Sr. Surgical Tech - Cardiothoracic OR

UCSD Layoff from Career Appointment : Apply by 05/08/2026 for consideration with preference for rehire. All layoff applicants should contact their Employment Advisor.

Reassignment Applicants : Eligible Reassignment clients should contact their Disability Counselor for assistance.

As the only academic medical center in San Diego, UC San Diego Medical Center sets the standard for experienced professionals. Our OR environment is remarkable for many reasons - the support of friendly, trusted co-workers, and the challenges of a dynamic educational atmosphere where people with an insatiable appetite for knowledge thrive. Our OR teams are highly involved in making decisions and are both encouraged and supported by management. You can become a highly valued and validated contributor who can take the reigns in any project and succeed.

UC San Diego Health's Perioperative Services is growing and we invite you to join our team! In addition to working for San Diego's only academic medical center, this position is eligible for our outstanding benefits package day one of employment. These ST positions are 12-hour shifts.

Jacobs Medical Center at UC San Diego Health is a 364-bed advanced medical center. Its medical services include advanced surgery, cancer care, cardiac rehabilitation, clinical trials, birthing options and more. There is a total of 24 operating rooms (ORs), including a 4-OR intraoperative imaging suite with an MRI machine and intra operative CT scanner, designed to support the most advanced brain and spine surgeries.

Under general direction of surgical nurse, performs fairly complex surgical technician duties utilizing specialized knowledge acquired through formal training. This position is assigned surgical technician support to several specialty surgical areas within UC San Diego Health. Duties also include verification of specialty equipment and inventory, contacting surgeons concerning equipment, contacting supply companies and their vendors about malfunctioning or broken equipment, and providing continuing education in-service to staff.

Depending on the experience of the selected candidate, this position may be hired at either the Sr. Surgical Tech or Principal Surgical Tech level.

This open position is for a Day Shift and the final schedule details will be discussed with the candidates who will move forward in the interview stage of this recruitment .

• Completion of Accredited Surgical Technologist institution or specialized program.
• BART or BLS at time of hire with commitment to get BART within six (6) months of hire date.
• A minimum of one (1) year of Cardiothoracic Surgical Technician experience.
• Demonstrated knowledge of maintaining a therapeutic environment for patients undergoing cardiothoracic surgical procedures, including being competent in at least three (3) of the following: heart transplants, lung transplants, ventricular assistive devices, aortic aneurysms, pulmonary thromboendarterectomy (PTE), transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR), cardiac robotic, or other complex cardiac procedure (for Principal level).
• Proven knowledge of maintaining a therapeutic environment for patients undergoing surgical procedures.
• Demonstrated knowledge of surgical instrumentation used in various surgical procedures.
• Knowledge and abilities essential to the successful performance of the duties assigned to the position.

• Certified Surgical Technologist (CST).
• Two (2) years of Cardiac Surgical Technician experience, preferably in an operating room handling a variety of complex surgical cases.

• Must be able to work various hours and locations based on business needs.
• Employment is subject to a criminal background check and pre-employment physical.
• Minimum three (3) years of Surgical Tech experience in an acute/perioperative services/hospital setting is required to be hired at the Principal Surgical Tech level.
• The pay scale for Sr. Surgical Tech is $38.31 - $47.63/hour. The pay scale for the Principal Surgical Tech is $42.13 - $52.40/hour.

Pay Transparency Act

Annual Full Pay Range: $79,991 - $99,451 (will be prorated if the appointment percentage is less than 100%)

Hourly Equivalent: $38.31 - $47.63

Factors in determining the appropriate compensation for a role include experience, skills, knowledge, abilities, education, licensure and certifications, and other business and organizational needs. The Hiring Pay Scale referenced in the job posting is the budgeted salary or hourly range that the University reasonably expects to pay for this position. The Annual Full Pay Range may be broader than what the University anticipates to pay for this position, based on internal equity, budget, and collective bargaining agreements (when applicable).