Technical Writer, Ditch Witch

Job Purpose

Research, write, and electronically produce instructional documentation such as operator’s manuals, installation instructions, and setup instructions. Provide accurate technical content to support our products, technicians, and operators.

Key Responsibilities

• Create accurate, instructional documentation including operations manuals, service instructions, and parts manuals.
• Define and translate customer requirements into clear, concise instructional documentation.
• Study and apply the concept of reuse for text and graphics to reduce translation cost and improve consistency.
• Engage in the editing process by submitting documentation to team lead and product teams (engineering, testing, legal, and service) for review and incorporate appropriate changes.
• Manage a multi-project workload and complete all projects on time to meet production schedule requirements.
• Apply appropriate metadata to graphic communications for searching and reuse.
• Author instructional documentation that complies with the Ditch Witch Style Guide and standards.
• Work closely with the team lead to ensure that all projects have the proper priorities and support to meet plant production and on-line requirements.
• Collaborate with multimedia designers to create graphic components for manuals.
• Communicate cross-functionally with subject matter experts, Engineering, Product Evaluation, Service, Legal, and Marketing.
• Perform other duties as directed.

Requirements & Tech Stack

• Experience with XML; database publishing preferred.
• Experience with Arbortext Editor or similar application is desirable.
• Experience with technical illustration, animation, and video creation required.
• Proficiency with Adobe Illustrator and Corel Draw preferred.
• Experience with Creo Illustrate and Creo Parametric CAD software preferred.
• Proficiency with MS software (Excel, Word, and PowerPoint) is desirable.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college in Scientific and Technical Communications, English, or related engineering or communication field, or applicable experience as a writer/artist.
• 0-3 plus years of experience in instructional documentation (Technical Writer I).
• 3-6 plus years of experience in instructional documentation (Technical Writer II).
• Mechanical background with the ability to understand and communicate technical and mechanical concepts is desirable.
• Ability to read detail and assembly drawings and schematics is desirable.