to manage workload in a high-volume, fast-paced environment.
• Reliability and professionalism appropriate for a 13-week travel assignment with potential for extension.
• Willingness to adhere to department-specific protocols, dress code, and documentation requirements.

Work Environment

This role is based in a Surgical Services Department that supports 18 surgical operating rooms, 2 labor and delivery operating rooms, a cath lab, and numerous clinics, with nearly all surgical specialties represented, including robotics. The facility operates as a Level II trauma center and manages a high volume of complex cases with extensive use of vendor instrument trays from multiple manufacturers. The sterile processing department uses cart washers, decontaminators, ultrasonic equipment, computers, scanners, and Epic for documentation and tracking. The position is a 13-week assignment with the potential for extension; conversion to permanent employment is not guaranteed. Day shift options include four 10-hour shifts or five 8-hour shifts, with typical hours of Tuesday through Friday, 9:00 AM-7:30 PM or 9:00 AM-5:30 PM. Night shift options include four 10-hour shifts, Monday through Thursday, 9:00 PM-7:30 AM. The environment is fast-paced and highly collaborative, with a strong focus on patient safety, quality, and adherence to regulatory standards. Dress code for this role allows any solid scrub color with no prints. Benefits available may include medical, dental, vision, health savings accounts, hospital cost protection, critical illness and accident protection, health advocacy services, an employee assistance program, life and AD&D coverage, short-term and long-term disability, transportation benefits, a 401(k) plan, and access to affinity programs, providing comprehensive support for health, financial well-being, and work-life balance.

Job Type & Location

This is a Contract position based out of Salem, OR.

Pay and Benefits

The pay range for this position is $29.00 - $31.00/hr.

Eligibility requirements apply to some benefits and may depend on your job classification and length of employment. Benefits are subject to change and may be subject to specific elections, plan, or program terms. If eligible, the benefits available for this temporary role may include the following:

• Medical, dental & vision
• Critical Illness, Accident, and Hospital
• 401(k) Retirement Plan - Pre-tax and Roth post-tax contributions available
• Life Insurance (Voluntary Life & AD&D for the employee and dependents)
• Short and long-term disability
• Health Spending Account (HSA)
• Transportation benefits
• Employee Assistance Program
• Time Off/Leave (PTO, Vacation or Sick Leave)

Workplace Type

This is a fully onsite position in Salem,OR.

Application Deadline

This position is anticipated to close on Jul 17, 2026.

About Actalent

Actalent is a global leader in engineering and sciences services and talent solutions. We help visionary companies advance their engineering and science initiatives through access to specialized experts who drive scale, innovation and speed to market. With a network of almost 20,000 consultants and 5,000 clients across the U.S., Canada, Asia and Europe, Actalent serves many of the Fortune 500. We are proud to be an Engineering News-Record (ENR) Top 500 Design Firm for our engineering design services and a ClearlyRated Best of Staffing winner for both client and talent service.

The company is an equal opportunity employer and will consider all applications without regard to race, sex, age, color, religion, national origin, veteran status, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information or any characteristic protected by law.

If you would like to request a reasonable accommodation, such as the modification or adjustment of the job application process or interviewing process due to a disability, please email actalentaccommodation@actalentservices.com for other accommodation options.

San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance: Pursuant to the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, for all positions located in the city and county of San Francisco, we will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records.

Massachusetts Lie Detector: It is unlawful in Massachusetts to require or administer a lie detector test as a condition of employment or continued employment. An employer who violates this law shall be subject to criminal penalties and civil liability.

Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI): We may use Artificial Intelligence (AI) to support parts of our hiring process, including sourcing, screening, and evaluating candidates. AI helps assess applications and qualifications, but final decisions are made by our hiring team. By applying, you acknowledge and agree that your application may be reviewed using AI tools.