Senior Technical Writer - Proposal & Contracts Development

Mettle Ops; Madison Heights (MI); On-site; USD 105,000 - 110,000; Full time

Job summary

Mettle Ops is seeking an experienced Senior Technical Writer to support proposal development, contracts, and business development within the defense industry. This role will develop, edit, and coordinate technical and contractual documentation for government and defense-related proposals and contracts.

The ideal candidate will have significant defense contracting experience with knowledge of FAR/DFARS, proposal compliance, and technical writing.

Qualifications

• Experience developing proposals for defense or government contracts.
• Understanding of government procurement requirements and proposal processes.
• Ability to manage complex, multi-author documentation and ensure compliance.

Responsibilities

• Lead development, editing, and production of proposals in response to RFPs, RFIs, RFQs, and other solicitations.
• Develop and review technical and contractual documentation including SOWs, PWSs, and CDRLs.
• Analyze solicitation requirements to ensure content is complete, accurate, and compliant.
• Maintain proposal compliance matrices and cross-references.
• Coordinate content across engineers, contracts, pricing, and business development teams.
• Translate complex technical information into clear, persuasive written content.

Skills

Technical writing

Proposal development

FAR/DFARS knowledge

SOW/PWS/CDRLs

MS Word advanced

Collaboration

Independent work

Education

Bachelor's degree in Technical Writing or related field

Job description

About the Organization Mettle Ops is a woman-owned business experienced in defense program management, federal acquisitions, business development, engineering, analysis, reporting, and risk management with the mission of helping soldiers survive on the battlefield. Through transparency and grit, Mettle Ops delivers multidisciplinary, comprehensive Department of Defense engineering solutions to government and industry partners on a national scale with a mission to build business based on a philosophy of hard work and dedication. Mettle Ops believes they have a high obligation to the warfighter, their home state of Michigan, their customers, their employees, their faith, and their place on this earth. Mettle Ops is inspired by courage and tenacity and so-named Mettle Ops.

EOE Statement We are an equal employment opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status or any other characteristic protected by law.

Description

Mettle Ops is seeking an experienced Senior Technical Writer to support proposal development, contracts, and business development activities within the defense industry. This role will be responsible for developing, editing, and coordinating technical and contractual documentation in support of government and defense-related proposals and contracts.

The ideal candidate will have significant experience supporting defense contractor proposals and contract documentation, with a strong understanding of government procurement requirements, FAR/DFARS regulations, proposal compliance, and technical writing. This position requires someone who can work independently, collaborate with technical and business teams, and manage multiple deadlines in a fast-paced environment.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the development, writing, editing, and production of proposals in response to RFPs, RFIs, RFQs, Sources Sought, and other solicitations
• Develop and review technical and contractual documentation, including SOWs, PWSs, CDRLs, and related contract deliverables
• Analyze solicitation requirements and ensure proposal content is complete, accurate, and compliant
• Develop and maintain proposal compliance matrices and requirements cross-references
• Support proposal planning, storyboarding, outlines, and color team reviews
• Draft and refine technical, management, past performance, and other proposal volumes
• Collaborate with engineers, subject matter experts, program managers, contracts, pricing, and business development teams to develop proposal content
• Translate complex technical and program information into clear, concise, and persuasive written content
• Support contract modifications, post-award documentation, and other contract-related activities as needed
• Review and edit documents for accuracy, consistency, grammar, formatting, and compliance
• Manage document version control and coordinate content across multiple contributors
• Format and produce professional, submission-ready proposal and contract documents
• Develop and maintain tables, graphics, diagrams, and other visual content supporting technical documentation and proposals
• Ensure proposal and contract materials align with applicable solicitation instructions, evaluation criteria, and customer requirements
• Support capture and proposal teams with research, requirements analysis, and development of win themes and discriminators
• Maintain organized proposal files, templates, and supporting documentation

Position Requirements

Required Skills

• Strong technical writing, editing, and proofreading skills
• Direct experience developing proposals and/or contract documentation within the defense or government contracting industry
• Working knowledge of FAR, DFARS, and government contracting terminology
• Experience interpreting solicitation requirements and evaluation criteria
• Experience developing compliance matrices and reviewing SOWs, PWSs, and CDRLs
• Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Word, including styles, cross-referencing, tables, tables of contents, and document formatting
• Proficiency with Microsoft Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook
• Experience working with large, multi-author documents and complex technical content
• Strong research and requirements-analysis skills
• Excellent attention to detail and commitment to document accuracy
• Ability to manage multiple projects and meet strict deadlines
• Strong communication and collaboration skills when working with technical and non-technical subject matter experts
• Ability to work independently while effectively coordinating with cross-functional teams

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Technical Writing, English, Communications, Business, or a related field
• 7+ years of technical writing experience, including at least 5 years supporting defense or government contract proposals and/or contract documentation
• Demonstrated experience supporting government procurement and proposal development
• Experience contributing to successful proposal submissions and contract awards
• Experience with proposal production, document design, and desktop publishing
• Experience using document management or collaboration platforms such as SharePoint or similar systems
• Demonstrated ability to manage complex projects from initial requirements through final submission
• Strong understanding of proposal development processes and government contracting documentation

Preferred Qualifications

• Previous experience as a Proposal Manager, Proposal Coordinator, Contracts Specialist, or similar role within a defense contractor
• Experience supporting DoD programs or government customers
• Familiarity with the defense, aerospace, automotive, ground vehicle, or naval industries
• Experience supporting Basis of Estimate (BOE) or cost volume development
• Experience developing technical graphics, diagrams, and proposal visuals
• Experience participating in formal color team reviews
• Experience leading proposal production or coordinating technical writing teams
• Active or ability to obtain a security clearance

Full-Time/Part-Time Full-Time

Salary $105,000 - $110,000

This position is currently accepting applications.