Sterile Processing Technician

Job Title: Sterile Processing Technician

Job Description

The Sterile Processing Technician plays a critical role in patient safety by ensuring the effective cleaning, inspection, maintenance, sterilization, and distribution of surgical instruments and equipment. This position works closely with surgical services and other departments to make sure all supplies, instrumentation, and equipment are available and properly prepared for surgical cases and other procedures that require sterile materials. The technician applies sterile processing standards, infection control principles, and aseptic technique while maintaining a strong patient- and customer-focused approach and adhering to strict quality, safety, and compliance requirements.

Responsibilities

• Perform daily sterile processing functions with assignments in either decontamination or instrument staging and preparation.

• Clean, inspect, assemble, sterilize, and distribute surgical instruments and trays in accordance with departmental policies and regulatory standards.

• Apply knowledge of instrumentation handling, tray assembly, and special procedural items to ensure accuracy, completeness, and quality.

• Assemble all surgical trays processed by the department, confirming proper configuration and readiness for procedures.

• Utilize sterilization and infection control principles to properly decontaminate instruments and equipment.

• Dispense equipment and instrumentation to surgical and procedural areas as needed to support ongoing cases.

• Restock carts, complete case cart picking, and assist with operating room turnover to maintain efficient workflow.

• Perform put-aways of instruments, supplies, and equipment, ensuring items are stored correctly and are readily accessible.

• Operate department equipment, including cart washers, decontaminators, ultrasonic equipment, computers, scanners, and related tools.

• Conduct routine instrument and equipment quality checks to identify and address defects, damage, or maintenance needs.

• Document required activities, including processing, distribution, and quality checks, using Epic and other designated systems.

• Maintain a strong patient- and customer-focused approach while meeting strict quality, safety, and compliance standards.

• Collaborate with surgical services and other clinical teams to ensure timely availability of sterile supplies and instrumentation for procedures.

Essential Skills

• At least 3 years of sterile processing experience in an acute care or similar clinical environment.

• Proficiency in sterile processing, including instrumentation processing and sterilization, decontamination, and aseptic technique.

• Demonstrated ability to clean, inspect, assemble, sterilize, and distribute surgical instruments and trays according to regulatory and departmental standards.

• Strong knowledge of instrumentation handling, tray assembly, and special procedural items.

• Ability to apply sterilization and infection control principles consistently in daily work.

• Experience operating sterile processing equipment such as cart washers, decontaminators, ultrasonic equipment, computers, and scanners.

• Competence in documenting activities and workflows using Epic or similar electronic systems.

• National sterile processing certification: CBSPD or HSPA (IAHCSMM/HSPA).

• Current Basic Life Support (BLS) certification through the American Heart Association.

• High School Diploma or GED.

• Attention to detail and commitment to quality, safety, and compliance.

• Strong customer service orientation and ability to work collaboratively with surgical and clinical teams.

Additional Skills & Qualifications

• Experience working within surgical services departments or operating room environments.

• Familiarity with regulatory standards and best practices for sterilization, decontamination, and aseptic technique.

• Ability to manage multiple tasks and priorities in a fast-paced clinical setting.

• Effective communication skills to coordinate with nursing, surgical, and support staff.

• Comfort using healthcare technology platforms and scanning tools for tracking instruments and supplies.

• Reliability and flexibility to support mid-shift hours and departmental needs over the course of a 13-week assignment with potential for extension.

• Interest in ongoing professional development and maintaining current sterile processing and safety knowledge.

Work Environment

This role is based in a surgical services department within a hospital setting in Portland, OR. The position is a night, mid-shift assignment with a schedule of five 8-hour shifts, Monday through Friday, from 3:00 PM to 11:30 PM. The assignment length is 13 weeks, with potential for extension, while conversion to permanent employment is not guaranteed. The work environment involves frequent interaction with operating rooms and sterile processing areas, using equipment such as cart washers, decontaminators, ultrasonic cleaners, computers, scanners, and related tools. The technician works in a highly regulated, safety-focused setting where adherence to infection control, sterilization standards, and aseptic technique is essential. Dress code requires scrubs in any solid color with no prints. Benefits available may include paid holidays, medical and dental coverage, vision benefits, health savings and transportation benefits, hospital cost protection plans, critical illness and accident protection, life and disability insurance, employee assistance and health advocacy services, a 401(k) plan, and access to affinity programs, contributing to a supportive and comprehensive employment experience.

Job Type & Location

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

Pay and Benefits

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

Individual compensation offered for this position within this range will depend on many factors, including qualifications, skills, relevant experience, job knowledge, geographic location, internal equity, and other pertinent job-related factors.

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 Portland,OR.

Application Deadline

This position is anticipated to close on Oct 21, 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 View email address on click.appcast.io 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.