Principal Technical Writer

This position is listed on behalf of a partner company, which manages all applications and next steps. Our partner is looking for a Principal Technical Writer based in the United States.

Join a forward-thinking technology environment dedicated to advancing clinical research and improving patient outcomes through innovative software solutions. As a Principal Technical Writer, you will lead the development and continuous improvement of technical documentation across a diverse portfolio of complex software products. You will collaborate closely with engineering, product management, project managers, and subject matter experts to transform technical concepts into clear, accessible, user-focused content. Your work will help users navigate sophisticated applications while ensuring accuracy, consistency, and a seamless documentation experience. You will establish documentation standards, optimize publishing processes, and drive quality improvements across multiple product platforms. This role offers the opportunity to combine technical expertise, strategic leadership, and cross-functional collaboration in a regulated, science-driven industry.

Accountabilities

• Technical Documentation Development: Lead the creation, editing, maintenance, and publication of comprehensive product user guides, software release notes, and other end-user technical documentation across multiple software products.
• Cross-Functional Collaboration: Partner with engineers, product managers, project managers, and subject matter experts to understand product functionality and translate complex technical information into clear, practical documentation.
• Documentation Standards and Governance: Establish and maintain consistent documentation standards, content structures, writing guidelines, and publishing processes to ensure quality and consistency across products and platforms.
• Documentation Project Management: Coordinate cross-functional documentation initiatives, manage publishing schedules, oversee documentation rebranding efforts, and develop documentation frameworks for new product platforms.
• Quality Assurance and Review: Oversee the accuracy, completeness, consistency, and approval of externally published documentation, ensuring content meets established standards and user needs.
• Process Improvement: Develop measurable quality and efficiency practices, identify opportunities to optimize documentation workflows, and continuously improve content management and publishing processes.
• Technical Research and Content Validation: Investigate product functionality, gather information from technical stakeholders, and validate documentation when existing specifications are limited or incomplete.
• Stakeholder Communication: Maintain effective working relationships across technical and business teams, align documentation deliverables with product development priorities, and communicate project progress and potential risks.

Requirements

• Education: Bachelor’s degree in Technical Communication, English, Computer Science, or a related discipline, or equivalent relevant professional experience.
• Professional Experience: Approximately 10–15 years of experience in technical writing, including extensive experience producing end-user documentation for complex software applications.
• Technical Writing Expertise: Proven ability to develop detailed product user guides, software release notes, and comprehensive technical documentation, including in environments where existing specifications are limited.
• Documentation and Design Tools: Strong proficiency with Microsoft Word, Adobe InDesign, Photoshop, Dreamweaver, Visio, and other relevant documentation, publishing, and graphics tools.
• Software Development Knowledge: Experience working within software development environments and collaborating with engineering, product, and other technical stakeholders.
• Project Management: Demonstrated ability to manage multiple documentation projects, competing priorities, and strict deadlines while maintaining high standards of accuracy and quality.
• Communication and Research: Excellent written and verbal communication, research, editing, and problem-solving skills, with the ability to simplify complex technical concepts for diverse audiences.
• Stakeholder Management: Strong interpersonal skills and the ability to gather technical information, coordinate reviews, incorporate feedback…