TECHNICAL AUTHOR JOB DESCRIPTION

Poorly structured service manuals and missing maintenance procedures cost technicians hours on the shop floor and create real safety exposure. Technical Authors in engineering environments own the documentation layer that keeps that from happening. Working across mechanical, systems, and compliance teams, this role translates validated engineering data - from CAD outputs and test results to operator procedures and hazardous-equipment standards - into accurate, auditable content. The scope spans vehicle datasheets, maintenance work packages, and regulatory submissions.

As the Technical Author, you ensure that engineering knowledge is captured, structured, and delivered as publication-ready documentation that meets industry specifications and quality standards. You operate within a multidisciplinary project team, coordinating with engineering, illustration, and quality functions to hit scheduled milestones across concurrent production streams.

Career Impact: Authoring against defense and automotive compliance regimes - including hazardous-equipment manuals and CAD-derived service procedures - builds specialist credibility that generic content roles cannot replicate.

Business Impact: Accurate, on-time documentation directly determines technician safety and operational continuity; gaps in maintenance procedures or commissioning packages stall production and create audit exposure.

Growth Opportunity: Sustained exposure to regulated technical domains and cross-functional delivery teams positions practitioners to move into Lead Author, Documentation Manager, or technical standards advisory roles.

• Author mechanical service procedures, maintenance work packages, and operator handbooks from validated engineering source data.
• Develop bespoke commissioning documentation including test plans, safety assessments, and acceptance packages for internal and customer use.
• Review and interpret engineering drawings, CAD visualization outputs, and math data to inform procedural content.
• Coordinate with illustration, production, and quality teams to deliver coherent, fully compliant document sets to project milestones.
• Monitor document flow from initial draft through review cycles to final distribution, resolving discrepancies as they arise.
• Produce and maintain structured libraries of templates, indexes, and version-controlled document files.
• Gather usability feedback from end-users and subject matter experts, applying findings to improve existing documentation.

• Bachelor's degree in a technical communication, engineering, or related discipline, or equivalent work experience.
• 3 or more years of technical authoring experience, with demonstrated output of operator or maintenance manuals for complex engineering systems.
• Ability to read and interpret engineering drawings, schematics, and CAD-derived data as authoring source material.
• Knowledge of applicable industry standards and specifications governing technical documentation for defense, automotive, or industrial equipment.
• Strong written English skills with the ability to express complex procedures clearly and concisely for varied audiences, from end-user to subject matter expert.
• Proven ability to manage multiple concurrent document deliverables against fixed project schedules.
• Experience collaborating with cross-functional teams including engineering, illustration, and quality assurance.

• Exposure to hazardous-systems documentation requirements, including nuclear, marine, or defense compliance regimes.
• Experience producing graphics, technical diagrams, or photo-edited imagery to accompany procedural content.
• Background in a hands-on engineering or production environment, such as manufacturing, design, or vehicle testing.
• Familiarity with structured authoring environments and content reuse strategies, including text string management.

• On-time delivery rate of authored documents against project milestone schedule.
• First-pass review acceptance rate, measuring how frequently drafts require no substantive revision.
• Defect closure rate on document QA findings within agreed correction windows.
• Audit compliance score on submitted documentation measured against applicable industry specifications.
• Cycle time from source-data receipt to publication-ready output, per document type.
• Typical tools: structured authoring platforms (commonly Arbortext or similar); CAD visualization software (commonly Teamcenter, Vis Mockup); image editing (commonly Adobe Photoshop).

• Base Salary Range: $60,000 to $85,000 per year depending on seniority and sector
• Bonus: Annual performance bonus of 5% to 10% of base salary
• Equity: Not typical for this role; project-based incentives possible in some firms
• Health Benefits: Medical, dental, and vision coverage; employer contribution standard
• PTO: 15 to 20 days annually plus federal holidays
• Common Perks: Flexible hybrid working arrangements; professional development allowance; site-access roles may include travel or vessel time.

Figures are estimates based on general US market benchmarks and may be outdated. Adjust based on location, company size, and seniority level.

Reasonable accommodations are available to applicants and employees with disabilities throughout the hiring process and in the performance of job duties - requests may be directed to the hiring team at any stage. All applicants are considered without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, veteran status, genetic information, or any other characteristic protected under applicable federal, state, or local law. Employment is contingent on successful completion of a background check. Candidates must be authorized to work in the United States without sponsorship.

The Technical Author delivers accurate, specification-compliant documentation across concurrent production schedules, working with illustration teams and authors to maintain consistency and quality across all project deliverables. Reporting to a Project Manager, the role shapes content strategy through analysis of source materials and supports operational development by identifying process improvements that keep KPIs and customer satisfaction targets on track.

Key Responsibilities

• Be accountable for delivering content and documentation to set timeframes, whilst ensuring quality meets specification and standards.
• Monitor and execute to ensure quality and project KPI are successfully met.
• Ensure customer satisfaction by achieving high standards of consistency and accuracy of authored tasks.
• Review and adhere to project schedules to support successful and accurate delivery to key milestones.
• Develop content through analysis and understanding of various source materials.
• Work in conjunction with illustration teams to deliver a fully compliant and coherent document.
• Collaborate with other authors and team members to ensure consistent output across project deliverables.
• Use knowledge and experience to suggest improvements and alternatives to support efficiency and operational development.

Required Qualifications

• Proven experience in a technical authoring field, or a qualification in a technical communication course.
• Experience with aero engines, land vehicles, and ideally marine vehicles; ability to read engineering drawings.
• Up-to-date knowledge of industry specifications, guidelines, and technology in support of content creation and technical documentation.
• Experience working for a trusted partner to thousands of companies around the world and a World Leader in Content, Localization and Globalization.
• A Global Leader engaged with the majority of the Fortune 100, keeping the world connected through long-term partnerships.
• Opportunity to work with a passionate and diverse team of specialists in Content creation, Language/Linguistics, Technology Development, AI/Machine Learning, Managed Services and Business Operations.
• Strong communication skills.

Embedded within a multidisciplinary engineering team, the Technical Author produces and maintains the full suite of ASV vehicle documentation - from user handbooks and software manuals to trials plans and commissioning packages - requiring both office-based authoring and hands-on engagement with maritime operations and vessel testing. Working closely with production, engineering, and in-house design teams, this role ensures that documentation accurately reflects product and service realities while incorporating end-user feedback to drive continuous improvement.

Core Functions

• Production, maintenance, update and verification of documentation to support ASV vehicle activities: user handbooks, software manuals, maintenance work packages, standard operating procedures, trials plans and reports, vehicle datasheets.
• Work closely with all relevant teams across the business to understand the products and services.
• Production of bespoke documentation for vehicle commissioning, including internal/customer test and acceptance plans, safety and risk assessments.
• Production of vehicle and software training course material.
• Gather usability feedback from customers and end-users, making subsequent improvements to existing documentation.
• Provide input to in-house design teams to feed back end-user experience.

Qualifications & Experience

• Some engineering exposure, ideally with a qualification and/or technical experience in a relevant engineering discipline; previous experience operating small boats (sail/power) is beneficial.
• Excellent written skills in English with a particular attention to detail in the production of written and published material.
• Use of graphics/image editing software (e.g. Adobe Photoshop) for photo manipulation.
• Good communication skills, with the ability to correlate ideas and instructions from multiple sources and assimilate detailed instructional material.
• Competencies include Seeing the Big Picture, Leading & Communicating, Collaborating and Partnering, Building Capability for All, Delivering at Pace, and Managing a Quality Service.

Reporting to the department lead, the Technical Author owns the full document lifecycle from research and outline through quality assurance and final distribution, producing specifications, manuals, training material, and proposals for hazardous systems and defense equipment. Partnering with technical professionals and cross-functional contract teams, the role builds and maintains electronic and hardcopy document libraries that support both ongoing operations and large-scale production efforts.

Primary Duties

• Interface with technical professionals in the writing, editing, and publication of documents such as specifications, manuals, reports, plans, training material, and presentations.
• Research assigned topics and develop writing plans and outlines.
• Assist in the development of supporting materials such as illustrations and tables.
• Track and monitor flow of all documents from inception to distribution; identify and correct problem areas as they arise.
• Provide quality assurance checks for all document deliverables.
• Participate in department and company-wide proposal writing projects; may serve as proposal coordinator for large production efforts.
• Utilize appropriate computer software for document production; investigate and implement best ways to produce documentation electronically.
• Provide technical writing and editing support to other Company contracts when workloads permit.
• Establish and maintain electronic and/or hardcopy data library of documents and work order files.
• Perform all other position-related duties as assigned or requested.

Education & Experience

• Degree or HNC in an engineering discipline preferred.
• Proven experience writing, editing, and managing technical documentation and operator/maintenance manuals for hazardous systems and equipment.
• Knowledge of applicable UK Nuclear standards, specifications, and test practices is desirable.
• Ability to conceptualize, format, structure, write, edit, and finalize technical manuals, orders, specifications, modification work orders, and test plans, procedures, and results.
• Excellent written communication skills; working knowledge of word-processing and integrated software applications.
• Strong organizational skills and ability to perform detail-oriented work.
• Position may require travel.

Sitting at the intersection of content authoring and digital platform delivery, the Content Author works within an Agile squad to build and populate the Core Library, delivering pages that meet UX and development standards while sharing Sitecore knowledge to accelerate team output. Operating across UX, development, and scrum workflows, the role contributes to sprint goals by surfacing bugs and process improvements and ensures that all authoring output aligns with established best practices and project plan deliverables.

Duties

• Work within a squad to collaborate on and work through a prioritized backlog of authoring tasks, delivering pages to support the build of the Core Library.
• Provide and share Sitecore knowledge and learnings with other authors and team members to increase velocity of overall Core Library completion.
• Work closely with UX and development team members to ensure pages meet experience and best practice definitions for the site.
• Report bugs and enhancement requests to Product Owner and Scrum Master for capture and prioritization.
• Contribute ideas on systems and process methods to improve deliverables.
• Work safely, complying with all safety procedures, rules, and instructions; report workplace hazards, incidents, or injuries to manager.

Skills & Qualifications

• 2–4 years of authoring experience; Sitecore experience preferred.
• Ability to manage and prioritize multiple tasks while maintaining focus and alignment on project plan and key deliverables.
• Ability to negotiate and resolve issues with minimal support.
• Critical thinking and problem-solving ability.
• Ability to quickly learn, adapt, and provide accurate and timely updates following strong documentation practices.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills with the ability to collaborate effectively across multiple work streams.

A key member of the internal documentation team, the Technical Author builds accurate, visually clear content by writing, editing, and creating diagrams and pictures across a range of engineering and prototype deliverables, including first-of and prototype build records. Collaborating across production, design, print, and translation functions, this role ensures that product documentation is comprehensive, accessible, and maintained for future reference.

Functions

• Write, edit, and proofread text.
• Collate and verify information.
• Create and edit pictures and diagrams.
• Liaise with other staff such as printers, photographers, and translators.
• Produce indexes and catalogues.
• Work with internal teams to obtain an in-depth understanding of the product and documentation requirements.
• Create specific documentation to record first-of/prototype build details, ensuring all key areas are documented for future reference.

Experience & Qualifications

• Previous experience as a Technical Author or in a similar role preferred; experience in a technical role such as Design, Engineering, or Production is beneficial.
• Technical knowledge and a strong interest in technical systems and processes.
• Clear and concise writing style with strong grammar, vocabulary, and the ability to express instructions simply and briefly; eye for detail and the ability to produce visually attractive instructions and documentation.
• Computer literate with proficiency in Microsoft Word, PowerPoint, and Excel; skills in graphics packages such as Adobe Photoshop/Illustrator are beneficial.
• Excellent planning, organisational, analytical, and questioning skills to obtain information from experts.

Consistent, brand-aligned training content depends on the Content Author and Designer, who leads the creation of visual templates, eLearning modules, enablement guides, and newsletters while maintaining editorial tone and standards across all deliverables. Based within the learning and enablement function, the role partners with cross-functional teams to enhance legacy content, monitor SOPs, and coordinate Train-the-trainer communications that keep stakeholders informed and equipped.

Accountabilities

• Create visual designs and branded templates for training slides, eLearning, enablement guides, and other materials.
• Ensure all deliverables are professionally written, edited, and proofread; maintain standards for editorial tone, style, and voice.
• Author eLearning and presentation content.
• Conduct continuous QA and improvement; monitor metadata, project documentation, templates, and SOPs.
• Draft communications about Train-the-trainer events and coordinate and draft the training newsletter.
• Partner with teams to enhance, edit, and reformat legacy content.

Professional Experience

• 4+ years of experience working in a client environment designing, authoring, and editing content.
• Engaging and motivating storyteller able to bring life to technical or conceptual content; ability to adapt style for different stakeholders.
• Impeccable attention to detail with exceptional proofreading skills covering spelling, grammar, and editorial guidelines.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills with outstanding organizational skills and the ability to handle multiple projects simultaneously while meeting deadlines in a fast-paced environment.
• Flexible mindset and agile approach to deliverables; work examples or a portfolio of past projects required.

The E-Commerce Author/Merchandiser leads the creation and maintenance of offers and products within a telecom client's Agile environment, coordinating with Marketing, IT, Product, UX, and QA teams to deliver timely, high-quality configurations and content changes that meet or exceed client expectations. Serving as a responsive partner to the client organization, this role contributes to sprint planning and refinements, identifies system bottlenecks, and remains available for after-hours deployments to support continuous platform operations.

Key Deliverables

• Create and maintain offers and products.
• Perform copy changes, conditional displays, and similar tasks.
• Engage in team discussions including stand-ups, refinements, and planning sessions.
• Work and discuss requirements with clients or other teams including Product, UX, QA, and development.
• Provide level-of-effort estimates on required configuration for planning purposes.
• Identify bottlenecks and bugs and devise solutions.
• Deliver a high level of commitment to client success, providing timely and quality services that meet or exceed expectations.
• Be available when required for after-hours deployments.

Position Requirements

• Experience with content management, including creating and maintaining offers and products.
• Knowledge of Telecom industry.
• Knowledge of Agile methodology.
• Knowledge of Adobe Experience Manager, rule engines, and back-end system interactions.
• Good analytic and debugging skills; ability to work well under pressure and with changing priorities.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills in English.

Technical Author owns the authoring and publication of mechanical service information across Chassis, HVAC, Powertrain, Body, Interior, and Exterior commodity areas, converting math data into graphics and structured procedure text within a production-schedule-driven environment. The work directly supports internal and external customer organizations by ensuring that service content is accurate, consistently structured, and delivered on time across all publication sections.

Areas of Ownership

• Develop and author mechanical service information procedures and related technical content for Chassis, HVAC, Powertrain, Body, Interior, and Exterior commodities.
• Edit existing mechanical service information content as required.
• Utilize Teamcenter and Vis Mockup to create graphics from math data.
• Utilize Arbortext to develop procedure text, creating and using text strings when applicable.
• Manage publication content by section, subsection, and information type.
• Communicate information to and from internal and external customer organizations.

Education & Experience

• BS Degree in Automotive Technology or equivalent technical experience.
• Technical writing background and dealership experience as a technician preferred.
• Knowledge of CAD visualization techniques; illustration and graphics development skills preferred.
• Proficient with MS Excel, MS Word, and Arbortext; proficiency with Teamcenter and Vis Mockup preferred.
• Good organizational skills with the ability to clearly communicate complex subject matter and work effectively with others in a production-based environment with adherence to delivery schedule timing.

The Technical Author owns the production and maintenance of clear, unambiguous documentation - spanning new copy, reformatted existing content, supporting diagrams, and a structured template library - calibrated to audiences from end-users through subject matter experts. Reporting into a corporate technical function, this role shapes the consistency and accessibility of the organization's full document suite by working directly with technical staff and maintaining uniform style and detail standards.

Role Responsibilities

• Work closely with technical staff to produce clear, concise, and unambiguous technical documentation.
• Write new copy to an agreed standard and style.
• Convey information appropriate to a specified target audience, from end-user to subject matter expert.
• Update existing text to present a uniform style and level of detail across a document suite.
• Redesign and reformat existing documentation.
• Produce supporting images, graphics, and diagrams.
• Produce and maintain a library of document templates.

Required Qualifications

• Minimum 3 years of experience in a technical author role.
• Experience working in a corporate environment with working knowledge of modern IT technologies.
• Capable of producing technical diagrams using appropriate software toolsets.
• Excellent written English skills.
• Strong verbal and interpersonal skills.

Embedded within the digital marketing team, the AEM Content Author delivers professionally authored web pages, components, and cross-channel content across eCommerce websites and customer apps, working from designs and wireframes within Adobe Experience Manager. Working closely with copywriters, creative teams, and cross-functional marketing partners, the role ensures consistent tone of voice and publication-quality output across vendor portals, mobile apps, and marketing pages while managing assets through the Digital Asset Manager.

What You'll Do

• Create web pages and components within Adobe Experience Manager (AEM) based on designs and wireframes.
• Work in a cross-channel environment publishing content for desktop and mobile devices.
• Work with the creative team to manage copy and creative assets via DAM.
• Evaluate and test standardization and quality of page components.
• Ensure professional-quality content for customer and vendor portals, responsive websites, mobile apps, marketing pages, and other cross-channel websites.
• Collaborate with copywriters and the broader marketing team to ensure consistent tone of voice and messaging.
• Edit a variety of digital content including marketing pages, navigational elements, form field labels, error messages, contextual help, alert messages, and FAQs.

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree from a four-year college or university, or 4 years of relevant work experience, or a combination of both.
• 2+ years of experience working with Adobe Experience Manager as a content admin or content author.
• Prior experience authoring content for enterprise websites.
• Past wireless and/or digital marketing/eCommerce experience a plus.
• Experience with Adobe CMS content authoring, wireframes, and design/prototyping software.
• Strong organization, project management, problem-solving, and communication skills across a wide variety of audiences.
• Highly adaptable with the ability to handle multiple competing priorities in a fast-paced, time-critical environment.
• Ability to collaborate with cross-functional resources and work well in a distributed environment.

Reporting to the digital operations function, the Global AEM Content Author builds and manages content across Breville and Sage global websites, overseeing product data publication via PIM, SEO implementation, WCAG compliance assurance, and GTM calendar-driven content rollouts across multiple regional markets. Partnering with e-commerce technology systems including AEM, Power BI, and JIRA, the role shapes the accuracy and integrity of global product assortment presentation while administering the website and brand compliance standards that keep international sites aligned.

Day-to-Day Responsibilities

• Deploy and manage content across global websites.
• Publish product data and updates via Breville's product management system (PIM).
• Ensure product assortment, content, and associations are correctly displayed and ordered across global company websites.
• Execute website content rollout according to the overarching GTM calendar, including copy translations, image editing, and review.
• Assist in SEO implementation and review across all global company websites.
• Conduct content audits, compliance, and validation checks.
• Perform data formatting, editing, clean-up, and import/export via PIM to facilitate website or system projects.
• Create, track, and test Story and Bug tickets via JIRA; produce product data reporting via Power BI.

Background & Experience

• Experience with Content Management Systems including editing, upload, and review.
• Experience with e-Commerce platforms and knowledge of best practices for digital content creation desirable.
• Experience with digital platforms such as ERPs, CRMs, DAMs, and Product Information/Database Management systems.
• Knowledge of best practices for digital content creation and implementation.
• High proficiency with Microsoft Excel.
• Experience with graphic design software such as Adobe Photoshop/InDesign desirable; project management experience desirable.
• Strong verbal and written communication skills; open-minded, enthusiastic, motivated, and a team player.