Senior Technical Editor

People, Technology & Processes; Washington (District of Columbia); On-site; USD 110,000 - 150,000; Full time

Job summary

People, Technology & Processes is seeking a Senior Technical Editor in McLean, VA, with occasional support at FHWA HQ in Washington, DC. A Master’s degree is mandatory, and the role requires 10+ years of supervisory and project management experience.

Possession of a USDOT badge and favorable NACI is required, with E-Verify also needed. The candidate will oversee the editorial lifecycle for complex technical documents, ensure compliance with the GPO Style Manual, and mentor junior staff while

Qualifications

• Oversee editorial processes for high-stakes technical docs.
• Transform data and jargon into authoritative publications.
• Lead substantive editing and verify technical accuracy.

Responsibilities

• Direct staff and assign tasks with the Project Manager.
• Ensure adherence to agency style guides and copyright rules.
• Manage document lifecycles from outline to publication (print and web).

Skills

Editorial leadership

Technical editing

Project management

Supervisory experience

Quality control

Education

Master's degree (English/Journalism/technical field)

Tools

GPO Style Manual

Job description

Position Title: Senior Technical EditorLocation: Mc Lean, VA, (occasional support at FHWA HQ, Washington, DC)Clearance required: Unclassified. Requires USDOT badge and favorable National Agency Check with Inquiries (NACI, low risk / non-sensitive); E-Verify requiredResponsibilities include (but are not limited to):Oversee the entire editorial process for high-stakes technical documentation, ensuring stylistic consistency across large-scale programs and mentoring junior staff.Transform raw data and engineering jargon into authoritative documents meeting stringent agency requirements, including reference checking, fact checking, and copyright compliance.Lead substantive editing, verify technical accuracy, and ensure compliance with agency style guides for all documents, reports, and manuals.Direct staff and assign tasks alongside the Project Manager to ensure timely, accurate completion of publication-ready materials.Manage the full lifecycle of a document from outline to final publication, including online and web publishing.Master's (advanced) Degree in English, Journalism, or a technical field. NOTE: an advanced degree is mandatory for this position; experience may not be substituted for the degree.10+ years of experience with supervisory and project management experience.Expert-level command of the GPO Style Manual and meticulous attention to detail for quality control of all publications and documents.Desired Qualifications:Transportation experience, especially in highway and surface transportation.