Technical Writer

Basic Qualifications

Bachelor's degree in a related specialized area or field, or equivalent combination of education and relevant work experience is required plus a minimum of 2 years of relevant experience; or Master's degree.

CLEARANCE REQUIREMENTS: Department of Defense Secret security clearance is obtainable within a reasonable amount of time after hire. Applicants selected will be subject to a U.S. Government security investigation and must meet eligibility requirements for access to classified information. Due to the nature of work performed within our facilities, U.S. citizenship is required.

Responsibilities for this Position

Ready to be a leader with the company that is committed to pushing the limits of truly advanced technologies? At General Dynamics Mission Systems, we create the products and services that help our service members, intelligence analysts and first responders keep our nation safe. The work we do is so advanced, it’s often classified. If you want to put your talent in the spotlight, it’s waiting for you right now, right here. We apply advanced technologies such as Artificial Intelligence, Blockchain, AR/VR, Cloud Native and Quantum Physics to solve our customers’ missions in cyber, RF, undersea, interstellar and everything in between. It’s your chance to put your talent to the ultimate test. Are you ready? The Senior Technical Writing Specialist is responsible for creating, planning, writing and editing complex operational, instructional, interactive electronic technical manuals (IETMs), maintenance or test procedures. This will entail documenting engineering processes and specifications by editing software developer and engineering staff’s notes and procedures and applying formatting in order to support the writing and publication of hardware and software test procedures. Additionally, you’ll work with junior writers providing feedback and critiquing work in order to help develop leadership skills, documentation skills and expertise with production tools and projects.

Responsibilities

The Technical Writing Specialist will create, maintain, validate, and deliver technical documentation for the USW DSS program. These products support system installation, administration, operation, testing, certification, and fielding across laboratory, shore, and afloat environments.

Responsibilities include:

• Develop and maintain system version descriptions, installation procedures, system administrator guides, policy layout guides, installation procedures, test plans, test reports, and other released technical products.
• Transform engineering notes, demonstrations, drawings, software information, test results, and SME input into clear, accurate, user-focused technical content.
• Observe system installation, integration, troubleshooting, and test activities in the laboratory to develop and validate procedures.
• Execute draft procedures with engineers, testers, installers, and system administrators; incorporate findings and correct missing, unclear, or inaccurate steps.
• Develop and maintain manual system performance verification test procedures with engineering and test personnel.
• Participate in laboratory shifts supporting installation, integration, certification, and test events to write, validate, and update procedures. Periodic evening, overnight, or weekend shift work may be required.
• Manage multiple documents and releases concurrently while meeting quality, configuration, and delivery schedules.
• Lead document reviews, adjudicate comments, track required inputs, and coordinate approval with engineering, test, cybersecurity, configuration management, and program stakeholders.
• Verify document completeness, internal consistency, technical terminology, cross-references, figures, tables, prerequisites, warnings, and procedural flow.
• Maintain document templates and ensure compliance with applicable Data Item Descriptions, contract requirements, military standards, style guides, security requirements, and program processes.
• Apply configuration-management principles to maintain document revision history, release traceability, and alignment with the applicable system baseline.
• Use checklists and quality processes to verify that documentation meets release and customer requirements.
• Explain document changes, their technical basis, and their effect on users and system procedures.
• Maintain working drafts between releases so documentation evolves with system development rather than relying on late-cycle updates.
• Communicate effectively with SMEs, engineers, testers, installers, configuration-management personnel, and program leadership.
• Investigate technical issues using system documentation, engineering data, test evidence, and laboratory equipment.
• Support documentation and procedure development for classified systems and controlled technical information.
• Periodically travel to other program locations, including Port Orchard, Washington, to support afloat-specific documentation, integration, and test activities.

Secondary duties based on program workload may include:

• Create labels and supporting documentation for DVD, Blu-ray, SSD, and other release media.
• Produce, verify, package, track, and ship program-related media.
• Maintain media-production records, release checklists, and associated configuration documentation.
• Support other programs during periods of lower USW DSS workload.

Basic Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in technical communication, English, engineering, computer science, information systems, or a related field; or an equivalent combination of education and relevant experience.
• Relevant experience developing or maintaining complex technical documentation for software, hardware, integrated systems, test, or operational environments.
• Strong technical writing, editing, interviewing, research, and organizational skills.
• Ability to understand unfamiliar technical material, ask effective questions, and translate SME input into accurate instructions for the intended user.
• Ability to work independently from incomplete engineering inputs and progressively mature documentation through observation, inquiry, validation, and review.
• Advanced proficiency with Microsoft Word, including templates, styles, tables, captions, cross-references, fields, tracked changes, comments, and large-document formatting.

• Ability to author and maintain structured documentation in Visual Studio Code or a comparable development environment.

• Experience managing multiple technical publications and review cycles against firm delivery schedules.
• Knowledge of document configuration management, revision control, and formal release processes.
• Meticulous attention to detail and a strong command of English grammar, composition, terminology, and procedural writing.
• Ability to support periodic shift work during installation and test events.
• Ability to obtain and maintain a Department of Defense Secret security clearance.
• U.S. citizenship required due to the nature of the work performed.

Preferred Qualifications

• Five or more years of technical-writing experience supporting complex defense, Navy, command-and-control, cybersecurity, software, or systems-integration programs.
• Experience developing installation procedures, system administration guides, test plans, test reports, or manual verification procedures.
• Experience validating technical procedures in a laboratory, integration, test, or operational environment.
• Working knowledge of Git-based version control, including cloning and updating repositories, creating branches, reviewing changes, committing and pushing updates, and supporting GitLab merge requests.
• Ability to edit HTML or XML documentation source files and use an established automated build process to generate and verify HTML and PDF deliverables.
• Familiarity with DoD contracts, CDRLs, Data Item Descriptions, military standards, and controlled technical documentation.
• Experience supporting Navy surface or afloat systems.
• Experience with Jira, requirements repositories, content-management systems, or other engineering workflow tools.
• Familiarity with software development, networking, servers, virtualization, cybersecurity, and integrated system test concepts.
• Experience handling Controlled Unclassified Information and working in classified environments.
• Demonstrated initiative, independent judgment, critical thinking, and the ability to identify documentation risks before they affect a release.

Workplace Expectations

This position is based in Manassas, Virginia, and requires regular on-site laboratory participation. Limited remote work, generally one to two days per week, may be available when program and laboratory activities permit. Installation, certification, and test events may require temporary shift work outside normal business hours. Periodic travel may be required.

Salary Note

Combined Salary Range

Company Overview

General Dynamics Mission Systems (GDMS) engineers a diverse portfolio of high technology solutions, products and services that enable customers to successfully execute missions across all domains of operation. With a global team of 12,000+ top professionals, we partner with the best in industry to expand the bounds of innovation in the defense and scientific arenas. Given the nature of our work and who we are, we value trust, honesty, alignment and transparency. We offer highly competitive benefits and pride ourselves in being a great place to work with a shared sense of purpose. You will also enjoy a flexible work environment where contributions are recognized and rewarded. If who we are and what we do resonates with you, we invite you to join our high-performance team!

Equal Opportunity Employer / Individuals with Disabilities / Protected Veterans