Freelance Engineering Technical Writer Jobs in Virginia

Job ID: 2614251

Location: Reston, VA, US

Date Posted: 2026-07-06

Category: Communications

Subcategory: Technical Writer/Ed

Schedule: Full-Time

Shift: Day Job

Travel: Yes - 10% of the time

Minimum Clearance Required: TS.SCI

Clearance Level Must Be Able to Obtain: None

Potential for Remote Work: ORA_ON_SITE

Description

SAIC is seeking a Technical Writer to join a dynamic Lead Systems Integrator (LSI) team supporting the Department of the Air Force's Integrated Fires Command and Control (DIFC2) program. As a critical member of the team, you will take ownership of creating, maintaining, and managing technical documentation, including technical reference materials, governance artifacts, and technical baselines. Your work will ensure vital information is effectively communicated to support operational and strategic decision-making.

We are seeking a detail-oriented professional with the ability to author structured materials, ensure documentation accuracy and compliance, and oversee updates to baseline governance and technical materials. This role requires close collaboration with engineers, project managers, and subject matter experts. You will serve as the authoritative lead on technical authorship and enterprise documentation quality while delivering high-quality materials in compliance with customer-defined formats and governance standards.

This role requires on-site support in the Reston/Chantilly, VA area.

Key Responsibilities

• Technical Documentation: Develop, revise, and manage diverse documentation types, including technical reference manuals, operational guidelines, system diagrams, and procedural workflows, ensuring accuracy, clarity, completeness, and consistency across all deliverables.
• Governance and Baseline Documentation: Maintain and update governance documentation, such as the Systems Engineering Management Plan (SEMP), Configuration Management Plan (CMP), and Statements of Work (SOW), ensuring alignment with organizational standards and program requirements.
• Collaboration and Stakeholder Engagement: Partner with engineers, project leads, and other subject matter experts to gather and consolidate data, enabling the development of tailored, effective materials to align with diverse stakeholder needs.
• Compliance and Standardization: Ensure all technical references and governance documentation adhere to applicable organizational policies, regulatory requirements, and established standards. Provide quality assurance by auditing documentation for completeness, accuracy, and relevancy to existing systems.
• Project Coordination: Create and manage detailed Plans of Action and Milestones (POA&Ms) and other project documentation to support planning, compliance, and streamlined workflows.
• Version Control and Document Management: Update and organize documentation repositories, implement version control practices, and ensure meticulous tracking of revisions and reference sources to maintain traceability and accessibility of information.
• Continuous Improvement: Proactively identify and address gaps, inconsistencies, or areas of improvement in documentation and governance processes to enhance overall quality and usability.

Qualifications

Required Qualifications

• Security Clearance: Active TS/SCI clearance; must have the ability to obtain and maintain additional access as needed.
• Education and Experience: Bachelor’s Degree in Technical Communication, Engineering, Computer Science, or a related field, OR equivalent work experience in lieu of a degree. Minimum of 9 years of professional experience in technical writing or configuration management roles.
• Professional Expertise: Demonstrated experience in developing technical documentation such as technical reference manuals, SEMP, CMP, or similar governance documents. Extensive knowledge of writing standards and regulatory compliance practices.
• Project Management Acumen: Strong familiarity with developing project schedules and management tools such as POA&Ms to ensure timely and efficient delivery.
• Skills:
  • Superior written and verbal communication skills; ability to convey complex technical concepts in accessible, user-friendly formats.
  • Strong organizational and time management capabilities; adept at handling multiple projects and priorities simultaneously.
  • Proactive approach to identifying issues and driving solutions with exceptional attention to detail.
• Technical Proficiency: Advanced expertise in Microsoft Office products (Word, Excel, PowerPoint).
• Team Player: Excellent interpersonal and collaboration skills—capable of working effectively both on independent tasks and within cross-functional teams.

Desired Qualifications

• Design Skills: Proficiency in Adobe Illustrator or other design tools for creating high-quality diagrams and visual aids in technical documentation.
• Configuration Management Expertise: Working knowledge of CM practices, including version control, baseline management, and compliance documentation workflows.
• Certifications: Professional certifications such as ITIL Foundation or Configuration Management credentials are a strong plus.