Entry Level Writer Jobs in Reston, VA (NOW HIRING)

Technical Writer (Entry Level to SME) TS/SCI with Poly REQUIRED
Category: Business Consulting, Strategy and Digital Transformation
Main location: United States, Virginia, Arlington
Position ID:J0726-2097
Employment Type: Full Time
Position Description:
CGI Federal has an exciting opportunity for Technical Writers within our Intel sector advancing the national security mission through cutting edge technology. You must have a passion for keeping pace with rapidly evolving technology advancements and leveraging your knowledge on a highly collaborative team to deliver state-of-the-art capabilities.
The Technical Writer translates complex information into easy-to-understand guides, FAQs, and manuals. They research products, collaborate with subject matter experts, and format content to help users easily understand how things work.
CGI Federal is growing its high-performance team whose members share a passion for building high-quality, scalable, advanced IT solutions in a collaborative, fast-paced, outcome-driven mission.
This position is located in our Arlington office; however, a hybrid working model is acceptable.
Your future duties and responsibilities:
Key Responsibilities (Entry Level)
• Draft Content: Write and update simple user manuals, how-to guides, and FAQs for a non-technical audience.
• Collaborate: Interview subject matter experts (engineers/developers) to gather accurate information about how a product works.
• Edit: Proofread and format documents to ensure they match company style guidelines.
• Visualize: Add screenshots, charts, or basic diagrams to make instructions easier to follow.
Key Responsibilities (Junior Level/Moderate)
• Create Content: Draft, edit, and maintain user-facing documentation, FAQs, and Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs).
• Research & Translate: Study product samples, interview subject matter experts, and translate complex technical concepts into digestible instructions.
• Maintain Guidelines: Adhere to in-house style guides to ensure consistency across all documentation platforms.
• Collaborate: Work alongside developers, product managers, and UI/UX teams to improve user assistance and product interface text.
• Review & Update: Test products to verify documentation accuracy and incorporate user feedback to refine content.
• Visual Integration: Incorporate graphs, charts, and diagrams to increase user comprehension.
Key Responsibilities (Mid-Level)
• Document Creation: Write, edit, and maintain complex operational procedures, system manuals, API documentation, and installation guides.
• Subject Matter Expert (SME) Collaboration: Conduct structured interviews with engineers, developers, and scientists to extract dense technical information and translate it into accessible language.
• Quality & Compliance: Perform QA reviews to ensure all deliverables satisfy program requirements, industry/legal compliance, and internal corporate style guides.
• Visual Integration: Design and incorporate clear diagrams, flowcharts, infographics, and UI/UX text to enhance overall content usability.
• Configuration & Version Control: Manage version control and maintain a comprehensive library of technical documentation.
• User Advocacy: Gather and analyze user feedback to continuously improve documentation.
Key Responsibilities (Senior Level)
• Documentation Authoring: Independently research, plan, and write highly complex technical content, including API documentation, software architecture guides, white papers, and system-level standard operating procedures (SOPs).
• Subject Matter Expert (SME) Collaboration: Conduct in-depth interviews with senior engineers, developers, and scientists to extract, analyze, and synthesize large volumes of technical data.
• Information Architecture: Determine the most logical and user-friendly way to present information. Standardize content, nomenclature, and messaging across internal and external knowledge bases.
• Visual Integration: Collaborate closely with UI/UX designers and technical illustrators to embed conceptual diagrams, data flow charts, screenshot markups, and multimedia elements that clarify complex processes.
• Quality Assurance & Editing: Edit, proofread, and standardize content developed by junior writers or other technical staff. Ensure compliance with strict internal style guides, legal regulations, and accessibility standards (e.g., Section 508 compliance).
• Continuous Improvement: Monitor feedback analytics, evaluate documentation usage metrics, and iterate on existing content to fill knowledge gaps and improve the overall user experience.
Key Responsibilities (SME Level)
• Information Architecture & Strategy: Design and maintain robust documentation sets, developer portals, and API reference guides. Define content management strategies, single-sourcing workflows, and structured authoring methodologies.
• Cross-Functional Collaboration: Act as the strategic anchor between technical experts and end-users. Synthesize highly abstract system architecture, complex data models, and API specifications into minimalist, task-oriented documentation.
• Docs-as-Code Integration: Work natively within engineering workflows, utilizing version control systems (like Git/GitHub) and continuous integration (CI/CD) pipelines to review, test, and deploy documentation alongside code.
• User Advocacy & UX Copy: Proactively influence product design by ensuring UI text, error messages, and onboarding workflows are user-centric, accessible, and intuitive.
• Mentorship & Quality Assurance: Establish and enforce rigorous style guidelines and technical governance. Review and edit content produced by peers and junior writers to ensure accuracy and standardized formatting.
• Metrics & Continuous Improvement: Monitor documentation analytics, track user feedback, and iterate on content to drive measurable improvements in comprehension, searchability, and customer support deflection.
Required qualifications to be successful in this role:
All roles require an active TS/SCI with Poly
Entry Level:
• Education:
o High School Diploma/GED with 4 years of relevant experience,
o Associates Degree with 2 years of relevant experience,
o or Bachelor's Degree with 0 years of relevant experience
• Writing Skills: Strong written and verbal communication skills.
Junior Level/Moderate:
• Education:
o High School Diploma/GED with 6 years of relevant experience,
o Associates Degree with 4 years of relevant experience,
o Bachelor's Degree with 2 years of relevant experience,
o or Masters Degree with 0 years of relevant experience
• Writing Skills: Exceptional writing, editing, and proofreading skills with a keen eye for detail.
• Technical Aptitude: Ability to quickly grasp technical concepts and software tools.
• Soft Skills: Strong communication, active listening, and the ability to work collaboratively in a team environment.
• Tools: Familiarity with documentation and design software (e.g., MadCap Flare, Adobe FrameMaker, Confluence, Microsoft Word, or Markdown).
• Tech-Savvy: Ability to learn new software and technical concepts quickly.
• Attention to Detail: Meticulous eye for grammar, formatting, and clarity.
Mid-Level/Complex:
• Education:
o High School Diploma/GED with 8 years of relevant experience,
o Associates Degree with 6 years of relevant experience,
o Bachelor's Degree with 4 years of relevant experience,
o or Masters Degree with 2 years of relevant experience,
o or PhD with 0 years of relevant experience
• Technical Aptitude: Ability to interpret system architecture, schematics, code excerpts, and product samples to integrate them into technical literature.
• Tool Proficiency: Experience with Content Management Systems (e.g., Confluence, MadCap Flare), version control tools, and diagramming software (e.g., Lucidchart, Visio).
• Soft Skills: Detail-oriented with exceptional organizational skills, capable of managing multiple assignments with competing deadlines.
Senior Level/Exceptionally Complex:
• Education:
o High School Diploma/GED with 10 years of relevant experience,
o Associates Degree with 8 years of relevant experience,
o Bachelor's Degree with 6 years of relevant experience,
o or Masters Degree with 4 years of relevant experience,
o or PhD with 2 years of relevant experience
• Technical Proficiency: Advanced knowledge of industry-standard documentation tools and Content Management Systems (CMS). Familiarity with authoring in Markdown, XML, or HTML. Hands-on experience with version control systems (e.g., Git) is highly desirable.
• Analytical Skills: Exceptional ability to grasp complex technical data and deconstruct it for specific target audiences, ranging from non-technical end-users to expert developers.
• Soft Skills: Strong project management abilities, excellent cross-team communication, and a high degree of empathy for the end-user. Ability to work autonomously and manage multiple concurrent projects under tight deadlines.
SME Level/Exceptionally Complex:
• Education:
o High School Diploma/GED with 12 years of relevant experience,
o Associates Degree with 10 years of relevant experience,
o Bachelor's Degree with 8 years of relevant experience,
o or Masters Degree with 6 years of relevant experience,
o or PhD with 4 years of relevant experience
• Technical Acumen: Deep familiarity with software development lifecycles (SDLC) and proficiency in reading code (e.g., Python, Java, or C++).
• Tool Mastery: Advanced expertise in modern documentation-as-code tooling, markdown, and Content Management Systems (CMS).
• Communication: Exceptional ability to distill complex technical constraints into coherent, elegant prose for both technical and non-technical audiences.
CGI is required by law in some jurisdictions to include a reasonable estimate of the compensation range for this role. The determination of this range includes various factors not limited to skill set, level, experience, relevant training, and licensure and certifications. To support the ability to reward for merit-based performance, CGI typically does not hire individuals at or near the top of the range for their role. Compensation decisions are dependent on the facts and circumstances of each case. A reasonable estimate of the current range for this role in the U.S. is $89,600.00 - $204,000.00.
CGI Federal's benefits are offered to eligible professionals on their first day of employment to include:
. Competitive compensation
. Comprehensive insurance options
. Matching contributions through the 401(k) plan and the share purchase plan
. Paid time off for vacation, holidays, and sick time
. Paid parental leave
. Learning opportunities and tuition assistance
. Wellness and Well-being programs
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What you can expect from us:
Together, as owners, let's turn meaningful insights into action.
Life at CGI is rooted in ownership, teamwork, respect and belonging. Here, you'll reach your full potential because...
You are invited to be an owner from day 1 as we work together to bring our Dream to life. That's why we call ourselves CGI Partners rather than employees. We benefit from our collective success and actively shape our company's strategy and direction.
Your work creates value. You'll develop innovative solutions and build relationships with teammates and clients while accessing global capabilities to scale your ideas, embrace new opportunities, and benefit from expansive industry and technology expertise.
You'll shape your career by joining a company built to grow and last. You'll be supported by leaders who care about your health and well-being and provide you with opportunities to deepen your skills and broaden your horizons.
Come join our team-one of the largest IT and business consulting services firms in the world.
Qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to their race, ethnicity, ancestry, color, sex, religion, creed, age, national origin, citizenship status, disability, pregnancy, medical condition, military and veteran status, marital status, sexual orientation or perceived sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, and gender expression, familial status or responsibilities, reproductive health decisions, political affiliation, genetic information, height, weight, or any other legally protected status or characteristics to the extent required by applicable federal, state, and/or local laws where we do business.
CGI provides reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities. If you need an accommodation to apply for a job in the U.S., please email the CGI U.S. Employment Compliance mailbox at US_Employment_Compliance@cgi.com. You will need to reference the Position ID of the position in which you are interested. Your message will be routed to the appropriate recruiter who will assist you. Please note, this email address is only to be used for those individuals who need an accommodation to apply for a job. Emails for any other reason or those that do not include a Position ID will not be returned.
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All CGI offers of employment in the U.S. are contingent upon the ability to successfully complete a background investigation. Background investigation components can vary dependent upon specific assignment and/or level of US government security clearance held. Dependent upon role and/or federal government security clearance requirements, and in accordance with applicable laws, some background investigations may include a credit check. CGI will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrests and conviction records in accordance with all local regulations and ordinances.
CGI will not discharge or in any other manner discriminate against employees or applicants because they have inquired about, discussed, or disclosed their own pay or the pay of another employee or applicant. However, employees wh