What are the responsibilities and job description for the Technical Writer position at AstroNova, Inc.?
Position Summary/Objective:
The Technical Writer’s primary responsibility is to develop expertise in AstroNova products and create technical publications that help customers succeed with those products. This is a hybrid role based in West Warwick, RI.
AstroNova is looking for an individual who:
- Will be responsible for creating technical publications that help customers install, configure, use, and maintain AstroNova products
- Communicates clearly with grammatically correct, informative content
- Has an exceptional attention to detail and high quality standards
- Can demonstrate success in developing multiple publication projects simultaneously from start to completion
- Identifies the information needs of customers and delivers innovative solutions to meet those needs
Duties and Responsibilities:
- Create and maintain technical publications such as user guides, service guides, help systems, application notes, training materials, and other publications
- Develop expertise in hardware and software products through hands-on experience, review of engineering documents/schematics, and conversations with subject matter experts
- Write clear and comprehensive instructions that guide readers through complex technical tasks
- Proofread and edit a wide variety of technical publications for accuracy, consistency, branding, professionalism, and compliance
- Stay informed about changes in technical communication tools and trends to implement best practices for continuous improvement
- Occasionally travel to other AstroNova locations for training
Required Education and Experience:
- Bachelor’s degree in English, Communication, Journalism, or a related field
- 2-3 years related experience in technical writing, technical support, or a related field
- Excellent writing, editing, and proofreading skills
- Experience documenting hardware and software systems, and the ability to quickly learn new tools and technologies
- Strong collaboration, planning, organizational, presentation, and project management skills
- Goal oriented and able to work under pressure to handle multiple tasks and priorities to meet both internal and external deadlines
- Ability to deal positively with constructive criticism, unexpected developments, and diverse perspectives
- Technical skills including Microsoft Windows and Office, Adobe design tools, and markup languages such as HTML and XML
Preferred Skills, Experience, and Certifications:
- Experience developing user guides, service guides, help systems, and training materials for hardware and software technology products
- Technical illustration using CAD and 3D modeling software
- Adobe FrameMaker, InDesign, Acrobat, Illustrator, and Photoshop
- Familiarity with markup languages and lightweight markup languages