Lead Technical Author

Northrop Grumman Sperry Marine; Greater London; Hybrid; GBP 50,000 - 70,000; Full time

Job summary

A global leader in maritime technology is seeking a Lead Technical Author to create high-quality, user-friendly manuals and manage documentation processes. The ideal candidate has proven technical writing experience and is proficient with Madcap Flare. This role offers flexible working arrangements, professional development, and a chance to influence maritime tech's future.

Benefits

Flexible working – Hybrid policy

Career development – Ongoing training

Supportive benefits – Health & wellbeing perks

Qualifications

• Proven experience in creating complex technical content in a technical or engineering environment.
• Exceptional communication and stakeholder management skills.
• Curiosity and drive to understand our marine products in depth.

Responsibilities

• Own the content – Work with engineers and SMEs to turn technical detail into high-quality manuals.
• Manage the collaboration with our authoring partner for efficient workflows and quality control.
• Drive continuous improvement through regular manual reviews using feedback.
• Streamline technical publications process and manage Jira tickets.

Skills

Creating complex technical content

Advanced proficiency with Madcap Flare

Communication skills

Stakeholder management

Process management

Project management

Understanding marine products

Education

Degree in technical or communications-related field

Tools

Madcap Flare

FrameMaker

RoboHelp

MS Word

Jira

Job description

Role Overview

Can you turn complex tech into clear, user-focused content? Join Sperry Marine and lead the creation of technical manuals that support cutting-edge maritime systems across the globe.

We’re a world leader in navigation and automation systems for the commercial and naval marine industries, with a 100+ year legacy of innovation and support. Now, we’re looking for a Lead Technical Author to own and evolve our technical documentation, with a particular focus on our flagship Ship’s Manual and Vision Master User Guide.

As our Lead Technical Author, you’ll :

• Own the content – Work with engineers and SMEs to turn technical detail into high-quality, user-friendly manuals.
• Manage external partners – Lead the collaboration with our authoring partner, ensuring efficient workflows, quality control, and timely delivery.
• Drive continuous improvement – Champion a culture of regular manual reviews, using feedback to improve usability and reflect product updates.
• Streamline process & workflow – Maintain and improve the technical publications process, manage Jira tickets, and use our process design tools to ensure seamless documentation delivery across projects.

About You

We're looking for someone who's ready to take ownership of a key function in a global business, and brings :

• Proven experience in creating complex technical content in a technical or engineering environment
• Advanced proficiency with Madcap Flare
• Familiarity with FrameMaker, RoboHelp, and MS Word .
• Exceptional communication and stakeholder management skills
• Ability to balance content creation with process and project management
• Curiosity and drive to understand our marine products in depth
• Ideally, a degree in a technical or communications-related field (or equivalent experience)
• Experience with Jira and managing tickets / workflows is a bonus.

If you’re passionate about technical writing and excited to play a key role in the future of maritime tech – we want to hear from you.

We’re especially keen to hear from candidates from underrepresented backgrounds – we value diverse perspectives and believe they make us stronger.

What You Get in Return

At Sperry Marine, your work has real impact – guiding vessels and protecting crews across the globe. You’ll join a diverse, international team that values innovation, precision, and collaboration. We offer :

• Flexible working – Hybrid policy + option for compressed weeks (every other Friday off)
• Global reach – Work with colleagues and partners across Europe, the Americas, and Asia
• Career development – Ongoing training and progression
• Supportive benefits – Health & wellbeing perks, generous leave, and strong pension contributions

About Us

With over 100 years of expertise in navigation, we are a trusted global leader in advanced navigation solutions - including radars, compasses, steering systems, speed logs, and fully integrated bridge and control systems. Our commitment to innovation is matched by our dedication to providing 24 / 7 support to our customers worldwide.

At the core of our success are our people. Their passion and dedication drive our growth and shape our future. In return, we support our employees in balancing work and life, maintaining their health and well-being, and developing their long-term careers.

We value diverse perspectives and believe that innovation thrives when bright minds collaborate. We are committed to creating an inclusive environment where everyone can thrive.