Technical Writer II

Zone 5 Technologies · San Luis Obispo, California · Other

Posted 2026-08-06

Apply for this role →

We're seeking an on-site early-career Technical Writer II to create and maintain high-quality documentation for our Unpiloted Aerial Systems (UASs). The ideal candidate has a background in aerospace and/or defense documentation, and experience translating technical subject matter into clear, concise, and user-friendly instructional materials.

You will work closely with senior writers, engineers, technical program managers, manufacturing team members, and other stakeholders to ensure that documentation complies with industry standards and meets the needs of customers, regulatory bodies, and internal teams.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

Plan, write, and maintain technical documentation for aerospace systems and products, including operation and maintenance manuals, depot-level maintenance manuals, specifications, sustainment procedures, checklists, reports, and compliance documentation.

Collaborate with aerospace engineers, software developers, system engineers, and technical program managers to gather information and ensure the accuracy of content.

Translate engineering data (for example, CAD models, BOMs, test results, and specifications) into user-friendly manuals and procedural documentation.

Collaborate with an established team of technical writers to produce rigorous, logically organized, clear, consumable, and compliant documents.

Produce technical illustrations, diagrams, and other visual aids to enhance the understanding of complex aerospace systems and workflows.

Collaborate in and help manage documentation repositories, ensuring controlled and up-to-date document versions are available to stakeholders.

Ensure compliance, where applicable, with aerospace standards and regulations (for example, AS9100, FAA, and ITAR) in technical documentation.

Ensure compliance, where applicable, with various defense technical documentation style standards, like MIL-STD-38784.

Work closely with quality assurance and regulatory teams to prepare documentation required for certifications and audits.

Continuously improve documentation processes to meet evolving team needs, aerospace industry requirements, and customer expectations.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

Bachelor’s degree in Technical Communication, Aerospace Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Communications, or a related field.

2–5 years of experience as a technical writer with some of that experience writing technical documentation in the aerospace, manufacturing, or defense industry.

Exceptional written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to explain technical information clearly to a range of audiences.

Strong organizational skills, attention to detail, and the ability to manage multiple priorities under tight deadlines.

Exposure to enterprise-level authoring tools (like MadCap Flare) and version control systems (like Git).

Experience creating technical illustrations and other visuals using tools like Composer, Visio, PowerPoint, Photoshop, and/or Illustrator.

Experience conforming to an established style guide.

U.S. citizenship.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

Strong knowledge of unmanned aerial or aerospace systems, components, and technologies, with the ability to understand engineering drawings, CAD models, and technical schematics.

Familiarity with engineering processes and software tools, Product Lifecycle Management (PLM) systems, Manufacturing Execution System (MES) software (for example, PICO MES), or other aerospace-specific platforms.

Experience with aerospace standards and compliance, such as AS9100, FAA, or EASA regulations.

Experience with or professional exposure to defense specifications.

Pay range for this role

$80,000—$97,000 USD

Apply for this role →

← Back to all jobs