Technical Writer
21 days ago
Louisville
Job DescriptionDescription: Job Title: Technical Writer Reports To: Technical Writing Manager Job Status: Full Time FLSA Status: Exempt Date: January 9, 2026 Job Summary The Technical Writer is responsible for developing, standardizing, and maintaining high-quality technical documentation that supports the full lifecycle of controls-based system projects. This role translates complex electrical, controls, and mechanical engineering information into clear, accurate, and field-ready documentation for customers, technicians, operators, and internal stakeholders. In addition to documentation ownership, the role serves as a cross-functional liaison between Engineering, Project Management, and other departments to ensure documentation aligns with evolving designs, project schedules, and contractual requirements. The position plays a critical role in quality assurance, version control, engineering coordination, and the successful delivery of customer-facing technical deliverables. Essential Functions • Develop clear, accurate, and logically structured technical documentation for controls-based systems, including (but not limited to) Functional Design Documents (FDDs), Operations & Maintenance manuals, Functional Test Plans, checksheets, and commissioning documents., • Apply and enforce Sortation Labs-approved templates, styles, branding standards, and formatting guidelines across all documentation., • Interpret electrical drawings, single-line diagrams, field device layouts, PLC/HMI designs, and engineering specifications to extract and present accurate system information., • Initiate and manage peer review workflows to ensure technical accuracy, clarity, consistency, and compliance with internal standards., • Maintain document version control, revision history, and centralized repositories to ensure traceability and integrity throughout the project lifecycle., • Participate in project handoff, kickoff, engineering planning, and coordination meetings to gather up-to-date technical information and document requirements., • Track documentation tasks, dependencies, milestones, and percent completion in Engineering Assignments in alignment with project schedules., • Serve as a liaison between Engineering, Project Management, and other departments to communicate documentation needs, constraints, and impacts., • Ensure documentation reflects engineering scope changes, design updates, and customer feedback in a timely and controlled manner., • Create reusable content modules and standardized language to streamline document creation and reduce development lead times., • Ensure documentation is user-focused and field-ready by incorporating annotated diagrams, step-by-step procedures, and validated operational content., • Verify adherence to American English grammar, spelling, terminology standards, and safety-critical clarity requirements., • Support continuous improvement of technical writing processes, templates, and departmental standards. Work Environment • Office setting and field locations. The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. • Sitting for prolonged periods of time, • Repetitive typing/data entry This position works in office. General office hours are M-F, 7a-4p or 8a-5p. Working hours will vary when working at a job site to meet the requirements of the project as needed. It is the policy of Sortation Labs, LLC to provide equal employment opportunity (EEO) to all persons regardless of age, color, national origin, physical or mental disability, race, religion, creed, gender, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity and/or expression, genetic information, marital status, pregnancy or pregnancy-related condition, status with regard to public assistance, veteran status, citizenship status (if authorized to work in the U.S.), or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local law. In addition, Sortation Labs, LLC will provide reasonable accommodation for qualified individuals with disabilities. Requirements: Required Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities • Strong understanding of technical writing principles, structured documentation, and information design for engineering systems., • Working knowledge of controls systems, industrial automation, electrical engineering concepts, and material handling systems (or similar industrial systems)., • Ability to read and interpret electrical drawings, schematics, network diagrams, and engineering design documentation., • Proficiency with Microsoft Word, including advanced use of styles, templates, headers/footers, section breaks, and revision tracking., • Experience applying strict formatting, branding, and version control standards in a regulated or engineering-driven environment., • Strong organizational and task-management skills with the ability to manage multiple deliverables across concurrent projects., • Excellent written communication skills with the ability to translate complex technical concepts into clear, user-focused content., • Ability to collaborate effectively with engineers, project managers, and subject matter experts across disciplines., • Attention to detail and commitment to quality, accuracy, and consistency., • Ability to work independently while adhering to defined processes, schedules, and review requirements., • Experience participating in peer review processes and incorporating structured feedback., • Bachelor’s degree in Technical Writing, Engineering, Communications, Information Design, or a related field; or equivalent combination of education and experience., • 3+ years of experience producing technical documentation in an engineering, industrial automation, manufacturing, or controls-based environment., • Experience supporting project-based documentation across design, build, testing, and commissioning phases., • Familiarity with industrial control systems, PLCs, HMIs, networked automation systems, or large-scale electromechanical systems preferred., • Demonstrated experience with version control, peer review workflows, and document lifecycle management., • Experience coordinating documentation activities with engineering and project management teams preferred., • Strong proficiency in Microsoft Office tools; experience with collaborative review tools and document repositories preferred.