Security Specialist - Technical Writer

AMERICAN SYSTEMS; Arlington (VA); On-site; USD 111,000 - 185,000; Full time

Job summary

AMERICAN SYSTEMS in Arlington, VA, seeks a senior technical writer to develop, edit, and maintain clear, accurate security documentation across multiple disciplines. You will transform technical input into plans, procedures, reports, manuals, and official correspondence for classified environments.

The role requires DoD writing guidance expertise, strong editing and proofreading skills, and experience with SAP/SCI contexts.

Qualifications

• Master’s degree in a relevant discipline with 10 years of directly relevant experience, or a bachelor’s degree with 14 years of directly related work experience.
• In-depth knowledge of DoD writing and staffing guidance.
• Proficiency in editing, proofreading and correcting documentation.
• Experience supporting Special Access Programs and Sensitive Compartmented Information environments.
• Ability to coordinate across Government, contractor, and external stakeholders; prepare briefings, reports, SOPs, and official correspondence; lead a team in fast-paced classified environments.
• Active Top Secret clearance with SCI eligibility; must meet applicable SAP eligibility requirements identified by the Government.

Responsibilities

• Develop, edit, and maintain clear, accurate, and controlled documentation across multiple security disciplines.
• Transform technical, policy, and operational input into plans, procedures, reports, manuals, and other formal work products.
• Manage revisions, staffing, and verification against governing requirements and source material.
• Collaborate with subject-matter experts and Government stakeholders.
• Improve readability without changing substantive meaning and maintain traceability through review and approval.
• Ensure security documentation remains current and suitable for execution in classified environments.

Skills

DoD writing guidance

Editing & proofreading

SAP/SCI environments experience

Stakeholder coordination

Leadership in classified environments

Education

Master’s degree + 10 years experience

Bachelor’s degree + 14 years experience

Job description

Overview

AMERICAN SYSTEMS is an employee-owned federal government contractor supporting national priority programs through our strategic solutions in the areas of Information Technology, Test & Evaluation, Program Mission Support, Engineering & Analysis, and Training.

Responsibilities

• Develop, edit, and maintain clear, accurate, and controlled documentation across multiple security disciplines.
• Transforms technical, policy, and operational input into plans, procedures, reports, manuals, briefings, training products, memoranda, and other formal work products.
• Manage revisions, supports staffing and coordination, applies approved defense-writing conventions, and verify consistency with governing requirements and source material.
• Work closely with subject-matter experts and Government stakeholders
• Improves readability without altering technical meaning and maintains traceability through review and approval.
• Ensure that security documentation remains current, usable, professionally presented, and suitable for execution in classified environments.

Essential Responsibilities

• Draft and revise security plans, procedures, manuals, reports, briefings, training products, memoranda, and official correspondence.
• Edit technical content for clarity, grammar, consistency, organization, accuracy, and adherence to approved writing guidance.
• Coordinate document reviews with subject-matter experts, Government stakeholders, and responsible approval authorities.
• Manage comment resolution, version control, staffing packages, revision histories, and final document preparation.
• Verify that security documentation reflects current policy, approved processes, technical input, and operational practices.
• Proofread controlled materials and correct formatting, terminology, cross-references, tables, figures, and citations.
• Maintain document repositories, templates, style conventions, and status trackers supporting recurring security products.
• Translate complex security information into concise, audience-appropriate language without changing substantive meaning.

Qualifications

• Master’s degree from an accredited college or university in a relevant discipline and 10 years of directly relevant experience; or a bachelor’s degree in a relevant discipline plus 14 years of directly related work experience.
• In-depth knowledge of DoD writing and staffing guidance.
• Proficiency in editing, proofreading and correcting documentation
• Experience must include support to Special Access Program and Sensitive Compartmented Information environments
• Demonstrated ability to coordinate effectively across Government, contractor, and external stakeholders; prepare briefings, reports, standard operating procedures, and official correspondence; and lead a team in fast paced classified environments.
• Active Top Secret clearance with SCI eligibility; must be able to meet any applicable Special Access Program eligibility requirements identified by the Government.
• Clearance: Active Top Secret clearance with SCI eligibility; must be able to meet any applicable Special Access Program eligibility requirements identified by the Government

Pay Transparency Statement

AMERICAN SYSTEMS is committed to pay transparency for our applicants and employee-owners. The salary range for this position is USD $110,500.00/Yr. - USD $184,600.00/Yr. Actual compensation will be determined based on several factors permitted by law. AMERICAN SYSTEMS provides for the welfare of its employees and their dependents through a comprehensive benefits program by offering healthcare benefits, paid leave, retirement plans, insurance programs, and education and training assistance.

EEO Statement

EEO Race/Sex/Disability Status/Veteran Status