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Technical Writing Intern Jobs in Iowa (NOW HIRING)

Intern - Technical Writer

Ames, IA · On-site

$14.75 - $19.50/hr

Intern - Technical Writer The Impact You'll Make Your words will empower engineers and customers ... A genuine interest in technology and a curiosity for learning about structured writing, XML, and ...

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Technical Writing Intern information

What is the difference between Technical Writing Intern vs Technical Writer?

AspectTechnical Writing InternTechnical Writer
CredentialsTypically pursuing or recent graduate in related fieldUsually has a degree in technical communication, English, or related field
Work EnvironmentInternship, often part-time or temporary, in tech or engineering companiesFull-time, permanent role in various industries like IT, engineering, or manufacturing
ResponsibilitiesAssisting with documentation, learning technical content, supporting senior writersCreating, editing, and managing technical documentation independently

The main difference between a Technical Writing Intern and a Technical Writer lies in experience and responsibilities. Interns are typically students or recent graduates gaining industry exposure, while Technical Writers are experienced professionals responsible for producing comprehensive technical documentation.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a Technical Writing Intern, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Technical Writing Intern, you need strong written communication skills, attention to detail, and a basic understanding of technical concepts, often supported by coursework in English, communications, or a related field. Familiarity with documentation tools such as Microsoft Word, Google Docs, Markdown, and content management systems is typically required. Adaptability, curiosity, and the ability to collaborate with subject matter experts are standout soft skills. These skills are vital for producing clear, accurate documentation that helps users understand complex information and supports organizational goals.

What does a Technical Writing Intern do?

A Technical Writing Intern assists in creating clear and concise documentation for products, software, or services. Their main responsibilities include writing user guides, manuals, online help content, and sometimes internal process documents. They often work closely with engineers, product managers, and other stakeholders to gather information and ensure accuracy. Interns may also help edit existing materials for clarity and consistency. The goal is to make complex technical information accessible to a broad audience.

What are some common challenges a Technical Writing Intern might face when starting out, and how can they overcome them?

As a Technical Writing Intern, one common challenge is translating complex technical jargon into clear, user-friendly documentation without losing essential details. Interns may also find it challenging to quickly learn unfamiliar software or products. To overcome these obstacles, it's helpful to proactively ask subject matter experts for clarification, review existing documentation for reference, and seek feedback from both technical and non-technical team members. Embracing a collaborative approach and being open to revisions will help you grow and produce effective documentation.
What are the most commonly searched types of Technical Writing jobs in Iowa? The most popular types of Technical Writing jobs in Iowa are:
Intern - Technical Writer

Intern - Technical Writer

Danfoss

Ames, IA • On-site

$14.75 - $19.50/hr

Full-time, Internship

Retirement, PTO

Posted 5 days ago


Danfoss rating

7.1

Company rating: 7.1 out of 10

Based on 69 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

281st of 368 rated engineering


Job description

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TOKEN PROCESSING AND DISPLAY --- let keepAddingToGrid = true; allTokens.forEach(el => { // Stop adding elements to the grid once the job description starts if (!keepAddingToGrid || el.querySelector('[itemprop="description"]')) { return; } let labelEl = el.querySelector('.joblayouttoken-label'); if (labelEl) { let labelText = labelEl.innerText; let customPropertyid = generatePropertyId(labelText); // --- ABSOLUTE REMOVAL OF LOGIC-ONLY TOKENS --- if ( customPropertyid === "EmployeeGroup" || customPropertyid === "CountryRegion" || customPropertyid === "Region" || customPropertyid === "IPELevel" ) { el.style.display = 'none'; // Force visual hiding el.remove(); // Remove from DOM return; } // --- APPLY VISIBILITY BUSINESS FILTERS --- if (customPropertyid === "SalaryRange" && !showSalaryRange) { el.style.display = 'none'; el.remove(); return; } if (customPropertyid === "JobLevel" && !showJobLevel) { el.style.display = 'none'; el.remove(); return; } // Cosmetic adjustment for short labels if (labelText.includes("(Short)")) { labelEl.innerText = labelText.replace(/\(Short\)/g, "(s)"); } // Append custom icons based on the mapped property ID let elType = labelEl.nextElementSibling; if (elType) { let icon = ''; let iconUrl = ''; switch (customPropertyid) { case 'JobLocation': icon = 'glyphicon-map-marker'; break; case 'BusinessUnit': icon = 'glyphicon-briefcase'; break; case 'JobCategory': icon = 'glyphicon-dashboard'; break; case 'EmploymentType': icon = 'glyphicon-star-empty'; break; case 'ReqID': icon = 'glyphicon-calendar'; break; case 'WorkLocationType': icon = 'glyphicon-paste'; break; case 'JobLevel': iconUrl = 'https://rmkcdn.successfactors.com/ef55fddb/b4cf3492-3cb2-4e29-a914-3.png'; break; case 'SalaryRange': iconUrl = 'https://rmkcdn.successfactors.com/ef55fddb/3bd06ab1-e5dc-4e72-abcb-3.png'; break; case 'TAPartner': iconUrl = 'https://rmkcdn.successfactors.com/ef55fddb/66a66419-f8c9-4f0e-b94a-6.png'; break; default: icon = ''; } let iconHtml = ''; if (icon) { iconHtml = ``; } else if (iconUrl) { iconHtml = ``; } labelEl.parentElement.insertAdjacentHTML('beforebegin', `
${iconHtml}`); let wrapper = el.querySelector(`.job-token-${customPropertyid}-wrapper`); wrapper.appendChild(labelEl.parentElement); // Clean up empty text nodes let emptySibling = document.querySelector(`.job-token-${customPropertyid}-wrapper`).nextSibling; if(emptySibling && emptySibling.nodeType === 3) emptySibling.remove(); } // Flag to stop processing grid items when TA Partner is reached if (customPropertyid === "TAPartner") { keepAddingToGrid = false; } } grid.appendChild(el); }); }});/** * Robust Mapping Function * Scans the label for keywords, effectively bypassing any issues caused by translations. */function generatePropertyId(jobLayoutTokenLabel) { let normalized = jobLayoutTokenLabel.toLowerCase(); // Helper function to search for keywords regardless of formatting or active language const contains = (arr) => arr.some(keyword => normalized.includes(keyword)); if (contains(["employee group"])) return "EmployeeGroup"; if (contains(["ipe level", "ipe"])) return "IPELevel"; // Order matters: 'country' will correctly match 'country/region' if (contains(["country", "land", "país", "pays", "paese", "kraj", "krajina"])) return "CountryRegion"; if (contains(["region", "región", "région", "регион", "地区"])) return "Region"; if (contains(["posting job location", "job location", "jobsted", "arbeitsort", "ubicación", "site de l'emploi", "lokalizacja", "местоположение", "miesto", "职位地点", "sede di lavoro"])) return "JobLocation"; if (contains(["salary range", "recruitment salary", "løninterval", "gehaltsspanne", "przedział wynagrodzenia", "fourchette", "rango salarial", "mzdové rozpätie", "lønramme", "диапазон зарплаты"])) return "SalaryRange"; if (contains(["posting job level", "job level", "jobniveau", "joblevel", "nivel del puesto", "niveau du poste", "poziom stanowiska", "уровень должности", "úroveň pozície"])) return "JobLevel"; if (contains(["employment type", "ansættelse", "beschäftigungsart", "tipo de emprego", "type d'emploi", "rodzaj zatrudnienia", "тип занятости", "typ pracovného pomeru", "员工类型", "tipologia di impiego", "tipo de empleo"])) return "EmploymentType"; if (contains(["work location type", "arbejdsstedstype", "arbeitsmodell", "tipo de ubicacion", "emplacement de travail", "miejsca pracy", "формат работы", "výkonu práce", "工作地点类型", "modalità di lavoro"])) return "WorkLocationType"; if (contains(["job category", "jobkategori", "stellenkategorie", "categoría", "catégorie", "kategoria", "категория должности", "kategória", "职位类别", "area professionale"])) return "JobCategory"; if (contains(["business unit", "segment", "segmento", "firmaenhed", "unternehmenseinheit", "jednostka biznesowa", "сегмент", "业务板块"])) return "BusinessUnit"; if (contains(["req id", "rek-id", "kennung", "id de solicitud", "identifiant de la demande", "identyfikator", "идентификатор", "id pracovní pozície", "需求 id", "identifikačné", "id posizione", "requisition id", "stellen-id"])) return "ReqID"; if (contains(["ta partner", "partenaire ta"])) return "TAPartner"; // Default fallback if no keywords are matched return jobLayoutTokenLabel.replace(/[\s:\(\)\]\[]/g,'');}
Req ID: 49315
Job Location: Ames, IA, US
Employment Type: Full Time
Segment: Danfoss Power Solutions Segment
Job Category: R&D, Technology and Engineering
Work Location Type: On-site
Job Title: Intern - Technical Writer
Job Description:
The Impact You'll Make
Your words will empower engineers and customers around the world. In this role, you'll transform complex technical information into clear, concise, and accessible content that helps people succeed with our advanced products. You are the crucial link between our technology and our users.
This is a hands-on opportunity to learn from a global team of experts. You will work side-by-side with experienced technical writers and engineers, gaining real-world experience in the full documentation lifecycle, from drafting and reviewing to publishing in a professional Content Management System (CMS).
Your attention to detail and passion for clarity will directly contribute to our customer experience and our reputation for quality. If you are curious about technology and passionate about communication, this is your chance to make a real impact.
What You'll Be Doing
  • Help create and refine critical technical documents, such as user manuals and service instructions, that guide our customers.
  • Ensure our technical content is clear, consistent, and accurate by collaborating on reviews and upholding our global documentation standards.
  • Gain hands-on experience with professional publishing tools by supporting the release of new and updated content in our Content Management System (CMS).

What We're Looking For
  • Current enrollment in a Bachelor's or Master's degree program in Technical Communication, Engineering, IT, or a related field.
  • Exceptional written communication skills in English, with a strong eye for detail, grammar, and consistency.
  • Proficiency with the Microsoft Office Suite (Word, PowerPoint, etc.).
  • A genuine interest in technology and a curiosity for learning about structured writing, XML, and Content Management Systems (CMS) is a major plus.
  • The ability to work a flexible schedule at our Ames, IA location. Full-time during summer, part-time during semesters.

What You'll Get from Us
  • We promote from within and support your learning with mentoring, training, and access to global opportunities.
  • You'll have flexibility, autonomy, and support to do your best work while maintaining a healthy work-life balance. Your well-being matters to us.
  • We strive to create an inclusive work environment where people of all backgrounds are respected, and valued for who they are.
  • You'll receive benefits like 13th salary, annual bonus, paid vacation, pension plans, personal insurance, and more. These vary by country and contract, but they're worth asking about-we think they're pretty great.

Ready to Make a Difference?
If this role excites you, we'd love to hear from you! Apply now to start the conversation and learn more about where your career can go with us.
All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, or other protected category.
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