Job Duties. Surgical technicians, also called surgical technologists, work in operating rooms under the supervision of surgeons and surgical assistants. Your work may include preparing an operating room by setting up and sterilizing equipment, checking machines that monitor vitals, and assembling equipment for surgery.hat Does a Surgical Technician Do? Surgical technicians or technologists-sometimes called scrubs-make sure that surgical procedures in the operating room are handled efficiently and under sterile conditions.