Technical Writer (Entry Level to SME) TS/SCI with Poly REQUIRED

CGI Federal has an exciting opportunity for Technical Writers within our Intel sector advancing the national security mission through cutting-edge technology. You must have a passion for keeping pace with rapidly evolving technology advancements and leveraging your knowledge on a highly collaborative team to deliver state-of-the-art capabilities. The Technical Writer translates complex information into easy-to-understand guides, FAQs, and manuals. This position is located in our Arlington office; however, a hybrid working model is acceptable.

Responsibilities

• Entry Level
  • Draft Content: Write and update simple user manuals, how-to guides, and FAQs for a non-technical audience.
  • Collaborate: Interview subject matter experts (engineers/developers) to gather accurate information about how a product works.
  • Edit: Proofread and format documents to ensure they match company style guidelines.
  • Visualize: Add screenshots, charts, or basic diagrams to make instructions easier to follow.
• Junior Level/Moderate
  • Create Content: Draft, edit, and maintain user-facing documentation, FAQs, and Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs).
  • Research & Translate: Study product samples, interview subject matter experts, and translate complex technical concepts into digestible instructions.
  • Maintain Guidelines: Adhere to in-house style guides to ensure consistency across all documentation platforms.
  • Collaborate: Work alongside developers, product managers, and UI/UX teams to improve user assistance and product interface text.
  • Review & Update: Test products to verify documentation accuracy and incorporate user feedback to refine content.
  • Visual Integration: Incorporate graphs, charts, and diagrams to increase user comprehension.
• Mid-Level
  • Document Creation: Write, edit, and maintain complex operational procedures, system manuals, API documentation, and installation guides.
  • Subject Matter Expert (SME) Collaboration: Conduct structured interviews with engineers, developers, and scientists to extract dense technical information and translate it into accessible language.
  • Quality & Compliance: Perform QA reviews to ensure all deliverables satisfy program requirements, industry/legal compliance, and internal corporate style guides.
  • Visual Integration: Design and incorporate clear diagrams, flowcharts, infographics, and UI/UX text to enhance overall content usability.
  • Configuration & Version Control: Manage version control and maintain a comprehensive library of technical documentation.
  • User Advocacy: Gather and analyze user feedback to continuously improve documentation.
• Senior Level
  • Documentation Authoring: Independently research, plan, and write highly complex technical content, including API documentation, software architecture guides, white papers, and system-level standard operating procedures (SOPs).
  • Subject Matter Expert (SME) Collaboration: Conduct in-depth interviews with senior engineers, developers, and scientists to extract, analyze, and synthesize large volumes of technical data.
  • Information Architecture: Determine the most logical and user-friendly way to present information. Standardize content, nomenclature, and messaging across internal and external knowledge bases.
  • Visual Integration: Collaborate closely with UI/UX designers and technical illustrators to embed conceptual diagrams, data flow charts, screenshot markups, and multimedia elements that clarify complex processes.
  • Quality Assurance & Editing: Edit, proofread, and standardize content developed by junior writers or other technical staff. Ensure compliance with strict internal style guides, legal regulations, and accessibility standards (e.g., Section 508 compliance).
  • Continuous Improvement: Monitor feedback analytics, evaluate documentation usage metrics, and iterate on existing content to fill knowledge gaps and improve the overall user experience.
• SME Level
  • Information Architecture & Strategy: Design and maintain robust documentation sets, developer portals, and API reference guides. Define content management strategies, single-sourcing workflows, and structured authoring methodologies.
  • Cross-Functional Collaboration: Act as the strategic anchor between technical experts and end-users. Synthesize highly abstract system architecture, complex data models, and API specifications into minimalist, task-oriented documentation.
  • Docs-as-Code Integration: Work natively within engineering workflows, utilizing version control systems (like Git/GitHub) and continuous integration (CI/CD) pipelines to review, test, and deploy documentation alongside code.
  • User Advocacy & UX Copy: Proactively influence product design by ensuring UI text, error messages, and onboarding workflows are user-centric, accessible, and intuitive.
  • Mentorship & Quality Assurance: Establish and enforce rigorous style guidelines and technical governance. Review and edit content produced by peers and junior writers to ensure accuracy and standardized formatting.
  • Metrics & Continuous Improvement: Monitor documentation analytics, track user feedback, and iterate on content to drive measurable improvements in comprehension, searchability, and customer support deflection.

Requirements

• All roles
  • Active TS/SCI with Poly clearance.
• Entry Level
  • Education: High School Diploma/GED with 4 years of relevant experience, Associate’s Degree with 2 years of relevant experience, or Bachelor’s Degree with 0 years of relevant experience.
  • Writing Skills: Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Junior Level/Moderate
  • Education: High School Diploma/GED with 6 years of relevant experience, Associate’s Degree with 4 years of relevant experience, Bachelor’s Degree with 2 years of relevant experience, or Master’s Degree with 0 years of relevant experience.
  • Writing Skills: Exceptional writing, editing, and proofreading skills with a keen eye for detail.
  • Technical Aptitude: Ability to quickly grasp technical concepts and software tools.
  • Soft Skills: Strong communication, active listening, and the ability to work collaboratively in a team environment.
  • Tools: Familiarity with documentation and design software (e.g., MadCap Flare, Adobe FrameMaker, Confluence, Microsoft Word, or Markdown).
  • Tech-Savvy: Ability to learn new software and technical concepts quickly.
  • Attention to Detail: Meticulous eye for grammar, formatting, and clarity.
• Mid-Level/Complex
  • Education: High School Diploma/GED with 8 years of relevant experience, Associate’s Degree with 6 years of relevant experience, Bachelor’s Degree with 4 years of relevant experience, Master’s Degree with 2 years of relevant experience, or PhD with 0 years of relevant experience.
  • Technical Aptitude: Ability to interpret system architecture, schematics, code excerpts, and product samples to integrate them into technical literature.
  • Tool Proficiency: Experience with Content Management Systems (e.g., Confluence, MadCap Flare), version control tools, and diagramming software (e.g., Lucidchart, Visio).
  • Soft Skills: Detail-oriented with exceptional organizational skills, capable of managing multiple assignments with competing deadlines.
• Senior Level/Exceptionally Complex
  • Education: High School Diploma/GED with 10 years of relevant experience, Associate’s Degree with 8 years of relevant experience, Bachelor’s Degree with 6 years of relevant experience, Master’s Degree with 4 years of relevant experience, or PhD with 2 years of relevant experience.
  • Technical Proficiency: Advanced knowledge of industry-standard documentation tools and Content Management Systems (CMS). Familiarity with authoring in Markdown, XML, or HTML. Hands-on experience with version control systems (e.g., Git) is highly desirable.
  • Analytical Skills: Exceptional ability to grasp complex technical data and deconstruct it for specific target audiences, ranging from non-technical end-users to expert developers.
  • Soft Skills: Strong project management abilities, excellent cross-team communication, and a high degree of empathy for the end-user. Ability to work autonomously and manage multiple concurrent projects under tight deadlines.
• SME Level/Exceptionally Complex
  • Education: High School Diploma/GED with 12 years of relevant experience, Associate’s Degree with 10 years of relevant experience, Bachelor’s Degree with 8 years of relevant experience, Master’s Degree with 6 years of relevant experience, or PhD with 4 years of relevant experience.
  • Technical Acumen: Deep familiarity with software development lifecycles (SDLC) and proficiency in reading code (e.g., Python, Java, or C++).
  • Tool Mastery: Advanced expertise in modern documentation-as-code tooling, markdown, and Content Management Systems (CMS).
  • Communication: Exceptional ability to distill complex technical constraints into coherent, elegant prose for both technical and non-technical audiences.

Pay

A reasonable estimate of the current range for this role in the U.S. is $89,600.00 - $204,000.00.

Benefits

• Competitive compensation.
• Comprehensive insurance options.
• Matching contributions through the 401(k) plan and the share purchase plan.
• Paid time off for vacation, holidays, and sick time.
• Paid parental leave.
• Learning opportunities and tuition assistance.
• Wellness and well-being programs.