Technical Writer

Job Title: Technical Writer Job Description
This Technical Writer role focuses on developing, editing, and maintaining complex technical documentation for engineering, maintenance, and logistics environments. The position requires strong expertise in XML-based structured authoring, technical manual development, and the interpretation of engineering and maintenance source data. You will work closely with cross-functional technical teams to transform complex information into clear, accurate, and user-friendly documentation that supports operators, maintainers, and other end users.
Responsibilities
- Independently develop, revise, edit, and maintain technical manuals, maintenance procedures, operating instructions, work packages, technical reports, and other complex technical documentation.
- Support multiple programs, projects, and systems concurrently, adjusting priorities as workload, schedules, and delivery requirements change.
- Develop and maintain structured technical content using XML and other required authoring and publishing tools.
- Take ownership of assigned technical writing projects or documentation processes from initial research through final delivery.
- Research and interpret engineering drawings, specifications, technical data, maintenance information, logistics data, test information, and existing publications to create accurate and complete documentation.
- Translate complex engineering and logistics information into clear, detailed, and usable instructions for operators, maintainers, and other end users.
- Develop detailed maintenance and operational procedures, including task sequences, tools, materials, safety requirements, warnings, cautions, and supporting technical information.
- Work directly with engineers, logisticians, technicians, maintainers, trainers, and other subject matter experts to obtain, understand, and validate technical information.
- Identify incomplete, conflicting, or insufficient source data and collaborate with appropriate technical personnel to resolve issues before publication.
- Incorporate engineering changes, configuration changes, test results, field feedback, and approved technical updates into controlled publications while maintaining configuration and revision control.
- Review technical content for accuracy, completeness, consistency, usability, grammar, format, and compliance with contractual and customer requirements.
- Participate in peer reviews, technical reviews, validation, and verification activities and incorporate approved changes into final documentation products.
- Coordinate with technical illustrators to develop and integrate figures, diagrams, callouts, and other visual information that support technical procedures.
- Use structured authoring and publishing applications to produce high-quality technical manuals and publications.
- Integrate technical graphics and illustrations into documentation to enhance clarity and usability.
- Contribute effectively in collaborative document review environments and shared repositories to ensure controlled and consistent documentation.
- Learn and adapt to new authoring systems, software, standards, and program-specific tools as requirements evolve.
Essential Skills
- Bachelors degree and 48 years of prior relevant experience, or a Masters degree with 26 years of prior relevant experience.
- Relevant professional experience in technical writing, technical publications, engineering documentation, maintenance documentation, or a closely related discipline.
- Demonstrated experience developing or maintaining structured technical content using XML.
- Experience independently developing complex technical documentation for defense, aerospace, engineering, manufacturing, or similarly complex systems.
- Strong proficiency with Extensible Markup Language (XML) and structured technical authoring practices.
- Hands-on experience with structured authoring and publishing applications.
- Proven ability to take responsibility for complete technical writing assignments or documentation processes with limited oversight.
- Ability to support multiple programs, projects, or technical product lines concurrently while managing competing priorities.
- Experience researching and interpreting engineering drawings, specifications, maintenance information, technical source data, or similar documentation.
- Ability to independently identify and resolve routine technical documentation issues while escalating complex matters appropriately.
- Strong technical writing, editing, proofreading, research, organization, and communication skills.
- Ability to communicate and collaborate effectively with engineering, logistics, program, and other technical personnel.
- Ability to manage schedules and meet established delivery deadlines while maintaining technical accuracy and quality.
- Proficiency with Microsoft Office applications.
- Experience using Adobe Acrobat and applicable document-production tools.
- Experience working in collaborative document review and repository environments.
- Ability to learn new authoring systems, software, standards, and program-specific tools as requirements evolve.
Additional Skills & Qualifications
- Experience supporting Department of Defense weapon systems, aerospace systems, or other complex defense programs.
- Experience developing Department of Defense technical manuals or Interactive Electronic Technical Manuals (IETMs).
- Experience with S1000D, MIL-STD, or other applicable military technical publication standards and specifications.
- Advanced XML experience, including structured content development, tagging, validation, and reusable content management.
- Experience with Arbortext, Oxygen XML Editor, Adobe FrameMaker, or comparable XML authoring and publishing applications.
- Experience working within a Content Management System (CMS) or Component Content Management System (CCMS).
- Experience interpreting engineering drawings, bills of material, maintenance procedures, provisioning information, or logistics product data.
- Experience supporting technical publications throughout design, development, testing, validation, fielding, and sustainment phases.
- Experience conducting or supporting technical manual validation and verification activities.
- Experience coaching, mentoring, or reviewing the work of less-experienced technical writers.
- Ability to work effectively within a matrixed logistics or technical organization.
Work Environment
This position is based onsite in Huntsville and follows a Monday through Friday schedule, with core working hours typically between 9:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. You will work in a professional, engineering- and logistics-focused environment that relies heavily on XML-based authoring tools, content management systems, and standard office productivity software. The role involves close collaboration with engineers, logisticians, technicians, and other technical professionals in a structured, project-driven setting. The environment emphasizes accuracy, configuration control, and adherence to technical publication standards, offering opportunities to support complex systems and participate in validation and verification activities as part of a broader technical publications team.
Job Type & Location
This is a Permanent position based out of Reston, VA.
Pay and Benefits
The pay range for this position is $30.00 - $30.00/hr. Individual compensation offered for this position within this range will depend on many factors, including qualifications, skills, relevant experience, job knowledge, geographic location, internal equity, and other pertinent job-related factors. Eligibility requirements apply to some benefits and may depend on your job
classification and length of employment. Benefits are subject to change and may be
subject to specific elections, plan, or program terms. If eligible, the benefits
available for this temporary role may include the following:

Medical, dental & vision
Critical Illness, Accident, and Hospital
401(k) Retirement Plan Pre-tax and Roth post-tax contributions available
Life Insurance (Voluntary Life & AD&D for the employee and dependents)
Short and long-term disability
Health Spending Account (HSA)
Transportation benefits
Employee Assistance Program
Time Off/Leave (PTO, Vacation or Sick Leave)
Job Type & Location
This is a Permanent position based out of Reston, VA.
Application Deadline
This position is anticipated to close on Oct 27, 2026.
Workplace Type
This is a fully onsite position in Reston,VA. About Actalent

Actalent is a global leader in engineering and sciences services and talent solutions. We help visionary companies advance their engineering and science initiatives through access to specialized experts who drive scale, innovation and speed to market. With a network of almost 20,000 consultants and 5,000 clients across the U.S., Canada, Asia and Europe, Actalent serves many of the Fortune 500. We are proud to be an Engineering News-Record (ENR) Top 500 Design Firm for our engineering design services and a ClearlyRated Best of Staffing® winner for both client and talent service.

The company is an equal opportunity employer and will consider all applications without
regard to race, sex, age, color, religion, national origin, veteran status, disability,
sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information or any characteristic protected
by law.

If you would like to request a reasonable accommodation, such as the modification or
adjustment of the job application process or interviewing process due to a disability,
please email [email protected] for other accommodation options.

San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance:
Pursuant to the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, for all positions located in the
city and county of San Francisco, we will consider for employment qualified applicants
with arrest and conviction records.

Massachusetts Lie Detector:
It is unlawful in Massachusetts to require or administer a lie detector test as a
condition of employment or continued employment. An employer who violates this law
shall be subject to criminal penalties and civil liability.

Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI):
We may use Artificial Intelligence (AI) to support parts of our hiring process,
including sourcing, screening, and evaluating candidates. AI helps assess applications
and qualifications, but final decisions are made by our hiring team. By applying, you
acknowledge and agree that your application may be reviewed using AI tools.