Senior Technical Writer

Socket.dev; Vienna (VA); On-site; USD 125,000 - 127,000; Full time

Job summary

ENSCO Rail is seeking an experienced Senior Technical Writer to support the development, maintenance, and management of technical documentation for products and customer projects related to railroad track inspection technologies.

The successful candidate will work closely with engineering, software, production, quality, field service, project management, and customer-facing teams to produce accurate, clear, and well-organized documentation throughout the product and project lifecycle.

Qualifications

• 3+ years of technical writing experience in an engineering or industrial environment.
• Experience supporting rail transportation, transportation technology, industrial automation, or similar technical industries.
• Demonstrated ability to understand complex technical systems and translate them into clear documentation.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.

Responsibilities

• Develop, edit, and maintain technical documentation for track inspection products, systems, and customer projects.
• Prepare user manuals, installation guides, operating procedures, maintenance manuals, troubleshooting guides, test procedures, and training materials.
• Create and maintain project-specific documentation required for customer deliveries, including technical reports, interface documents, verification documentation, and deliverables.
• Coordinate with subject matter experts to gather technical information and verify document accuracy.
• Manage document revisions, version control, and document configuration in accordance with company quality processes.
• Ensure documentation complies with applicable customer, contractual, and regulatory requirements.
• Standardize document templates and writing practices across products and projects.
• Support proposal efforts by preparing or updating technical documentation as needed.
• Review engineering changes and ensure documentation is updated accordingly.
• Support customer reviews, audits, and documentation submittals.
• Identify opportunities to improve documentation processes and knowledge management.

Skills

Technical writing

Engineering context

Communication skills

Organizational skills

Independent collaboration

Education

Bachelor's degree in Technical Communication, Engineering, English, Journalism, or related field

Tools

Microsoft Word

Excel

PowerPoint

Visio

Document management systems

Job description

For more than 50 years, ENSCO has been providing leading-edge engineering, science and advanced technology solutions to governments and private industries worldwide.

ENSCO prides itself in creating and applying advanced technologies for mission success. We provide systems engineering, integration, and advanced technology services to transform the future safety, security, and resiliency of critical missions on the ground, in the air, in space, and in the information systems that connect these domains.

Learn more about ENSCO.

Position Description

ENSCO Rail is seeking an experienced Senior Technical Writer to support the development, maintenance, and management of technical documentation for products and customer projects related to railroad track inspection technologies. The successful candidate will work closely with engineering, software, production, quality, field service, project management, and customer-facing teams to produce accurate, clear, and well-organized documentation throughout the product and project lifecycle.

Primary Responsibilities

• Develop, edit, and maintain technical documentation for track inspection products, systems, and customer projects.
• Prepare user manuals, installation guides, operating procedures, maintenance manuals, troubleshooting guides, test procedures, and training materials.
• Create and maintain project-specific documentation required for customer deliveries, including technical reports, interface documents, verification documentation, and deliverables.
• Coordinate with subject matter experts to gather technical information and verify document accuracy.
• Manage document revisions, version control, and document configuration in accordance with company quality processes.
• Ensure documentation complies with applicable customer, contractual, and regulatory requirements.
• Standardize document templates and writing practices across products and projects.
• Support proposal efforts by preparing or updating technical documentation as needed.
• Review engineering changes and ensure documentation is updated accordingly.
• Support customer reviews, audits, and documentation submittals.
• Identify opportunities to improve documentation processes and knowledge management.

Qualifications Required

• Bachelor's degree in Technical Communication, Engineering, English, Journalism, or a related field; equivalent experience considered.
• 3+ years of technical writing experience in an engineering or industrial environment.
• Experience supporting rail transportation, transportation technology, industrial automation, or similar technical industries.
• Demonstrated ability to understand complex technical systems and translate them into clear documentation.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Strong organizational skills and attention to detail.
• Experience managing multiple documentation efforts simultaneously.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Visio).
• Experience with document management and version control systems.
• Ability to work independently and collaboratively across multidisciplinary teams.

Qualifications Desired

• Experience supporting rail transportation, transportation technology, industrial automation, or similar technical industries.
• Familiarity with systems engineering documentation and configuration management.
• Experience interpreting engineering drawings, software documentation, and system architecture documentation.
• Knowledge of quality management systems (ISO 9001 or equivalent).
• Experience supporting domestic and international customer projects.

Required Certifications: None U.S. Citizenship Required: No Security Clearance Required: None Employment Type: Regular Full-time Background Check Type: 7 Year Pre-Employment Drug Screen Required: None Position Contingent Upon Contract Award: No

Salary Range: $125,000 – $127,000 USD

REAL ID Requirement

This position may require the ability to access to U.S. federal facilities. In accordance with the Department of Homeland Security’s enforcement of the REAL ID Act, as of May 7, 2025, individuals must present a REAL ID-compliant form of identification or an acceptable alternative to gain entry. For a list of acceptable forms of identification, please click here.

Benefits

At ENSCO, a positive working environment and a competitive salary are only part of the reason for choosing a career here. We offer a comprehensive benefits package that creates a stimulating and supportive environment where you can thrive - visit ensco.com/careers/benefits to learn more.

Export Control and Licensing

This position may involve access to technology or technical data that is controlled under U.S. export control laws and regulations and the release of which to a non US person may require an export license from the U.S. Government.

Privacy

Your data privacy is important to ENSCO. Please click here to view our privacy policy. California residents can click here to view your California privacy rights.

EEO Statement

ENSCO, Inc. and its wholly owned U.S. subsidiaries are Equal Opportunity Employers– veterans, disability