Technical Writer

Socket.dev; Gaithersburg (MD); Hybrid; USD 66,000 - 119,000; Full time

Job summary

Leidos in Gaithersburg, MD seeks a Technical Writer to own documentation for national-security programs, collaborating with engineers, leaders, and stakeholders to translate complex tech into clear docs.

You will create and maintain system docs, user guides, release notes, and SOPs, manage multiple assignments, and ensure compliance with security requirements in controlled environments.

Qualifications

• 4+ years of professional technical writing experience.
• Experience with software, systems engineering, or defense environments.
• Ability to document complex topics clearly and accurately.

Responsibilities

• Develop, write, edit, and maintain technical documentation for GEOINT systems, software, and mission capabilities.
• Translate technical concepts into clear, concise, audience-appropriate documentation.
• Collaborate with engineers, developers, architects, analysts, and subject-matter experts to gather and validate technical information.
• Create and maintain system documentation, user guides, SOPs, release notes, technical manuals, and other program deliverables.
• Review and update existing documentation for accuracy, consistency, clarity, and completeness.
• Interview technical and mission personnel to gather information and translate it into usable documentation.
• Manage multiple documentation assignments and meet established deadlines.
• Work within controlled and classified environments while following program security and documentation requirements.
• Follow established documentation standards, templates, and content-development processes.

Skills

Technical Writing

Editing

Information Architecture

Research

Communication

Time Management

Collaboration

Education

Bachelor’s degree in English, Technical Communication, Computer Science, Information Technology, Engineering, or related field

Tools

Confluence

Jira

Job description

As a Technical Writer, you will own and drive documentation efforts for sophisticated technical programs supporting national-security missions. You’ll work closely with software engineers, systems engineers, program leadership, subject-matter experts, and customer stakeholders to gather information, understand complex technologies, and produce polished, mission-ready documentation.

This is an opportunity to do more than document products, you’ll help shape how critical technical information is communicated, understood, maintained, and ultimately used.

Gaithersburg, MD is the primary work location. The Technical Writer can have a flexible, telework-friendly schedule but must be local to Gaithersburg, MD to come in throughout the week as needed.

Clearance Level Required:

Active Top Secret/SCI with the ability to successfully pass a Polygraph examination.

Primary Responsibilities

• Develop, write, edit, and maintain technical documentation for GEOINT systems, software, and mission capabilities.
• Translate technical concepts into clear, concise, audience‑appropriate documentation.
• Collaborate with engineers, developers, architects, analysts, and subject‑matter experts to gather and validate technical information.
• Create and maintain system documentation, user guides, SOPs, release notes, technical manuals, and other program deliverables.
• Review and update existing documentation for accuracy, consistency, clarity, and completeness.
• Interview technical and mission personnel to gather information and translate it into usable documentation.
• Manage multiple documentation assignments and meet established deadlines.
• Work within controlled and classified environments while following program security and documentation requirements.
• Follow established documentation standards, templates, and content‑development processes.

Basic Qualifications

• U.S. citizenship is required per contract.
• Bachelor’s degree in English, Technical Communication, Computer Science, Information Technology, Engineering, or a related field with 4+ years of relevant experience; additional relevant experience may be considered in lieu of a degree.
• 3–5+ years of professional technical writing experiencesupporting software, technology, systems engineering, defense, intelligence, or similar technical environments.
• Experience creating and maintaining technical documentation such as system documentation, SOPs, user guides, technical manuals, and release documentation.
• Experience working with technical teams to gather, understand, and document system or software information.
• Hands‑on experience with Confluence and Jira or similar collaboration/documentation tools.
• Strong writing, editing, proofreading, and information‑organization skills.
• Ability to research unfamiliar technical topics and work with subject‑matter experts to develop accurate documentation.
• Strong attention to detail and technical accuracy.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast‑paced environment.
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience supportingIntelligence Community (IC), Department of Defense (DoD), or other federal customers.
• Experience working in aclassified environment.
• Familiarity withsoftware development, cloud technologies, DevSecOps, cybersecurity, data systems, or systems engineering.
• Experience documentingAgile software development or DevSecOps teams.
• Experience withMarkdown, Git, XML, DITA, or similar documentation/content‑management tools.
• Familiarity withCI/CD pipelines, AWS or Azure, containers, APIs, or modern software development environments.
• Certified Professional Technical Communicator (CPTC) or similar certification.

#Maru

#NSBA

Original Posting

September 21, 2026

For U.S. Positions: While subject to change based on business needs, Leidos reasonably anticipates that this job requisition will remain open for at least 3 days with an anticipated close date of no earlier than 3 days after the original posting date as listed above.

Pay Range

Pay Range $65,650.00 - $118,675.00

The Leidos pay range for this job level is a general guideline onlyand not a guarantee of compensation or salary. Additional factors considered in extending an offer include (but are not limited to) responsibilities of the job, education, experience, knowledge, skills, and abilities, as well as internal equity, alignment with market data, applicable bargaining agreement (if any), or other law.