Technical Documentation Manager

Astronics Connectivity Systems and Certification (formerly Telefonix PDT and Astronics Armstrong Aerospace) serves as the experienced, global market leader for in-flight entertainment and connectivity (IFEC) solutions for aircraft. As a systems certification provider, Astronics CSC has worked on over 100 projects for industry partners to upgrade commercial and business aircraft with new passenger power systems, IFEC navigation, communication and flight safety systems. Additionally, Astronics CSC offers proven IFEC hardware systems, flexible design platforms, high customer satisfaction, and long-term relationships with industry leaders to help make the connected aircraft a reality. The company now employs over 300 employees, and is a six-time recipient of Chicagos Best and Brightest Employers to Work For award.

Summary:

Write and review engineering design and certification-related documents and reports, ensuring compliance to internal specifications and industry standards. Lead and train the Technical Documentation Team, with guidance from the responsible director.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

The essential duties and responsibilities include the following, other duties as assigned.

• Manage day-to-day activities of a team of technical writers creating design and certification related documents and reports.
• Train new technical writers and provide ongoing guidance.
• Balance the writing of assigned technical documents with reviewing documents and providing feedback to team members on their deliverables.
• Provide effort and schedule estimates to development PMs.
• Schedule and track document creation through release according to communicated timelines, paying strict attention to project deadlines.
• Understand and analyze industry specifications, standards, requirements, and drawings (especially DO-160, Airbus ABDs and 4420M1F000200, Boeing D6-36440).
• Review document drafts written by the tech writing team for formatting, writing mechanics, content, and technical issues. Provide redline edits back to team for incorporation.
• Improve ?first pass yields? by instilling in the team a passion and drive to improve the quality of their work products, reducing or eliminating the need for iterative review cycles.
• Develop strong, cooperative, working relationships with technical writers, engineers, testers, project managers, engineering managers, and upper management.
• Attend project meetings to report on status, and to understand information and changes impacting technical documentation.
• As time permits, clean up engineering team documents, as requested.
• Handle changing priorities and juggle multiple projects.
• Submit documents for ECO routing; Perform ECO reviews as ?2nd Engineer?; Update documents per ECO redlines for document release; Perform ECO check/close reviews.
• Deliver documents on customer templates directly to customers.
• Communicate status to, and perform issue resolution for, Astronics management and internal/external customers.
• Improve documentation processes and incorporate tools for greater efficiency.
• Responsible for implementing and complying with all ethical and legal compliance requirements.
• Authority for personnel actions.

Supervisory Responsibilities

Supervise direct reports on day-to-day activities. Assign work, track progress review and approve deliverables created by matrixed reports.

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.

Education and/or Experience

Required:

• Bachelor?s degree, or higher, in an Engineering, Science, or Math related field.
• Expertise with MS Word, especially in manipulating and debugging formatting and styles.
• Experience with MS Excel and Visio.
• 3 years of experience working directly with engineering development teams.
• 3 years of technical writing experience in a highly regulated industry (Aerospace, medical, and/or military).
• 3 years of team management experience in a highly regulated industry (Aerospace, medical, and/or military).
• 3 years of project management experience.
• Expert in English grammar; expert in written and spoken English. Top notch writing skills a must.
• Working knowledge of JIRA.
• Very strong analytical skills.
• Working knowledge of ISO/9001/14000/13485 and AS9100 processes.

Preferred:

• Experience with Adobe FrameMaker a plus.

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. Personal Protective Equipment may be required when working in designated areas. The noise level in the work environment is moderate.

Astronics CSC offers a competitive benefit package which is available to full-time employees. Part-time employees may be eligible on a pro-rated basis for the benefits listed.

• Stay Healthy ? Health, dental, vision, disability, life insurance, FSA, HSA, as well as voluntary life/AD&D, voluntary critical illness, accident prevention and hospital indemnity.
• Save for the Future ? 401K & Employee Stock Purchase Plan
• Find Balance ? Employee Assistance Program & Wellness Program
• Time for You ? Generous Paid Time Off, Paid Holidays and Paid Parental Leave
• Professional Growth - Tuition Reimbursement Program

An offer of employment is contingent on successfully passing a drug test and background check, and applicants who do not successfully pass both the drug test and background check will not be considered for employment.

Accommodation Request

Astronics CSC is committed to working with and providing reasonable accommodation to individuals with physical and mental disabilities. If you need special assistance or an accommodation while seeking employment, please e-mail CSC.HR@astronics.com or call: 847-244-4500. We will make a determination on your request for reasonable accommodation on a case-by-case basis.