Technical Writer

Vatn Systems; Bristol (RI); On-site; USD 70,000 - 95,000; Full time

Job summary

Vatn Systems in the United States (Rhode Island) is recruiting a dedicated technical writer to own documentation across the AUV systems integration and test lifecycle. You translate engineering input into clear, standardized, audit-ready content for manuals, SOPs, datasheets, and contract deliverables.

This role also strengthens documentation processes, templates, and tooling, ensuring accuracy, control, and version traceability as designs progress from prototype to production, while

Qualifications

• Excellent written communication skills, with the ability to translate complex technical content into clear documentation for both technical and non-technical audiences
• Strong editing and proofreading skills, with the ability to enforce a consistent style, voice, and format across content authored by others
• 2 to 5 years of technical writing experience preferred; exceptional recent graduates with a strong technical and writing background will be considered
• Technical background such as a degree in engineering, technical communication, or a related field, or equivalent hands-on experience with technical subject matter
• Self-directed and comfortable establishing structure in an evolving, fast-paced environment, with the ability to prioritize and manage multiple efforts independently
• Familiarity with reading and interpreting engineering drawings, schematics, and system diagrams
• Ability to work closely and iteratively with engineers to extract and accurately capture technical detail
• Comfortable working across common documentation and content-management tools, including Microsoft Office (particularly Word), Google Drive, and Confluence
• Must be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident

Responsibilities

• Produce clear, standardized external-facing documentation (user manuals, datasheets, and customer/contract deliverables), translating engineer input and source material into content accessible to both technical and non-technical audiences
• Develop and organize the full range of internal documentation, such as SOPs and work instructions, test plans and procedures, system-level architecture and design descriptions, ICDs, configuration baselines, engineering and release notes, and internal reference material, compiled from engineer-provided content and source material
• Provide the final editorial pass on engineer-authored content: refining structure, style, clarity, and formatting to a common standard
• Own the consistency of documentation across the organization, ensuring all materials adhere to a common format, style, structure, and company branding
• Build upon and improve existing documentation processes, infrastructure, and tooling (e.g., Confluence, SharePoint, PLM, Google Drive): refining workflows, creating and maintaining templates for recurring document types, and strengthening the foundation to support a scaling team and product lines
• Keep documentation current as designs evolve by tracking how engineering and configuration changes affect existing docs, updating them to reflect each system's build state from prototype through production, and maintaining version control and traceability throughout
• Exceptional organizational skills and attention to detail, with the ability to manage version control, traceability, and multiple documents across concurrent efforts
• Apply correct document markings and distribution statements (e.g., CUI handling, ITAR/EAR-controlled technical data, Distribution Statements A-F) and ensure controlled information is stored and shared appropriately
• Ensure documentation complies with relevant standards (internal QA processes, customer/contract deliverable formats, and applicable government/defense documentation standards)
• Support review cycles for test readiness reviews (TRRs), design reviews, post-test reports, product revisions, contract programs, and new product introductions, working closely with engineers to capture accurate technical detail and with program management to capture requirements and deliverable expectations
• Support proposal and business development efforts as needed: drafting or editing white papers, capability statements, and responses to RFIs/RFPs

Skills

Technical writing

Editing

Documentation standards

MS Word

Google Drive

Confluence

Communication

Education

Engineering/Technical communication degree

Tools

Confluence

Visio/draw.io

Microsoft Office (Word)

Job description

Summary

Serves as the company's first dedicated technical writer, owning the clarity, consistency, and quality of documentation across the AUV systems integration and test lifecycle. Translates technical input from engineering and program teams into clear, standardized, audit‑ready documentation for both internal and external audiences, including user manuals, SOPs, datasheets, and contract deliverables. Beyond producing and editing content, this role builds on and strengthens the documentation processes, templates, and tooling that keep information accurate, controlled, and current as systems progress from prototype to production.

Summary

Serves as the company's first dedicated technical writer, owning the clarity, consistency, and quality of documentation across the AUV systems integration and test lifecycle. Translates technical input from engineering and program teams into clear, standardized, audit‑ready documentation for both internal and external audiences, including user manuals, SOPs, datasheets, and contract deliverables. Beyond producing and editing content, this role builds on and strengthens the documentation processes, templates, and tooling that keep information accurate, controlled, and current as systems progress from prototype to production.

Key Responsibilities

• Produce clear, standardized external‑facing documentation (user manuals, datasheets, and customer/contract deliverables), translating engineer input and source material into content accessible to both technical and non‑technical audiences
• Develop and organize the full range of internal documentation, such as SOPs and work instructions, test plans and procedures, system‑level architecture and design descriptions, ICDs, configuration baselines, engineering and release notes, and internal reference material, compiled from engineer‑provided content and source material
• Provide the final editorial pass on engineer‑authored content: refining structure, style, clarity, and formatting to a common standard
• Own the consistency of documentation across the organization, ensuring all materials adhere to a common format, style, structure, and company branding
• Build upon and improve existing documentation processes, infrastructure, and tooling (e.g., Confluence, SharePoint, PLM, Google Drive): refining workflows, creating and maintaining templates for recurring document types, and strengthening the foundation to support a scaling team and product lines
• Keep documentation current as designs evolve by tracking how engineering and configuration changes affect existing docs, updating them to reflect each system's build state from prototype through production, and maintaining version control and traceability throughout
• Exceptional organizational skills and attention to detail, with the ability to manage version control, traceability, and multiple documents across concurrent efforts
• Apply correct document markings and distribution statements (e.g., CUI handling, ITAR/EAR‑controlled technical data, Distribution Statements A-F) and ensure controlled information is stored and shared appropriately
• Ensure documentation complies with relevant standards (internal QA processes, customer/contract deliverable formats, and applicable government/defense documentation standards)
• Support review cycles for test readiness reviews (TRRs), design reviews, post‑test reports, product revisions, contract programs, and new product introductions, working closely with engineers to capture accurate technical detail and with program management to capture requirements and deliverable expectations
• Support proposal and business development efforts as needed: drafting or editing white papers, capability statements, and responses to RFIs/RFPs

Required Qualifications

• Excellent written communication skills, with the ability to translate complex technical content into clear documentation for both technical and non‑technical audiences
• Strong editing and proofreading skills, with the ability to enforce a consistent style, voice, and format across content authored by others
• 2 to 5 years of technical writing experience preferred; exceptional recent graduates with a strong technical and writing background will be considered
• Technical background such as a degree in engineering, technical communication, or a related field, or equivalent hands‑on experience with technical subject matter
• Self‑directed and comfortable establishing structure in an evolving, fast‑paced environment, with the ability to prioritize and manage multiple efforts independently
• Familiarity with reading and interpreting engineering drawings, schematics, and system diagrams
• Ability to work closely and iteratively with engineers to extract and accurately capture technical detail
• Comfortable working across common documentation and content‑management tools, including Microsoft Office (particularly Word), Google Drive, and Confluence
• Must be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with AUVs, UUVs, marine systems, or other unmanned/robotic or complex hardware systems
• Familiarity with systems engineering documentation (requirements, ICDs, configuration baselines, test plans and procedures)
• Experience with defense or government contract documentation standards (e.g., DI‑MISC, MIL‑STD formatting, CDRLs/DIDs) and handling of CUI or export‑controlled data
• Experience establishing or improving documentation processes, templates, or tooling in a growing organization
• Familiarity with PLM systems and configuration management practices
• Ability to create or clean up basic diagrams, illustrations, and screenshots (e.g., Visio, draw.io, or similar)
• Experience supporting proposals or business development (white papers, capability statements, RFI/RFP responses)

Vatn is an equal opportunity employer.