Technical Writer Needed for Software Documentation and User Guides

We're seeking an experienced Technical Writer to create comprehensive, user-friendly documentation for our software products, APIs, and technical systems that helps users understand and effectively use our solutions.

Key Responsibilities:

• Write and maintain product documentation

• Create user guides, manuals, and tutorials

• Develop API documentation and reference guides

• Write knowledge base articles and FAQs

• Document software features and workflows

• Create installation and configuration guides

• Write release notes and changelogs

• Develop troubleshooting guides

• Create video tutorials and screencasts (optional)

• Collaborate with developers and product teams

• Interview subject matter experts

• Test and verify documentation accuracy

• Update documentation for new releases

• Maintain documentation style guides

• Organize and structure information architecturally

Required Skills:

• 3+ years of technical writing experience

• Strong understanding of software and technology

• Ability to explain complex concepts clearly

• Experience with documentation tools

• Basic understanding of programming/APIs

• Excellent writing and editing skills

• Attention to detail and accuracy

• Information architecture skills

• Experience with version control (Git)

• Screenshot and diagram creation

• User empathy and perspective

Documentation Types:

User Documentation:

• User guides and manuals

• Getting started guides

• Quick reference guides

• How-to articles and tutorials

• Video tutorials and walkthroughs

• Interactive demos

• Tooltips and in-app help

• Onboarding documentation

• Best practices guides

• Use case examples

Technical Documentation:

• API documentation (REST, GraphQL, SOAP)

• SDK documentation

• Code samples and examples

• Integration guides

• Developer guides

• Architecture documentation

• Database schema documentation

• System requirements

• Configuration guides

• Deployment guides

Administrative Documentation:

• Installation guides

• Configuration manuals

• System administration guides

• Security documentation

• Backup and recovery procedures

• Maintenance procedures

• Upgrade guides

• Migration guides

• Troubleshooting guides

Reference Documentation:

• API reference

• Command-line reference

• Function/method reference

• Configuration reference

• Error code reference

• Glossary of terms

• Keyboard shortcuts

• Regular expressions reference

Support Documentation:

• Knowledge base articles

• FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions)

• Common issues and solutions

• Error messages and fixes

• Troubleshooting workflows

• Customer support scripts

• Community forum documentation

Documentation Tools:

Documentation Platforms: Confluence, Readme.io, GitBook, Docusaurus, MkDocs, Sphinx, Read the Docs, Jekyll, Hugo, Notion

Content Management: WordPress, Drupal, SharePoint, Knowledge base systems, Help desk platforms

Authoring Tools: Markdown editors (Typora, VS Code, Atom), Microsoft Word, Google Docs, Adobe FrameMaker, MadCap Flare, Help & Manual, RoboHelp

Diagramming Tools: Lucidchart, Draw.io (diagrams.net), Microsoft Visio, Miro, Figma (for UI documentation), PlantUML, Mermaid

Screen Capture: Snagit, Camtasia, OBS Studio, Loom, CloudApp, ShareX, Skitch

Version Control: Git and GitHub, GitLab, Bitbucket, Docs as Code approach, Markdown in repositories

API Documentation Tools: Swagger/OpenAPI, Postman, Redoc, Stoplight, API Blueprint, RAML, GraphQL documentation generators

Writing Standards:

Style & Tone:

• Clear and concise language

• Active voice preference

• Consistent terminology

• Appropriate technical level

• User-focused perspective

• Scannable format

• Logical flow

• Step-by-step instructions

Formatting:

• Heading hierarchy (H1, H2, H3)

• Bullet points and numbered lists

• Tables for structured data

• Code blocks with syntax highlighting

• Callout boxes (notes, warnings, tips)

• Consistent capitalization

• Standard punctuation

• Hyperlinks and cross-references

Structure:

• Introduction/overview

• Prerequisites

• Step-by-step procedures

• Examples and use cases

• Troubleshooting section

• Related topics/next steps

• Glossary and references

Documentation Process:

1. Planning:

• Understand the audience

• Define documentation scope

• Gather requirements

• Create documentation plan

• Establish timeline

• Define deliverables

2. Research:

• Interview SMEs (Subject Matter Experts)

• Review source materials

• Test the product/feature

• Understand user workflows

• Identify pain points

• Gather technical specifications

3. Writing:

• Create outline

• Write first draft

• Add screenshots and diagrams

• Include code examples

• Write clear instructions

• Add cross-references

4. Review:

• Technical review by developers

• Peer review by other writers

• User testing and feedback

• Accuracy verification

• Edit for clarity and consistency

• Proofread for errors

5. Publishing:

• Format for publication

• Add metadata and tags

• Publish to platform

• Update navigation/TOC

• Test all links

• Announce new documentation

6. Maintenance:

• Update for product changes

• Fix reported issues

• Improve based on feedback

• Archive outdated content

• Monitor usage analytics

• Regular content audits

API Documentation Components:

Overview:

• API introduction

• Authentication methods

• Base URL and endpoints

• Rate limits

• SDKs and libraries

• Quick start guide

Endpoint Documentation:

• HTTP method (GET, POST, PUT, DELETE)

• Endpoint URL

• Description and use case

• Authentication requirements

• Request parameters

• Request body schema

• Response format and codes

• Error handling

• Code examples (multiple languages)

Authentication:

• API key usage

• OAuth flow

• Bearer tokens

• Authentication headers

• Scopes and permissions

• Security best practices

Code Examples:

• cURL commands

• JavaScript/Node.js

• Python

• PHP

• Ruby

• Java

• C#

• Request and response examples

Content Types:

Procedural Content:

• How-to guides

• Step-by-step tutorials

• Configuration procedures

• Installation instructions

• Migration guides

Conceptual Content:

• System architecture

• Design principles

• Workflow explanations

• Theory and background

• Best practices

Reference Content:

• API reference

• Configuration options

• Command reference

• Error codes

• Glossaries

Audience Considerations:

End Users: Non-technical language, Task-oriented content, Visual aids and screenshots, Minimal technical jargon, Focus on benefits

Developers: Technical details, Code samples, API specifications, Integration patterns, Performance considerations

System Administrators: Configuration details, Security settings, Maintenance procedures, Troubleshooting workflows, Command-line instructions

Information Architecture:

• Logical content organization

• Intuitive navigation

• Search functionality

• Related content linking

• Progressive disclosure

• Content hierarchy

• Taxonomy and tagging

Visual Elements:

• Screenshots (annotated)

• Diagrams (flowcharts, architecture)

• Icons and callouts

• Tables and matrices

• Code blocks

• Videos and GIFs

• Interactive elements

Accessibility:

• Alt text for images

• Clear headings structure

• Readable fonts and sizes

• Sufficient color contrast

• Keyboard navigation

• Screen reader compatibility

• Plain language

Metrics & Analytics:

• Page views

• Time on page

• Search queries

• User feedback

• Bounce rate

• Navigation paths

• Popular content

• Support ticket reduction

Deliverables:

• Complete documentation set

• User guides and manuals

• API reference documentation

• Knowledge base articles

• Release notes

• Video tutorials (if required)

• Screenshots and diagrams

• Code examples

• Style guide

• Documentation templates

• Navigation structure

• Search optimization

• Maintenance plan

• Analytics setup

Budget: $45 - $90/hour or $5,000 - $20,000 (Fixed project depending on scope)

Timeline: 6-12 weeks (depending on documentation scope)