Senior Writer/Editor

About the Role

We’re looking for a Senior Writer/Editor to join our Technical Communications team at the Software Engineering Institute (SEI) to write and edit technical content for reports, the SEI website, blogs, and presentations. You will collaborate with SEI researchers, engineers, and other subject-matter experts to gather complex technical information and prepare it for distribution to different audiences, from technical experts to lay readers. You will manage the content through all stages of the writing process from inception to completion, including drafting stages and multi-author editing stages where you will play a central role in ensuring clarity, optimal organization, unity of voice, grammatical correctness, and adherence to style standards.

Responsibilities

• Edit formal technical reports at all editorial levels, including substantive editing, copyediting, and proofreading.
• Correct grammar, punctuation, syntax, usage, capitalization, citations, formatting, and style-guide inconsistencies with a high degree of accuracy and attention to detail.
• Apply and enforce editorial standards and style-guide conventions consistently across long-form, highly technical, multi-author documents.
• Write technical content and stories for the SEI website, Year in Review, and other communication channels.
• Collaborate with technical staff to write blog posts about technical topics.
• Write and edit brief articles and marketing materials.
• Write and edit web content, video scripts, and content for other electronic media.
• Collaborate with SEI Communication Design, Web Services, Public Relations, and Outreach teams on publications, presentations, web pages, information graphics, and event materials.
• Plan, manage, schedule, and track your project tasks.

Requirements

• At least five years of experience in writing and editing.
• Ability to both develop original content and perform meticulous line-by-line editing of complex documents.
• Exceptional copyediting and proofreading skills, including mastery of grammar, punctuation, syntax, usage, and consistency in technical and formal writing.
• Commitment to customer service for subject-matter experts, while also advocating for their readers.
• Keen eye for detail and a strong focus on quality and adherence to a style guide.
• Strong organizational, time management, and project management skills, with the ability to prioritize multiple responsibilities.
• Social skills to interview subject-matter experts or work closely with them to plan and develop written technical materials.
• Experience with complex subjects—preferably, but not necessarily, in software or science—and the ability to learn new topics quickly.
• Experience in research writing or long-form documentation, such as academic articles and reports.
• Significant experience with Microsoft Office applications, particularly Word and PowerPoint.
• Ability to work with minimal or no supervision, but also participate in team decision making.
• Willingness to travel within the SEI and CMU community—and occasionally to sponsor sites, conferences, and offsite meetings—to support the SEI’s mission (You will be subject to a background investigation and must be able to obtain and maintain a Department of War security clearance).

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience in an academic or technical research setting.
• Experience documenting software.
• Marketing writing for a technical or Department of War audience.
• Coordinating with others to meet service-level agreements for projects.
• Experience with issue- and project-tracking software.
• Experience with website content-management systems.
• Knowledge of accessibility or 508 compliance.
• Experience learning a markup language or using LaTeX or other document-preparation systems.

About the Team

The Technical Communications team helps the SEI’s subject-matter experts inform our sponsor and the public about the research, methods, products, and services developed at the SEI.

Benefits

• Comprehensive health insurance (medical, prescription, dental, and vision).
• Generous retirement-savings program with an 8% monthly employer contribution (no employee contribution required).
• Tuition benefits for you and your dependent children to attend classes at CMU.
• Flexible work arrangements and a healthy work/life balance.
• Ample paid time off and observed holidays.
• Life and accidental death and disability insurance.
• Free Pittsburgh Regional Transit bus pass.
• Access to campus fitness facilities, mindfulness programs, and childcare resources via the Family Concierge Team.
• Annual professional-development opportunities, including conferences, training, and certifications.

Location

Pittsburgh, PA

This is a full-time, regular staff position.