How to hire a senior technical editor

How to hire a senior technical editor, step by step

Here's a step-by-step senior technical editor hiring guide:

• Step 1: Identify your hiring needs
• Step 2: Create an ideal candidate profile
• Step 3: Make a budget
• Step 4: Write a senior technical editor job description
• Step 5: Post your job
• Step 6: Interview candidates
• Step 7: Send a job offer and onboard your new senior technical editor
• Step 8: Go through the hiring process checklist

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   The senior technical editor hiring process starts by determining what type of worker you actually need. Certain roles might require a full-time employee, whereas part-time workers or contractors can do others.

   Determine employee vs contractor status

   Is the person you're thinking of hiring a US citizen or green card holder?

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   Hiring the perfect senior technical editor also involves considering the ideal background you'd like them to have. Depending on what industry or field they have experience in, they'll bring different skills to the job. It's also important to consider what levels of seniority and education the job requires and what kind of salary such a candidate would likely demand.

   This list presents senior technical editor salaries for various positions.

   Type of Senior Technical Editor	Description	Hourly rate
   Senior Technical Editor	Editors plan, review, and revise content for publication.	$21-38
   Editing Internship	An editorial intern is responsible for assisting the editorial department of an organization with publishing various media and digital content. Editorial interns shadow tenured editorial staff on researching stories, validating information, writing captivating articles, interviewing target audiences, and screening submitted manuscripts... Show more	$12-21
   Editorial Internship	An editorial intern is responsible for assisting the editorial team in publishing digital and media content, writing articles, and managing readers' reviews. Editorial interns must have excellent knowledge of the industry they work for, suggesting the latest trends and featured topics, taking notes of the tenured employees' advice and observations, and actively joining brainstorming sessions... Show more	$12-18

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Technical Documentation
   • Technical Editing
   • Subject Matter Experts
   • Proofread
   • Proofreading
   • SharePoint
   • User Manuals
   • DOD
   • Status Reports
   • Editorial Support
   • XML
   • HTML
   • Adobe Acrobat
   • Technical Publications

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Identify and initiate wholesale computer upgrade to accommodate new CMS while allocating and managing staff resources devote to developing the software.
   • Create, maintain, and post documents to the Internet in HTML, SHTML, Wiki, and XML formats.
   • Maintain the release notes on the web, using HTML to provide ongoing/daily updates.
   • Assess XML authoring tools in preparation for migrating FrameMaker documents to a modular, reusable, structure authoring environment.
   • Translate DOD issuances into JTF capm issuances.
   • Train writers on principles of indexing (with FrameMaker and IXgen).

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in your senior technical editor job description is a great way to entice the best and brightest candidates. A senior technical editor salary can vary based on several factors:

   • Location. For example, senior technical editors' average salary in mississippi is 58% less than in new york.
   • Seniority. Entry-level senior technical editors earn 46% less than senior-level senior technical editors.
   • Certifications. A senior technical editor with a few certifications under their belt will likely demand a higher salary.
   • Company. Working for a prestigious company or an exciting start-up can make a huge difference in a senior technical editor's salary.

   Average senior technical editor salary

   $60,374yearly

   $29.03 hourly rate

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   Entry-level senior technical editor salary

   $44,000 yearly salary

   Updated December 14, 2025

4. Writing a senior technical editor job description

   A good senior technical editor job description should include a few things:

   • Summary of the role
   • List of responsibilities
   • Required skills and experience

   Including a salary range and the first name of the hiring manager is also appreciated by candidates. Here's an example of a senior technical editor job description:

   Senior technical editor job description example

   Current HHMI Employees, click here to apply via your Workday account.
   
   We are seeking a Senior Research Technician to support the lab of Dr. Keiko Torii at University of Texas, Austin. The Torii lab has a long-standing interest to unravel how plant stem cells function and contribute to growth and development, with specific emphasis on signal transduction pathways and underpinning genomic/epigenomic mechanisms. In addition to harnessing chemical and synthetic biology, they are designing and building synthetic signal transduction circuits to control plant growth and development suited for changing climate. More information on the lab can be found on their website.
   In this role, you will assume a key role in our ongoing research project aiming at understanding the environmental control of plant stomatal differentiation. We are developing a new model plant species to study plants response in extreme environment. You will join a team to develop genetic manipulation pipelines (genome editing and transformation) and generate genome-edited/transformed plants to study Gene Regulatory Networks responsible for plant adaptation to extreme environment. You may also collaborate with postdoctoral researchers to actively participate in original research projects and present the results at the conference and/or in scientific manuscripts.
   What You'll Do:
   Participate plant propagation and maintenance, developing new protocols for plant propagation, in aseptic condition (e.g. sterile media plates) and in growth chamber/growth room.Make plant media, pots, etc.Develop appropriate growth conditions (light, temperature, humidity, etc) for optimal plant propagation.Develop pipelines for genetic transformation (e.g. by Agrobacterial infiltration, tissue-regeneration, and/or particle bombardment) and gene editing (by CRISPR) together with a team of scientists.Genotype and verify the genome-editing/transgenesis events.Oversea cleaning of the sterile hood room, growth room, and growth chambers Organize and maintain important transgenic/genome edited materials, fill out proper logs.Document laboratory records, document and update protocols and manuals.Configure and operate laboratory apparatus and instruments; read and record instrument data; tabulate data; coordinate equipment repairs.Order chemicals, reagents, and other laboratory supplies as necessary.Participate in laboratory meetings and planning sessions. Read literature applicable to research areas as required.Train junior scientists (e.g. undergrads, new techs) as necessary.
   Skills You Bring:
   Master's degree in Biological Sciences, Plant Biology, Agricultural Sciences or related disciplines3+ years laboratory experience in molecular biology, plant tissue culture, plant transformation, and/or plant genome editing. Experience in molecular cloning (plasmid construction) and genotyping highly preferred.Experience in plant propagation (growing plants in sterile media and in soils) is highly preferred.Curiosity-driven and goal-oriented Meticulous, focused, and attention to details.Has strong problem-solving skills Ability to work independently as well as collaboratively as a team Excellent communication skills
   
   Physical Requirements
   Remaining in a normal seated or standing position for extended periods of time; reaching and grasping by extending hand(s) or arm(s); dexterity to manipulate objects with fingers, for example using a keyboard; communication skills using the spoken word; ability to see and hear within normal parameters; ability to move about workspace. The position requires mobility, including the ability to move materials weighing up to several pounds (such as a laptop computer or tablet). Work may involve possible exposure to malodorous vapors, low dose radiation, contamination by toxic chemicals and acids and presence of carcinogenic substances.
   
   Persons with disabilities may be able to perform the essential duties of this position with reasonable accommodation. Requests for reasonable accommodation will be evaluated on an individual basis.
   
   Please Note:
   This job description sets forth the job's principal duties, responsibilities, and requirements; it should not be construed as an exhaustive statement, however. Unless they begin with the word “may,” the Essential Duties and Responsibilities described above are “essential functions” of the job, as defined by the Americans with Disabilities Act.
   
   Compensation and Benefits
   Our employees are compensated from a total rewards perspective in many ways for their contributions to our mission, including competitive pay, exceptional health benefits, retirement plans, time off, and a range of recognition and wellness programs. Visit our Benefits at HHMI site to learn more.
   
   HHMI is an Equal Opportunity Employer

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5. Post your job

   There are various strategies that you can use to find the right senior technical editor for your business:

   • Consider promoting from within or recruiting from your existing workforce.
   • Ask for referrals from friends, family members, and current employees.
   • Attend job fairs at local colleges to find candidates who meet your education requirements.
   • Use social media platforms like LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter to reach potential job candidates.

   Post your job online:

   • Post your senior technical editor job on Zippia to find and recruit senior technical editor candidates who meet your exact specifications.
   • Use field-specific websites such as problogger, media bistro, journalismjobs.com, content writing jobs.
   • Post a job on free websites.

6. Interview candidates

   Recruiting senior technical editors requires you to bring your A-game to the interview process. The first interview should introduce the company and the role to the candidate as much as they present their background experience and reasons for applying for the job. During later interviews, you can go into more detail about the technical details of the job and ask behavioral questions to gauge how they'd fit into your current company culture.

   It's also good to ask about candidates' unique skills and talents to see if they match your ideal candidate profile. If you think a candidate is good enough for the next step, you can move on to the technical interview.

   The right interview questions can help you assess a candidate's hard skills, behavioral intelligence, and soft skills.

7. Send a job offer and onboard your new senior technical editor

   Once you have selected a candidate for the senior technical editor position, it is time to create an offer letter. In addition to salary, the offer letter should include details about benefits and perks that are available to the employee. Ensuring your offer is competitive is vital, as qualified candidates may be considering other job opportunities. The candidate may wish to negotiate the terms of the offer, and it is important to be open to discussion and reach a mutually beneficial agreement. After the offer has been accepted, it is a good idea to formalize the agreement with a contract.

   It's also important to follow up with applicants who do not get the job with an email letting them know that the position is filled.

   After that, you can create an onboarding schedule for a new senior technical editor. Human Resources and the hiring manager should complete Employee Action Forms. Human Resources should also ensure that onboarding paperwork is completed, including I-9s, benefits enrollment, federal and state tax forms, etc., and that new employee files are created.

8. Go through the hiring process checklist

   • Determine employee type (full-time, part-time, contractor, etc.)
   • Submit a job requisition form to the HR department
   • Define job responsibilities and requirements
   • Establish budget and timeline
   • Determine hiring decision makers for the role
   • Write job description
   • Post job on job boards, company website, etc.
   • Promote the job internally
   • Process applications through applicant tracking system
   • Review resumes and cover letters
   • Shortlist candidates for screening
   • Hold phone/virtual interview screening with first round of candidates
   • Conduct in-person interviews with top candidates from first round
   • Score candidates based on weighted criteria (e.g., experience, education, background, cultural fit, skill set, etc.)
   • Conduct background checks on top candidates
   • Check references of top candidates
   • Consult with HR and hiring decision makers on job offer specifics
   • Extend offer to top candidate(s)
   • Receive formal job offer acceptance and signed employment contract
   • Inform other candidates that the position has been filled
   • Set and communicate onboarding schedule to new hire(s)
   • Complete new hire paperwork (i9, benefits enrollment, tax forms, etc.)

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