Position Summary
The Technical Writer produces and maintains the technical manuals, operating procedures, and sustainment documentation that support the Systems Team's systems, subsystems, and control software. Working from engineering data, subject-matter-expert interviews, and hands-on review, the incumbent translates complex technical information into clear, accurate, and standards-compliant documentation. This mid-level role is expected to plan and deliver assigned manuals independently, authoring to the military and industry documentation specifications and Data Item Descriptions cited in the contract, and applying documentation-control processes throughout.
Key Responsibilities
Authoring & Development
- Research, write, and edit technical manuals — operator, maintenance, installation, and troubleshooting — as well as work instructions, SOPs, and release notes.
- Gather source material by interviewing engineers and subject-matter experts, reviewing design and test data, and observing systems in operation.
- Develop illustrations, tables, exploded views, and callouts (or direct an illustrator) to convey procedures clearly, and integrate graphics with text.
- Decompose complex procedures into accurate, logically sequenced, and safety-conscious steps, including warnings, cautions, and notes.
- Produce operation, maintenance, and troubleshooting documentation for control software — including interactive electronic technical manuals (IETMs) — coordinating with software engineering on functionality, configuration, and version releases.
Standards & Documentation Control
- Prepare deliverables to the applicable military and industry technical-manual specifications (e.g., MIL-STD-38784 for style and format, plus the governing service or program content specification) and, where the contract specifies, the S1000D international specification — using a structured (XML/SGML) authoring workflow with the correct DTD/schema.
- Maintain version control, change pages, and revision history; process Technical Manual Change Requests and track them to closure.
- Validate and verify (V&V) procedures against the actual system or with SMEs to confirm technical accuracy before release.
- Ensure documentation aligns with configuration baselines maintained by the Configuration Manager so manuals reflect the as-built/as-fielded system.
Collaboration & Quality
- Coordinate with engineering, cybersecurity, logistics, and quality functions to keep content current through the system lifecycle.
- Perform peer editing and quality reviews for clarity, consistency, grammar, and adherence to the team style guide and specification requirements.
- Manage a documentation schedule, meeting delivery milestones for draft, review, and final submittals.
Required Qualifications
Education & Experience
- Bachelor's degree in Technical Communication, English, Engineering, a physical science, or a related field, or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
- 3–5 years of technical-writing experience producing technical manuals or equipment documentation, preferably in a defense, aerospace, or regulated-industry setting.
Technical Skills
- Demonstrated ability to author to a military or industry documentation specification (e.g., MIL-STD-38784, S1000D, or the governing program specification).
- Proficiency with structured and desktop authoring tools — e.g., Arbortext, Oxygen XML, FrameMaker, or MadCap Flare — and the Microsoft Office suite.
- Ability to read and interpret engineering drawings, schematics, and specifications, and to translate them into user-facing procedures.
- Strong command of English grammar, plain-language principles, and information design for procedural content.
Preferred Qualifications
- Direct experience with S1000D data modules, a Common Source Database (CSDB), and interactive electronic technical manuals (IETMs).
- Familiarity with contract data-deliverable processes — applicable Data Item Descriptions (DIDs) and CDRLs — and government validation/verification (val/verf) of manuals.
- Experience documenting embedded or control software (e.g., software user manuals) alongside hardware technical manuals.
- Familiarity with graphics tools (Adobe Illustrator, CorelDRAW, or Isodraw) for technical illustration.
- Understanding of the Integrated Product Support (IPS) elements and how technical documentation supports sustainment.
Standards & Frameworks
- MIL-STD-38784 (standard practice, TM style & format)
- S1000D (international technical-publications specification; IETM/CSDB)
- the governing service or program technical-manual specification and applicable Data Item Descriptions (DIDs)
- the configuration-management change process.
Clearance
Active DoD SECRET strongly preferred. Candidates must be eligible to obtain a Secret clearance with an interim Secret prior to start
Benefits:
- 401(k)
- Dental insurance
- Health insurance
- Life insurance
- Paid time off
- Vision insurance
Work Location: In person
