What does a senior technical writer do?

A senior technical writer's role is to oversee the progress within a team or department, ensuring quality and timeliness. It is their responsibility to delegate tasks, set deadlines, carry out corrective measures on any issues, and implement the company's regulations and policies. There are also instances when they participate in producing written content, even editing and reviewing materials of the staff. As someone with more experience, a senior technical writer must encourage and lead fellow writers, shaping them into valuable assets.
Senior technical writer responsibilities
Here are examples of responsibilities from real senior technical writer resumes:
- Manage and participate in logistics programs, and commercial and DOD technical manual complements.
- Manage team activities for internal and client documentation development that supports the SDLC methodology.
- Lead team to deliver the first simultaneous release of the product stack across UNIX platforms.
- Manage multiple SharePoint sites for active documentation projects and resulting archives to meet customer version control and compliance requirements.
- Identify and initiate wholesale computer upgrade to accommodate new CMS while allocating and managing staff resources devote to developing the software.
- Design and develop standalone and context-sensitive help with RoboHelp HTML, enhancing application usability.
- Research application functionality, release delivery requirements, and interview SMEs to determine process flows and technical content.
- Create a documentation reference repository utilizing RoboHelp to assist developers in referencing user requirements, reference, and QA documentation.
- Create architectural diagrams in VISIO 2007 and SnagIt.
- Evaluated/Procure tools, and create templates and CSS stylesheets.
- Audit manuals and training curricula for the FAA and other government agencies.
- Create training material for CMS migration technicians and new field tools for NHTSA.
- Work with team to create the initial CSS, PageLayout, and TableStyle files.
- Review and edit all data prior to being provide to the customer or the FAA.
- Create and modify pictures, graphic charts and drawings for integration with associate text using SolidWorks and Photoshop.
Senior technical writer skills and personality traits
We calculated that 7% of Senior Technical Writers are proficient in Technical Documentation, Subject Matter Experts, and API. They’re also known for soft skills such as Imagination, Technical skills, and Detail oriented.
We break down the percentage of Senior Technical Writers that have these skills listed on their resume here:
- Technical Documentation, 7%
Create the new Technical Publications Style Manual outlining precise company procedures for maintaining consistency, accuracy and professionalism throughout technical documentation.
- Subject Matter Experts, 6%
Develop Standard Operating Procedures/Standard Work Instruction for reimbursement and pharmacy daily operations through collaboration with Upper Management and Subject Matter Experts.
- API, 4%
Developed client-specific developer documentation including deployment guides, Application Programming Interface (API) implementation guides, and technical architecture manuals.
- Java, 4%
Developed all required documentation, including online Java help.
- PowerPoint, 4%
Created, edited, and updated presentation materials and video materials to support Marketing activities: PowerPoint presentations and video demonstrations.
- XML, 4%
Spearheaded and developed an online documentation system utilizing XML designed to replace paper manuals with on the fly documentation generation.
Common skills that a senior technical writer uses to do their job include "technical documentation," "subject matter experts," and "api." You can find details on the most important senior technical writer responsibilities below.
Imagination. To carry out their duties, the most important skill for a senior technical writer to have is imagination. Their role and responsibilities require that "technical writers must think about a procedure or product as if they are someone who does not have technical knowledge." Senior technical writers often use imagination in their day-to-day job, as shown by this real resume: "proposed updating tools to use ms word, visio, ehelp, and rational rose; implemented inventory system for manuals. "
Technical skills. Many senior technical writer duties rely on technical skills. "technical writers must be able to understand complex information," so a senior technical writer will need this skill often in their role. This resume example is just one of many ways senior technical writer responsibilities rely on technical skills: "examine technical data and engineering drawings to revise avionics manuals for commercial and military aircraft. "
Detail oriented. This is an important skill for senior technical writers to perform their duties. For an example of how senior technical writer responsibilities depend on this skill, consider that "technical writers create instructions for others to follow." This excerpt from a resume also shows how vital it is to everyday roles and responsibilities of a senior technical writer: "provided detailed documentation plans and schedules; collaborated with subject matter experts. ".
Writing skills. For certain senior technical writer responsibilities to be completed, the job requires competence in "writing skills." The day-to-day duties of a senior technical writer rely on this skill, as "technical communicators must have excellent writing skills to be able to explain technical information clearly." For example, this snippet was taken directly from a resume about how this skill applies to what senior technical writers do: "experience writing technical product documentation, developer guide, and troubleshooting guide for java technology in dita and arbortext. "
The three companies that hire the most senior technical writers are:
- Salesforce154 senior technical writers jobs
- Change Healthcare84 senior technical writers jobs
- Microsoft60 senior technical writers jobs
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Senior technical writer vs. Associate editor
The primary role of an Associate Editor is to ensure that subordinates submit high-quality content. They review and edit copies, set deadlines, and supervise the production details of magazines, newspapers, books, or websites.
There are some key differences in the responsibilities of each position. For example, senior technical writer responsibilities require skills like "technical documentation," "subject matter experts," "api," and "java." Meanwhile a typical associate editor has skills in areas such as "wordpress," "web content," "seo," and "edit content." This difference in skills reveals the differences in what each career does.
Associate editors really shine in the media industry with an average salary of $53,230. Comparatively, senior technical writers tend to make the most money in the technology industry with an average salary of $71,710.associate editors tend to reach similar levels of education than senior technical writers. In fact, associate editors are 1.7% less likely to graduate with a Master's Degree and 1.4% more likely to have a Doctoral Degree.Senior technical writer vs. Assistant editor
An assistant editor is an individual responsible for assisting an editor-in-chief or editor-at-large of a newspaper, magazine, radio program, or website. Assistant editors hold meetings with staff and freelance writers to discuss new, fresh and original content for projects on a daily, weekly, or monthly basis. They review assignments handed in by writers or reporters for sense, accuracy, readability, and content. Assistant editors must also utilize new media applications such as Twitter and Facebook to draw attention to an article or cause.
In addition to the difference in salary, there are some other key differences worth noting. For example, senior technical writer responsibilities are more likely to require skills like "technical documentation," "subject matter experts," "api," and "java." Meanwhile, an assistant editor has duties that require skills in areas such as "editorial content," "video footage," "web content," and "media management." These differences highlight just how different the day-to-day in each role looks.
Assistant editors may earn a lower salary than senior technical writers, but assistant editors earn the most pay in the media industry with an average salary of $55,636. On the other hand, senior technical writers receive higher pay in the technology industry, where they earn an average salary of $71,710.assistant editors earn similar levels of education than senior technical writers in general. They're 4.2% less likely to graduate with a Master's Degree and 1.4% less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Senior technical writer vs. Editor
An editor is the one responsible for polishing and refining a story, article, and any material for publication in newspapers, magazines, books, or websites. Editors have the power to either accept or reject a material as they need to ensure that every manuscript which will be offered for publishing is at the best version as it can be. There are several types of editors, from copy editors, books to managing editors, but they have few skills in common, like strong writing skills, good judgment, and leadership abilities to help guide the whole editorial team. Most of them work in the office, but it is quite becoming more regular for them to work remotely.
There are many key differences between these two careers, including some of the skills required to perform responsibilities within each role. For example, a senior technical writer is likely to be skilled in "technical documentation," "api," "java," and "user guides," while a typical editor is skilled in "web content," "video content," "seo," and "facebook."
Editors make a very good living in the technology industry with an average annual salary of $62,170. On the other hand, senior technical writers are paid the highest salary in the technology industry, with average annual pay of $71,710.editors typically earn similar educational levels compared to senior technical writers. Specifically, they're 3.0% less likely to graduate with a Master's Degree, and 0.9% less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Senior technical writer vs. Managing editor
Managing editors are individuals who coordinate and oversee the editorial activities of a publication. They administer the daily operations or a website or publication, such as generating ideas and planning and editing content. Their responsibilities include the recruitment, promotion, and firing of staff members. They even create and implement deadlines. Great managing editors are those who are updated on the latest trends and make informed decisions. They should also be equipped with skills in management and coaching.
Even though a few skill sets overlap between senior technical writers and managing editors, there are some differences that are important to note. For one, a senior technical writer might have more use for skills like "technical documentation," "subject matter experts," "api," and "java." Meanwhile, some responsibilities of managing editors require skills like "web content," "editorial content," "seo," and "editorial calendar. "
In general, managing editors earn the most working in the media industry, with an average salary of $79,077. The highest-paying industry for a senior technical writer is the technology industry.managing editors reach similar levels of education compared to senior technical writers, in general. The difference is that they're 2.7% more likely to earn a Master's Degree, and 0.3% more likely to graduate with a Doctoral Degree.Types of senior technical writer
Updated January 8, 2025











