Technical Writer

About the role

MTA Metro-North Railroad is a dynamic organization providing service to over 86.5 million customers, operating out of Grand Central Terminal. The Technical Writer position is within the Maintenance of Equipment department.

Responsibilities

• Write, review, edit, publish and develop all relevant M of E documents (e.g. Technical Instructions, Notices, Alerts, Modifications Forms, Technical Scopes of Work and Specifications).
• Ensure documentation reflects procedures performed in shops, yards and on equipment, including running repair, scheduled inspections, heavy overhaul and yard servicing.
• Ensure documentation is compliant with document control policies and procedures, current equipment, new equipment including PTC.
• Consult with subject matter experts to document and clarify relevant subject matter material and ensure material is presented for appropriate target audiences.
• Work directly with suppliers and external partners to ensure documentation reflects correct technical requirements and is tailored to appropriate target audiences.
• Assist in developing departmental standards and procedures including templates, process guides, internal style guides and process flows.
• Contribute to continuous improvement of documentation processes across shop, yard and equipment maintenance operations.
• Assist in maintaining all maintenance tasks performed at all levels of railcar and locomotive maintenance to provide shop forces with timely and accurate procedures for performing maintenance.
• Provide shop and yard forces with timely, accurate and accessible procedures to support safe and efficient maintenance activities on all equipment types.
• Continuously update printed and electronic format the Association of American Railroads (AAR) publications with AAR-issued circulars to maintain currency.
• Update records to reflect changes to regulatory requirements and industry standards.
• Ensure digital documentation is organized, searchable and accessible to shop, yard and field personnel.
• Support Mechanical operations across all shop and yard locations, including Harmon, North White Plains, and New Haven, as assigned.
• May be required to work various shifts and locations assigned to support operations 24 hours/day, 7 days a week. Will be on call and respond to emergencies as required.

Qualifications

• Required Knowledge/Skills/Abilities:
• Ability to read and interpret engineering documentation (e.g. blueprints, drawings and schematics).
• Strong knowledge of document control systems, content management systems or other source control tools.
• Strong knowledge of Microsoft Access.
• Strong knowledge of Microsoft Office (Outlook, PowerPoint, Excel, Word, and Visio) and/or comparable applications.
• Strong knowledge of Adobe Acrobat Professional.
• Familiarity with structured authoring and XML.
• Familiar with Flesch-Kincaid Reading Grade Level techniques.
• Familiarity with Illustrated Parts Catalogues (IPC).
• Excellent interpersonal and leadership skills with the ability to work with diverse teams.
• Ability to write clearly, concisely, and audience-appropriate from logical instructions and brief abstracts to book-length manuscripts.
• Ability to use graphical software such as Adobe Photoshop and SnagIt.
• Strong organizational and communication skills.
• Strong technical, analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Experience writing to technical specifications.
• Familiarity with style guides such as the AP Style Guide or Chicago Manual of Style.
• Experience working in an industrial, manufacturing, or transportation organization.
• Familiar with ISO 9000 document control and retention requirements.
• Experience with Content Management Systems (CMS) or other source control tools.
• Experience with website administration.
• Knowledge of standard safety practices, rules and regulations.

Education/Experience

• Associate’s Degree (AA) in Communications, Journalism, Engineering, English or related field.
• Minimum three (3) years of developing and editing technical documentation (e.g. Maintenance or Instructional Manuals, Illustrated Parts Catalogs and Specifications).
• Minimum one (1) year of experience managing staff and/or projects.

Preferred

• n/a