Technical Writer - Defence Publications

Horsell Consulting Pty Ltd; City of Melbourne; Hybrid; AUD 85,000 - 110,000; Part time

Benefits offered by this job

Professional development fund

Birthday leave

Defence reserves leave

Annual bonus

Early wage access

Flexible work policy

Team hangouts

Job summary

Horsell Consulting Pty Ltd in Melbourne, VIC, is seeking a Technical Publications Writer to develop and maintain defence publications in line with DEF(AUST)5629B/C standards. The role requires collaboration with engineers, illustrators and SMEs to produce user-focused manuals.

The position offers a hybrid work arrangement with potential travel to client sites, starting as casual with opportunity to convert to permanent as workload grows. Baseline AGSVA clearance is preferred.

Qualifications

• Experience authoring defence publications compliant with DEF(AUST)5629B/C standards.
• Proficiency in technical writing and structured authoring tools.
• Solid understanding of engineering principles and documentation hierarchies.

Responsibilities

• Develop, edit, and maintain technical manuals in accordance with DEF(AUST)5629B/C and project-specific requirements.
• Interpret engineering data, drawings, schematics, and technical inputs to create structured, user-oriented content.
• Work collaboratively with technical illustrators to ensure text and visuals align for clarity and compliance.
• Remotely engage with cross-functional project teams, including engineering, ILS, and client representatives.
• Apply quality assurance processes to ensure consistency, compliance, and version control across documentation.
• Support documentation reviews, updates, and validation processes throughout the product lifecycle.

Skills

Defence publications

Technical writing

FrameMaker

XML-based authoring

Engineering terminology

Independent work

Distributed teamwork

Tools

FrameMaker

XML-based authoring

Job description

Technical Publications Writer – Defence Publications

Location: Melbourne, Victoria
Clearance Required: Current or reinstatable AGSVA Baseline clearance (minimum), NV1 highly regarded.
Work Arrangement: Hybrid working arrangement with occasional client site travel.
Engagement: Initially casual, with the opportunity to become permanent as workload builds.

About the Role: We are seeking a skilled and meticulous Technical Publications Writer to join our expanding Technical Publications team. This role requires a deep understanding of the DEF(AUST)5629B and 5629C standards, as well as strong technical writing skills to produce clear, accurate, and user-focused technical manuals.

The successful candidate will work closely with illustrators, engineers, and subject matter experts to develop comprehensive and compliant technical publications that meet defence requirements and enhance the end-user’s understanding of complex equipment and systems.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop, edit, and maintain technical manuals in accordance with DEF(AUST)5629B/C and project-specific requirements.
• Interpret engineering data, drawings, schematics, and technical inputs to create structured, user-oriented content.
• Work collaboratively with technical illustrators to ensure text and visuals align for clarity and compliance.
• Remotely engage with cross-functional project teams, including engineering, ILS, and client representatives.
• Apply quality assurance processes to ensure consistency, compliance, and version control across documentation.
• Support documentation reviews, updates, and validation processes throughout the product lifecycle.

Required Qualifications & Experience

• Demonstrated experience authoring defence-related publications compliant with DEF(AUST)5629B/C standards.
• Proficiency in technical writing and structured authoring tools such as FrameMaker, XML-based authoring, or similar tools.
• Solid understanding of engineering principles, technical terminology, and documentation hierarchies.
• Excellent written communication skills with a focus on clarity, accuracy, and compliance.
• Ability to manage documentation tasks independently and as part of a distributed team.
• Familiarity with Australian Defence documentation protocols and ILS integration.

Desirable

• Experience working with content management systems (CMS) and structured data formats (e.g., S1000D, XML).
• Knowledge of Defence capability lifecycle, logistics support documentation, and MIL-STD guidelines.
• Background in technical editing, document formatting, and publication design.

Life at Horsell

• Flexible Work Policy: Various working arrangements to support work-life balance.
• Professional Development: Strong focus on growth with a professional development fund of $5,000.
• Additional Leave Benefits: Enjoy extra privileges such as an additional day off on your birthday.
• Defence Reserves Leave: Paid leave, as applicable.
• Social Events: Two annual celebrations, one held at the state level and another as a national event (EOFY and Christmas), with one of them always being family-friendly.
• Regular Hangouts: Monthly catch-ups, one held in person by state and another online for the whole Horsell team.
• Annual Performance Bonus: Be eligible for an annual bonus that reflects your alignment with our company values.
• Early Wage Access: Financial flexibility with access to up to 50% of your earned salary before payday, up to a maximum of $1,000 per week, through our early wage access program.
• Intellect Mental Health & Wellbeing: Support for you and your family.
• And much more, just ask!

About Us

Founded in 2007, Horsell is a fully Australian-owned, family and veteran-operated professional services firm. We specialise in making better procurement decisions primarily for the Defence sector, offering specialised training, consulting services and innovative technology solutions. We work with both government and industry, delivering practical, trusted and transparent solutions across the capability lifecycle.