Post job

Explore jobs

Find specific jobs

Explore careers

Explore professions

Best companies

Explore companies

OverviewJobs

Skills

EducationCertificationsDemographicsJob DescriptionHow To HireBest CompaniesRemote JobsJob OutlookWork From Home jobs
zippia ai icon

Automatically apply for jobs with Zippi

Upload your resume to get started.

Senior technical writer and editor skills for your resume and career

Updated January 8, 2025
6 min read
Quoted experts
Thomas Reynolds,
Ted Anton
Below we've compiled a list of the most critical senior technical writer and editor skills. We ranked the top skills for senior technical writer and editors based on the percentage of resumes they appeared on. For example, 7.3% of senior technical writer and editor resumes contained technical documentation as a skill. Continue reading to find out what skills a senior technical writer and editor needs to be successful in the workplace.

15 senior technical writer and editor skills for your resume and career

1. Technical Documentation

Technical documentation means any documentation that gives a functional, architectural, and handling description of a technical product or a product in use or development.

Here's how senior technical writer and editors use technical documentation:
  • Excelled throughout consecutive technical writing positions for highly reputable corporations;identify end-user needs and ensure top-notch quality of technical documentation.
  • Used negotiation skills to establish a process across the organization to deliver global technical documentation to customers concurrent with system implementations.

2. PowerPoint

Here's how senior technical writer and editors use powerpoint:
  • Produced PowerPoint presentations for senior management.
  • Created PowerPoint training presentations, which were both IBT and WBT driven.

3. Technical Specifications

A technical specification is a document that clearly explains the specific requirements needed to get a project, product, material, or system ready for public or private use. It's the preliminary stage of any engineering or product design that must be followed to the letter because it defines the technical standard and safety measures for the product in the field of engineering design.

Here's how senior technical writer and editors use technical specifications:
  • Supported report validation by translating business requirements into technical specifications
  • Interact with developers, department managers, and executives to establish technical specifications and to determine subject material to be developed.

4. Technical Manuals

Technical Manuals are informative pieces of writing, often including diagrams and images, which educate the person who is using it and assist them in learning how to control, build, fix, or otherwise handle the product or products which it speaks of. A technical manual is also known more commonly as a user manual and it typically comes with most products, especially items such as furniture, electronics, appliances, software, machinery, and even medication and medical devices.

Here's how senior technical writer and editors use technical manuals:
  • Communicate effectively with Subject Matter Experts in various departments to produce exceptional technical manuals.
  • Conduct on-site TM validation/verification with U.S. Army personnel for completed technical manuals.

5. SharePoint

Here's how senior technical writer and editors use sharepoint:
  • Serve as site administrator for SharePoint repository of quality documentation.
  • Established and maintained communications among local and remote employees and teammates using collaborative tools (e.g., SharePoint).

6. Technical Data

Technical data refers to both scientific and technical nature and information recorded and presented in any form other than financial and management information but includes manuals and instructional materials, as well as technical data formatted as a computer database.

Here's how senior technical writer and editors use technical data:
  • Develop Technical Data and Documentation Plan to be absorbed into local business plans.
  • Worked closely with SMEs to extract and translate technical data into easily accessible documents.

Choose from 10+ customizable senior technical writer and editor resume templates

Build a professional senior technical writer and editor resume in minutes. Our AI resume writing assistant will guide you through every step of the process, and you can choose from 10+ resume templates to create your senior technical writer and editor resume.

7. Technical Publications

Here's how senior technical writer and editors use technical publications:
  • Created a corporate glossary and initiated a style-guide for technical publications.
  • Developed and designed Technical Publications web pages.

8. Test Procedures

Test procedure i defined as a tool for conducting an experiment to analyze or observe the specifications of a process or application.

Here's how senior technical writer and editors use test procedures:
  • Tested software applications and wrote/edited software test procedures and post-clone procedures for DCGS-A, Distributed Common Ground System-Army.
  • Developed and implemented standards for documenting program specifications, test procedures, software procedures, and other contract deliverable documents.

9. DOD

Definition of Done (DoD) is a set of deliverables that are needed to devise software. These deliverables are valuable to the system and can be exemplified by writing code, coding comments, unit testing, integration testing, design documents, release notes, and so on.

Here's how senior technical writer and editors use dod:
  • Establish DOT&E business processes, style guide, and report templates using DoD guidelines.
  • Wrote/edited technical information for DOD, and federal, state, and local governments.

10. User Manuals

Here's how senior technical writer and editors use user manuals:
  • Designed and developed user manuals and training materials for a number of in-house business management tools.
  • Researched and wrote installation manuals, user manuals, and system documentation.

11. Subject Matter Experts

Here's how senior technical writer and editors use subject matter experts:
  • Attended team meetings and interviewed subject matter experts to clarify content requirements and update documents.
  • Worked closely with subject matter experts and programmers during the documentation development stage.

12. Engineering Drawings

Engineering drawings are technical drawings that tell about the requirements for engineering components or equipment. Such drawings have standardized languages and symbols. There are multiple types of engineering drawings such as isometric drawing, orthographic or multiview drawing, schematic drawings, one view, and two view drawings, etc.

Here's how senior technical writer and editors use engineering drawings:
  • Required familiarity with engineering drawings and changes, product manufacturing list, government and commercial safety regulations, and government specifications.
  • Examined and analyzed complex engineering drawings and change requests to determine applicability and functionality for inclusion in other manufactures technical manuals.

13. XML

XML is a medium for storing and transporting data that is independent of software and hardware. XML stands for eXtensible Markup Language. XML, like HTML, is a markup language that was created to store and transport data. It was created with the intention of being self-descriptive. There are no predefined tags in the XML language. Another feature is that XML is extensible.

Here's how senior technical writer and editors use xml:
  • Received a Team Achievement Award for writing and updating XML documents on a compressed schedule for a demanding customer.
  • Provided Visual Basic macros to streamline conversion of data between SGML, MS Office and XML formats.

14. Adobe Acrobat

Acrobat Reader, a software program created by Adobe Systems, and they are used to view files in PDF. The main purpose of Adobe Acrobat is to view, create, and edit PDF documents. It can also import nearly all document as well as image formats, and save them in a PDF format.

Here's how senior technical writer and editors use adobe acrobat:
  • Applied expert knowledge of Adobe FrameMaker and Adobe Acrobat to create and edit files in digitized format.
  • Compose tagged files using XPP to generate and Adobe Acrobat PDF.

15. HTML

Here's how senior technical writer and editors use html:
  • Authored Performance Analysis software reports-based documentation in an on-line help format using RoboHELP HTML.
  • Performed all editorial/graphical and design changes, additions and corrections before final submissions in PDF, HTML, and FrameMaker.
top-skills

What skills help Senior Technical Writer And Editors find jobs?

Tell us what job you are looking for, we’ll show you what skills employers want.

What senior technical writer and editor skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?

Thomas ReynoldsThomas Reynolds LinkedIn profile

Associate Professor and Director of Undergraduate Studies, University of Minnesota

Technical writing and communication can span many fields. However, there are specific fields that are especially open to technical communication, such as information technology and computer software (technical documentation, for example), as well as medical and health fields. Many of our graduates work for companies that involve computer technology, such as software companies and content management for web consulting firms. In addition, many of our graduates work in biomedical companies that require technical and global documentation of medical devices.

I can't say that I know of a sure bet, but places that deal with medical technology, healthcare, and related fields are probably going to need people well trained to communicate specialized knowledge to a variety of audiences and in a variety of ways. Telemedicine seems to have gained a more permanent stronghold in the healthcare system, and I imagine that the various communication channels involved in this new way of practicing medicine will open opportunities for well-trained graduates such as ours who are willing to be pioneers in this area.

What type of skills will young senior technical writer and editors need?

Ted AntonTed Anton LinkedIn profile

Professor, DePaul University

They will need to know how to understand and communicate complex information, often contradictory, in a catchy and understandable way. They will have to read professional data online, in business, medicine, health, you name it and then create a sales or summary pitch for investors. So, reading, writing, communication skills will continue to be important. Math, of course, is a big plus, but up to the advanced algebra level... Statistical skills will be helpful. Overall, employers are seeking curious, adventurous, bold, and creative thinkers and communicators for an ever-changing world.

What technical skills for a senior technical writer and editor stand out to employers?

Aaron DeRosa Ph.D.Aaron DeRosa Ph.D. LinkedIn profile

Associate Professor, 20th/21st C. American Literature, California State Polytechnic University, Pomona

English majors find homes in every major industry because they are trained to think about the precision of language and its impact, to critically think through problems and imagine the implications of the projects they work on, and to conduct sound research while being critical of the material they encounter. They do this whether the field is technical writing, advertising, law, journalism, publishing, teaching, retail, or whatever new positions arise in the years to come.

What soft skills should all senior technical writer and editors possess?

Jason Whittaker Ph.D.Jason Whittaker Ph.D. LinkedIn profile

Head of School of English & Journalism, Lincoln University

Among the key skills for graduates, some of these remain the same as before, particularly in terms of being able to communicate clearly, analyse information, and engage creatively with problem solving. The past year, however, has really brought to the fore the importance of resilience in our students, especially as they will need to be even more flexible as their careers develop in the future. We spend a considerable amount of time working on building confidence among our students, so that rather than being overwhelmed by rapid change they see this as a challenge and opportunity.
Do you want to know more?
Read more about what experts have to say about senior technical writer and editor

List of senior technical writer and editor skills to add to your resume

Senior technical writer and editor skills

The most important skills for a senior technical writer and editor resume and required skills for a senior technical writer and editor to have include:

  • Technical Documentation
  • PowerPoint
  • Technical Specifications
  • Technical Manuals
  • SharePoint
  • Technical Data
  • Technical Publications
  • Test Procedures
  • DOD
  • User Manuals
  • Subject Matter Experts
  • Engineering Drawings
  • XML
  • Adobe Acrobat
  • HTML
  • Visio
  • Training Materials
  • Configuration Management
  • Adobe Framemaker
  • Website Content
  • ISO
  • SMEs
  • User Guides
  • Content Management
  • Photoshop
  • Mil-Std
  • Cloud Computing
  • Version Control
  • CMS
  • Maintenance Manuals
  • Technical Writers
  • Management System
  • QA
  • RFP
  • Technical Reports
  • SGML
  • Ietm
  • Training Manuals
  • Proofread
  • Technical Accuracy
  • Windows
  • Writing Support
  • Software Documentation
  • Unix
  • Technical Content
  • Press Releases
  • SnagIt
  • RoboHelp

Updated January 8, 2025

Zippia Research Team
Zippia Team

Editorial Staff

The Zippia Research Team has spent countless hours reviewing resumes, job postings, and government data to determine what goes into getting a job in each phase of life. Professional writers and data scientists comprise the Zippia Research Team.

Updated January 8, 2025

Browse arts, entertainment, sports, and media jobs