Senior Technical Writer

Job Title: Sr. Technical Writer 

Summary: Responsible for planning, writing, editing, and verifying high-quality technical documents. Takes ownership of assignments by working with software developers and project teams to document project deliverables from RFP to final acceptance. Ensures compliance with all contract and corporate requirements and standards. Liaises with project teams in other parts of the company. Guides other personnel (e.g., programmers, engineers, other subject matter experts [SMEs]) associated with documentation projects, as required. 

Qualifications: To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. 

Essential Duties and Responsibilities  

• Translates business needs and requirements into clearly defined and documented detailed, high-quality functional design and system specifications and documentation  
• Writes, rewrites, and verifies high-quality technical documents (e.g., system design documents, project management-related plans, user guides/manuals, and training materials) ensuring compliance with all contract requirements and corporate quality standards 
• Demonstrates excellent grammar, spelling, syntax, and punctuation skills 
• Demonstrates proper formatting, proofreading, and editing skills 
• Creates new technical documentation and updates existing documentation  
• Examines documents to verify completeness and accuracy of data and makes changes as needed 
• Interviews SMEs and conducts necessary research to write and compile technically accurate content 
• Works with SMEs to resolve discrepancies and compile required changes to documents 
• Provides documentation project scheduling and cost estimates  
• Provides documentation project management as assigned 
• Tracks and reports progress of projects from inception through production 
• Other duties may be assigned 

Supervisory Responsibilities:  This job has no supervisory responsibilities; however, one may coordinate activities of other personnel (Team Lead). 

Required Skills and Experience 

• Experience authoring a variety of document types, including system design documents, project management-related plans, user guides/manuals, and training materials  
• Connects with SMEs and proactively works to become familiar with TransCore’s software and methodologies 
• Possesses strong verbal and written communication skills with ability to work with a variety of stakeholders 
• Capable of creating original content using available resources, including Request for Proposals, Requirements Traceability Matrix, Business Rules, and Proposals 
• Ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously and appropriately prioritize workload to meet client deadlines 
• Advanced problem-solving skills 
• Ability to work under pressure and meet tight deadlines 
• Ability to work as part of a team and independently 
• Attention to detail 
• Advanced skills using Microsoft Word (including creating, editing, deleting styles; track changes; and maintaining proper version control), Excel, and PowerPoint 
• Experience working with SharePoint sites and graphic software (e.g., Paint, Visio, etc.)  
• Good understanding of the Agile software development life cycle  
• Completes special projects and provides proposal support as assigned 

Required Experience and Education: 5 years of professional experience in technical writing, construction, and submissions. Experience as a business analyst is strongly desired. Bachelor's degree (B.A.) from four-year college or university in English, technical writing, Professional Writing, Communications, Digital Communications, or Journalism, or equivalent job-related experience.  

Knowledge: A seasoned, experienced professional with a full understanding of area of specialization; resolves a wide range of issues in creative ways. This job is a fully qualified, career-oriented, journey-level position. 

Job Complexity: Works on complex issues where analysis of situations or data requires an in-depth evaluation of variable factors. Exercises judgment in selecting methods, techniques, and evaluation criteria for obtaining results. Networks with key contacts outside own area of expertise. 

Supervision: Reports to Documentation Manager. 

Language Skills: Ability to read, analyze, and interpret general business periodicals, professional journals, technical procedures, or governmental regulations. Ability to write reports, business correspondence, and procedure manuals. Ability to effectively present information and respond to questions from groups of managers, clients, customers, and the general public. 

Mathematical Skills: Ability to calculate figures and amounts such as discounts, interest, commissions, proportions, percentages, area, circumference, and volume. Ability to apply concepts of basic algebra and geometry. 

Reasoning Ability: Ability to solve practical problems and deal with a variety of concrete variables in situations where only limited standardization exists. Ability to interpret a variety of instructions furnished in written, oral, diagram, or schedule form. 

Physical Demands: The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. 

• While performing the duties of this Job, the employee is regularly required to talk or hear. The employee is frequently required to walk and sit. The employee is occasionally required to stand; use hands to finger, handle, or feel; reach with hands and arms and stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 25 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, color vision, depth perception and ability to adjust focus. 

Work Environment: The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. 

• While performing the duties of this Job, the employee is occasionally exposed to moving mechanical parts; fumes or airborne particles; outside weather conditions and risk of electrical shock. The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.