Senior Technical Writer & Content Strategist

About the role

Do you love to shape ideas, address structural challenges in writing, and craft words and paragraphs that engage the reader? Are you enthusiastic about copyediting, style guides, and quality control? Would you like to work with leaders in the fields of software engineering, cybersecurity, and artificial intelligence (AI) on projects that matter to the Department of Defense (DoD), government agencies, and private industry?

We’re looking for a Senior Technical Writer and Content Strategist to join our Technical Communications team at the Software Engineering Institute (SEI) to edit technical reports, write and edit content for the SEI website, and create and edit presentations. You will collaborate with SEI researchers, engineers, and other subject-matter experts to help them create professional materials that communicate the innovations and impact of their work.

What you’ll do

• Edit formal technical reports. Tailor your work for each project—from substantive editing, to copyediting, to proofreading—depending on project requirements, schedule, and budget.

• Write and edit brief articles and marketing materials.

• Write and edit web content, video scripts, and content for other electronic media.

• Act as a consultant or co-writer with subject-matter experts and collaborate with technical teams to capture information about their research and develop and improve their content.

• Suggest ways to present content in a document and repurpose it to other media.

• Work with SEI Communication Design, Web Services, Public Relations, and Outreach teams on publications, presentations, web pages, information graphics, and event materials.

• Plan, manage, schedule, and track your project tasks.

Who you are

• You have at least five years of experience in technical writing and editing or a related discipline.

• You have excellent document planning, writing, substantive editing, and copyediting skills.

• You are committed to customer service for subject-matter experts, but you are also a strong advocate for their readers.

• You have a keen eye for detail and a strong focus on quality and adherence to a style guide.

• You have strong organizational, time management, and project management skills and can prioritize multiple responsibilities.

• You have the social skills to interview subject-matter experts or work closely with them to plan and develop written technical materials.

• You have significant experience with Microsoft Office applications, particularly Word and PowerPoint.

• You can work with minimal or no supervision, but you also participate in team decision making.

• You are willing to travel within the SEI and CMU community—and occasionally to sponsor sites, conferences, and offsite meetings—to support the SEI’s mission (<5%).

• You can pass a background check, obtain and maintain a DoD security clearance, and possibly get and maintain other customer-required background checks.

• Applicants for this position must be currently legally authorized to work for CMU in the United States. CMU will not sponsor or take over sponsorship of an employment visa for this opportunity. 

You might also have experience in

• an academic or technical research setting

• marketing writing for a technical or DoD audience

• coordinating with others to meet service-level agreements for projects

• issue- and project-tracking software

• website content-management systems

• accessibility or 508 compliance

• LaTeX or other document-preparation systems

How to apply

With your resume, please also upload

• a short article or marketing piece that demonstrates your writing skills

• a text sample that demonstrates the impact of your editing skills, via tracked changes, redlining, or first/final versions (or a second writing sample)

A cover letter is optional but can expand on your work history and explain how it aligns with the job description.

Who we are

Always focused on the future, the SEI advances software as a strategic advantage for national security. We lead research and direct transition of software engineering, cybersecurity, and AI technologies at the intersection of academia, industry, and government. We serve the nation as a federally funded research and development center (FFRDC) sponsored by the DoD and are based at Carnegie Mellon University, a global research university annually rated among the best for its programs in computer science and engineering. Learn more about Careers at the SEI.

The Technical Communications team helps the SEI’s subject-matter experts inform our sponsor and the public about the research, methods, products, and services developed at the SEI.

Our benefits

Our benefits philosophy encompasses three driving priorities: choice, control, and well-being. Through Carnegie Mellon University, the SEI offers a wide range of competitive employee benefits to help you live well, including comprehensive health insurance, tuition benefits, and a generous PTO and retirement-savings policy to name a few. 

Why work here?

• Work with subject-matter experts doing cutting-edge research to solve tough problems for the government and the nation.

• Join an experienced, knowledgeable, and friendly team.

• Get an 8% monthly contribution to your retirement plan, without having to contribute yourself.

• Get tuition benefits for you and your dependent children to attend classes at CMU.

• Enjoy a healthy work/life balance with a flexible work arrangement.

• Get access to university resources such as campus fitness facilities, mindfulness programs, childcare, free transportation on the Port Authority Transit System, and more.

• Enjoy annual professional-development opportunities to attend conferences and training or get a certification.

Location

Pittsburgh, PA

Job Function

Communications

Position Type

Staff – Regular

Full time/Part time

Full time

Pay Basis

Salary
More Information: 

• Please visit “Why Carnegie Mellon ” to learn more about becoming part of an institution inspiring innovations that change the world. 

• Click here to view a listing of employee benefits

• Carnegie Mellon University is an Equal Opportunity Employer/Disability/Veteran. 

• Statement of Assurance