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Full Time Substantive Editor Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Venesco LLC

Senior Technical Editor

Mclean, VA · On-site

Job Type Full-time Description Senior Technical Editor SSI-Venesco JV LLC • Turner-Fairbank ... Substantive editing * Perform and supervise substantive editing, copyediting, proofreading ...

ADC Management Services

Senior Technical Editor

Mclean, VA · On-site

$140K - $160K/yr

Medical, Dental, Vision, Life, STD, LTD & 401k plans Employment Status: Full-Time POSITION SUMMARY ... The technical editors focus on substantive editing, verifying technical accuracy, and ensuring ...

LMI

Writer/Editor

$75K - $135K/yr

Determine and apply appropriate levels of review (proofreading, copyediting, substantive editing ... Job LocationsUS-RemoteEmployment Type: FULL_TIME

Concordia Publishing House

Production Editor, Level II Full Time The Associate Editor, Concordia Commentary Series, carries ... Discuss problems and substantive changes with the Concordia Commentary Editor. * Review & act upon ...

The New York Times

Business Editor

New York, NY · On-site

$240K - $285K/yr

It is a full-time role that includes regular attendance in the office each week. It reports to ... substantive content during the application and interview process. If you're an engineering ...

LMI

Technical Editor

Washington, DC · Hybrid

$85K - $110K/yr

Analyzing written communication and making substantive and structural changes when necessary ... Job LocationsUS-DC-Washington, DCEmployment Type: FULL_TIME

The New York Times

Editing Resident

New York, NY · On-site

$98K/yr

In your cover letter, discuss your prior experience and why you want to grow as an editor. These ... There is no guarantee of a full-time position upon the program's completion. We will offer support ...

General Code

Editor-Code

Rochester, NY · On-site

$40K - $42K/yr

Job Type Full-time Description Department: Codification Operations Location: Rochester, NY Reports ... Create Schedule A to track substantive revisions Secondary Functions: * Editorial and Legal ...

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Full Time Substantive Editor information

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How much do full time substantive editor jobs pay per hour?

As of Aug 30, 2026, the average hourly pay for full time substantive editor in the United States is $31.60, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $21.39 and $39.66 per hour, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is the difference between Full Time Substantive Editor vs Copy Editor?

AspectFull Time Substantive EditorCopy Editor
CredentialsTypically requires a degree in English, Journalism, or related field; often with editing certificationsSimilar credentials, often with a focus on language and grammar certifications
Work EnvironmentWorks in publishing houses, media companies, or academic institutions, handling content developmentWorks in publishing, media, or corporate settings, focusing on language accuracy and style
Employer & Industry UsageCommon in book publishing, academic publishing, and media outletsWidely used across publishing, journalism, and corporate communications

The main difference is that a Full Time Substantive Editor actively revises and improves content structure and coherence, while a Copy Editor primarily focuses on grammar, style, and language correctness. Both roles require strong editing skills and relevant credentials, but their scope and responsibilities differ based on the editing stage and content type.

Are full time substantive editors still in demand?

Full time substantive editors are still in demand, especially in publishing, academic, and corporate sectors, where high-quality editing is essential. Demand is driven by the need for clear, accurate content, and editors with strong language skills and familiarity with editing tools remain valuable in the job market.

What does a full time substantive editor do?

A full-time substantive editor reviews and improves the content of manuscripts, ensuring clarity, coherence, and consistency. They may work on restructuring text, checking for factual accuracy, and providing developmental feedback, often using editing tools and adhering to style guides. This role requires strong editing skills and attention to detail, typically within a publishing or media environment.
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What job categories do people searching Full Time Substantive Editor jobs look for?

The top searched job categories for Full Time Substantive Editor jobs are:

Full Time Substantive Editor jobs near you
Infographic showing various Full Time Substantive Editor job openings in the United States as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 84% Full Time, 15% Part Time, and 1% Contract. Highlights an 68% Physical, 7% Hybrid, and 25% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $65,728 per year, or $31.6 per hour.

Senior Technical Editor

Mclean, VA • On-site

Venesco LLC
51 - 200 employees
Learn more about Venesco LLCexternal

Full-time

Posted 9 days ago

Job description

Job Type
Full-time
Description
Senior Technical Editor
SSI-Venesco JV LLC • Turner-Fairbank Highway Research Center, McLean, VA / FHWA Headquarters, Washington, DC • Full-time • Contingent upon contract award
About the Role
You are the editorial authority on a Federal highway research publications program. You own the editorial process end to end for high-stakes technical documentation, you set and enforce stylistic consistency across a large-scale program, and you mentor a team of technical editors and writers.
The work is transforming raw research data and engineering language into authoritative documents that stand up to Federal publishing standards - reference checked, fact checked, copyright cleared, accessible, and correct. Subject matter spans highway safety and operations, autonomous vehicles, human factors, roadway design, roadway materials, bridge engineering, and emerging surface transportation technologies.
Products on this program range from one-page briefs to complex documents exceeding 500 pages, so comfort at both extremes matters.
This role requires expert-level command of the GPO Style Manual and an uncompromising eye for detail. You and your team are expected to work independently, managing the full lifecycle of a document from outline to final publication, including online and web publishing.
Responsibilities:
Editorial leadership
  • Oversee the entire editorial process for high-stakes technical documentation across the program.
  • Direct editorial staff alongside the Project Manager - assign tasks and ensure timely, accurate completion.
  • Mentor junior editors and writers and build consistency of practice across the team.

Substantive editing
  • Perform and supervise substantive editing, copyediting, proofreading, rephrasing, reformatting, and rewriting for logical flow, coherency, and organizational structure.
  • Verify technical accuracy of content, schematics, and data tables, and ensure they integrate seamlessly with narrative text.
  • Conduct reference checking, fact checking, and verification of copyrights, product names, and trademarks.

Standards enforcement
  • Ensure every document conforms to the current TFHRC RD&T Communication Reference Guide and the GPO Style Manual, with the Chicago Manual of Style governing anything those two do not cover.
  • Ensure all content meets Section 508 accessibility requirements, including alternative text for non-text elements.
  • Manage copyright and permission clearances, model release forms, and publication forms.

Quality control
  • Serve as the quality gate for all publications and documents produced under the program.
  • Apply version control and quality assurance across every stage of editing, writing, layout, and document production.
  • Support the Quality Control Plan - identify defects, prevent recurrence, and report status to the client.

Lifecycle ownership
  • Manage documents from outline through final publication, including electronic and print production and web publishing.
  • Facilitate and monitor internal review processes for publications, e-newsletters, and internal communications.
  • Coordinate review and approval with technical subject matter experts, management, the Office of Chief Counsel, and the Office of Public Affairs.

Requirements
Required Qualifications
Education: Master's degree in English, Journalism, or a technical field.
Experience:
  • 10 or more years of professional editorial experience, including supervisory and project management experience.
  • Expert-level command of the U.S. Government Publishing Office Style Manual.
  • Demonstrated experience editing complex technical documentation - research reports, technical manuals, or scientific publications.
  • Demonstrated experience ensuring Section 508 accessibility compliance in published content.

Preferred Qualifications
  • Experience in transportation, especially highway and surface transportation research.
  • Experience in a Federal publishing environment or with a scientific or technical society press.
  • Experience with the Chicago Manual of Style as a secondary authority.
  • Experience mentoring or supervising a team of editors.

Technical Skills and Competencies
  • Superior mastery of English grammar, punctuation, and typography.
  • Proven ability to translate engineering and research language into content suitable for both technical audiences and public transparency.
  • Meticulous attention to formatting, referencing, and copyright compliance.
  • Working knowledge of online and web publishing workflows and content management systems.

Location, Schedule, and Credentialing
  • Onsite at TFHRC in McLean, VA and/or FHWA Headquarters in Washington, DC, with offsite work permitted subject to client approval.
  • Business hours fall between 6:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m. Eastern Time, Monday through Friday, with a one-half hour unpaid lunch. Full-time baseline is 1,880 productive hours per year.
  • Unclassified position. A USDOT badge is required, which means a favorable HSPD-12 / PIV background check at the low risk / non-sensitive level - a National Agency Check with Inquiries including fingerprinting, covering the past five years. Work cannot begin until FHWA Personnel Security authorizes the candidate to report.

How to Apply
  • Submit a résumé of no more than two pages that clearly states your education, your years of relevant experience, and the specific programs and products you worked on.
  • Include a portfolio or work samples - publications, layouts, articles, campaigns, videos, or live web pages you personally produced. Redact anything not cleared for public release.
  • Be prepared to sign a letter of intent to accept employment contingent upon contract award, and to undergo a Federal background investigation.

Apply