Technical Writer Job Description Template

Technical writer working with his engineering colleagues.

So much of our lives involves the use of technology, but we don’t all speak the language of tech. We need translators in the form writers who can break down highly complicated information from technical experts and make it relatable to even the least technical among us. That’s where technical writers come in, and that’s why it’s highly likely that your organization needs one.

As innovation continues to meet and even surpass our hunger for new gadgets and technical solutions for complex problems, finding enough talented technical writers to keep up with demand is likely to remain a challenge.

An important step in keeping up with that demand is learning how to write a clear technical writer job description. The template below should help you craft one that will pass the test, even with these highly exacting professionals. For more ideas about how to craft your job post to attract the high-quality candidates, browse Monster’s technical writer job listings.

Technical writer working with his engineering colleagues.

Technical Writer

[Intro Paragraph] Begin your technical writer job description with a concise paragraph or list of bulleted items designed to sell your workplace to applicants. Are you an industry leader working on cutting-edge technology, a research center developing needed medical innovations and cures, or a fast-paced young startup developing fun gadgets in a creative workspace? Whatever makes your workplace special needs to be highlighted near the top of your job post. This is also a great place to talk about your philosophy toward career development and advancement.

Technical Writer Job Responsibilities:

  • Writes about technical subjects for technical and nontechnical audiences.
  • Creates scripts for video tutorials.
  • Tests and updates existing documentation.
  • Adheres to and updates in-house style guide.
  • Creates infographics and screenshot markups.
  • Write, edits, and help sections updates User Experience (UX) and User Interface (UI) copy.
  • Creates and builds out user assistance infrastructure, including how-to sections, FAQs, and Help sections.
  • Updates, edits, and proofreads written materials such as product manuals, user manuals, how-to guides, and FAQs.
  • Works closely with subject matter experts, engineers, developers, and product marketing team.
  • Monitors analytics on usage of online product training materials as well as those embedded within the product.
  • Collects user data to determine areas of documentation that need revision and updating.
  • May serve on quality design, product development, or user experience teams.
  • Writes explanations of care interventions that are understandable for patients, families, and medical personnel at all levels of expertise.
  • Works with scientists and researchers to draft grant proposals and write articles for non-specialist readers.

[Work Hours & Benefits] In this section you should aim to sell the position to potential applicants, just like the first section of your technical writer job description sold candidates on your workplace. Highlight the salary range and benefits. To ensure that the salary range you mention is in line with similar salaries for technical writers in your region, use a salary tool that allows you to input job title and location.

Technical Writer Qualifications/Skills:

  • Ability to write user-friendly, engaging copy about highly technical subjects.
  • Ability to understand and accurately translate technical information for a general audience.
  • Knowledge of coding and scripting languages, such as C++, Python, HTML, CSS, and JavaScript.
  • Familiarity with content and learning management systems (CMS and LMS).
  • Facility with documentation publishing software, such as MadCap, RoboHelp, or Wikis.
  • Excellent problem-solving ability and attention to detail.
  • Ability to effectively use of analytics to improve user-facing content and applicant programming interface (API).
  • Past use of Agile/Scrum or similar collaborative tools a plus.

Education, Experience & Licensing Requirements:

  • BA in English, writing, communications, curriculum development, or software/computer engineering.
  • MA in technical writing a plus.
  • Society of Technical Writers certification a plus.
  • Strong written communication skills.
  • Ability to prioritize multiple simultaneous deadlines.
  • 2-3 years of technical writing experience.
  • Experience with product development, including past use of product development software.
  • Teaching, grant writing, or scientific publishing experience a plus.
  • Portfolio of technical writing samples for review.

[Call to Action] Your technical writer job description should finish strong with a call to action that urges applicants to fill out an online application, or send a resume, along with a cover letter and technical writing samples or link to an online portfolio, to a designated recruiter.

You’ve Crafted Your Technical Writer Job Description, Now Spread the Word with a Free Job Post

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