Senior Technical Writer

Leidos Holdings Inc

Vista, CA

JOB DETAILS
SALARY
$65,650–$118,675 Per Year
SKILLS
Accounting, Adobe FrameMaker, Aerospace and Defense, Analysis Skills, Arbortext, Best Practices, Change Control, Communication Skills, Configuration Management, Content Development, Continuous Improvement, Cross-Functional, Customer Relations, Detail Oriented, Document Management, Documentation, Documentation Plan, Documentation Standards, Engineering Drawing, English Language, Enterprise Protection, Establish Priorities, Functional Configuration Audit (FCA), Government, Industry Standards, Journalism, Legal, Maintain Compliance, Manufacturing, Manufacturing Software, Matrix Management, Mentoring, Microsoft Excel, Microsoft Word, Multiplatform/Cross-Platform, Multitasking, Organizational Skills, People Management, Physical Configuration Audit (PCA), Presentation/Verbal Skills, Problem Solving Skills, Procedure Implementation, Process Improvement, Product Documentation, Product Lifecycle, Product Lifecycle Management, Product Management, Product Support, Program Control, Project/Program Coordination, Project/Program Management, Publications, Quality Engineering, Regulations, Security Clearance, Source Code/Configuration Management (SCM), Systems Administration/Management, Team Player, Teamcenter, Technical Editing, Technical Leadership, Technical Publications, Technical Support, Technical Writing, Time Management, Traceability, Willing to Travel, Windchill PLM Software, Writing Skills, XML (EXtensible Markup Language)
LOCATION
Vista, CA
POSTED
9 days ago

About the Role

Leidos' Security Enterprise Solutions (SES) organization is seeking an experienced Senior Technical Writer to join our Configuration Management (CM) team. In this role, you will partner with program managers, engineers, subject matter experts, and cross-functional teams to develop, maintain, and improve technical documentation supporting complex products, systems, and programs.

The successful candidate will play a key role in ensuring technical accuracy, consistency, compliance, and quality across engineering, operational, and customer-facing documentation. This position requires a strong understanding of technical writing principles, document lifecycle management, configuration control processes, and continuous process improvement.

The ideal candidate is a detail-oriented professional who can translate complex technical concepts into clear, concise documentation while collaborating effectively with technical and non-technical stakeholders.

Key Responsibilities

Technical Documentation & Publications

  • Author, edit, and maintain a wide range of technical and operational documentation, including:

  • System specifications

  • Technical manuals

  • Service and maintenance documentation

  • Procedures and work instructions

  • Process documentation

  • Functional descriptions

  • Training materials

  • Reports and presentations

  • Business proposals and customer deliverables

  • Translate complex technical information into clear, concise, and user-friendly documentation for technical and non-technical audiences.

  • Develop document outlines, drafts, and final publications while ensuring compliance with customer, contractual, regulatory, and organizational requirements.

  • Coordinate reviews and approvals with engineers, program managers, and subject matter experts.

  • Conduct technical editing and quality reviews to ensure documentation accuracy, consistency, and completeness.

  • Incorporate redlines, revisions, and updates while maintaining publication standards and document integrity.

  • Manage document conversion activities and validate outputs across multiple formats and platforms.

Technical Publications Management

  • Maintain and continuously improve the Technical Publications Manual and associated documentation standards.
  • Develop and manage document templates, style guides, and publication standards.
  • Ensure documentation aligns with industry standards, customer requirements, and Leidos policies and procedures.
  • Support the planning, development, and delivery of monthly, quarterly, and annual program deliverables.
  • Establish and maintain documentation best practices that improve efficiency, consistency, and quality.

Configuration Management & Compliance Support

  • Support configuration management activities related to technical documentation and controlled program deliverables.
  • Review and analyze documentation packages and program data deliveries for accuracy, completeness, traceability, and compliance.
  • Support functional and physical configuration audits as required.
  • Assist with document status accounting and change control processes.
  • Ensure proper version control and maintenance of controlled documentation repositories.
  • Support technical writing activities associated with configuration-managed products and systems.
  • Support Configuration Management activities, when required, in accordance with program requirements and business needs.

Process Improvement & Collaboration

  • Identify and implement process improvements that streamline documentation workflows and increase efficiency.
  • Drive process improvement initiatives to standardize templates, publication standards, document workflows, status accounting, and procedural implementation.
  • Collaborate with engineering, program management, quality, manufacturing, and other functional teams to ensure requirements, milestones, and commitments are met.
  • Communicate effectively with document authors, reviewers, and stakeholders throughout the document lifecycle.
  • Interview subject matter experts and technical staff to gather and validate information required for documentation development.
  • Support the resolution of documentation and process-related issues requiring analysis and independent judgment.
  • Provide guidance, mentoring, and peer reviews to less experienced technical writers when appropriate.
  • Communicate regularly across functional teams to ensure project deliverables, milestones, and commitments are achieved.
  • Manage multiple priorities and deadlines in a fast-paced environment.

Required Qualifications

  • Bachelor's degree in Technical Communication, English, Journalism, Engineering, Business, or a related discipline. Relevant experience may be considered in lieu of a degree.
  • 4+ years of experience in technical writing, technical publications, configuration management documentation, or a related field.
  • Demonstrated experience developing and maintaining technical documentation for engineering, manufacturing, software, systems, or defense-related programs.
  • Strong understanding of the fundamental principles of technical writing, including document planning, audience analysis, content development, technical editing, document lifecycle management, publication standards, and version control.
  • Experience working with controlled documentation in highly regulated, classified, or sensitive environments.
  • Experience with Product Lifecycle Management (PLM) systems; Windchill experience preferred.
  • Proficiency with technical publishing and authoring tools, including Adobe FrameMaker, Arbortext, XML-based authoring systems, and/or equivalent technical documentation platforms.
  • Advanced proficiency with Microsoft Word and strong working knowledge of Microsoft Excel.
  • Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with strong organizational, problem-solving, and adaptability capabilities.
  • Excellent time management, prioritization, and project coordination skills, with the ability to manage multiple competing priorities and deadlines.
  • Demonstrated experience influencing and partnering with cross-functional stakeholders in a complex, matrixed organization.
  • Strong attention to detail and commitment to documentation quality and accuracy.
  • Ability to obtain and maintain a security clearance.

Preferred Qualifications

  • Experience supporting defense, aerospace, government, manufacturing, or technology organizations.
  • Experience supporting Configuration Management (CM) processes and documentation control activities.
  • Experience supporting configuration audits, compliance reviews, and controlled technical data environments.
  • Familiarity with engineering drawings, schematics, software documentation, technical data packages, and product lifecycle documentation.
  • Experience developing documentation in accordance with military, government, industry, or ISO standards.
  • Experience using Windchill, Teamcenter, or other enterprise PLM/document management systems.
  • Experience supporting programs involving classified, export-controlled, or highly regulated environments.

What You'll Bring

  • Exceptional attention to detail and commitment to quality.
  • The ability to simplify complex technical information for diverse audiences.
  • Strong collaboration and stakeholder engagement skills.
  • A continuous improvement mindset and passion for process excellence.
  • The ability to work independently while contributing effectively within a team environment.
  • Strong time management and prioritization skills.
  • A proactive approach to problem-solving and process improvement.
  • The ability to influence stakeholders and drive documentation quality across cross-functional teams.

Additional Requirements

  • Ability to travel up to 10-15%, including domestic and international travel (CONUS/OCONUS), as business needs require.
  • Ability to participate in virtual meetings with camera enabled as required 80% of the time.
  • Ability to work effectively in a collaborative, team-oriented environment.

Why Leidos

At Leidos, we solve some of the world's toughest challenges through innovation, collaboration, and technical excellence. Our employees work on meaningful programs that support national security, critical infrastructure, and mission success for our customers around the globe.

We are committed to fostering an inclusive workplace where diverse perspectives are valued, professional growth is encouraged, and employees are empowered to make an impact. At Leidos, every employee is expected to uphold our core values, demonstrate the highest ethical standards, and contribute to a culture of integrity, accountability, collaboration, and respect.

If you're looking for comfort, keep scrolling. At Leidos, we outthink, outbuild, and outpace the status quo - because the mission demands it. We're not hiring followers. We're recruiting the ones who disrupt, provoke, and refuse to fail. Step 10 is ancient history. We're already at step 30 - and moving faster than anyone else dares.

Original Posting:

June 2, 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 only and 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.

About the Company

L

Leidos Holdings Inc

SAIC is a premier Fortune 500® technology integrator driving our nation's digital transformation. Our robust portfolio of offerings across the defense, space, civilian, and intelligence markets includes secure high-end solutions in engineering, IT modernization, and mission solutions. Using our expertise and understanding of existing and emerging technologies, we integrate the best components from our own portfolio and our partner ecosystem to deliver innovative, effective, and efficient solutions that are critical to achieving our customers' missions. We are a team of 26,000 strong driven by mission, united purpose, and inspired by opportunity. Headquartered in Reston, Virginia, SAIC has annual revenues of approximately $7.1 billion. For more information, visit saic.com.
COMPANY SIZE
10,000 employees or more
INDUSTRY
Computer/IT Services
FOUNDED
2013
WEBSITE
https://jobs.saic.com/