Technical Writer II

Purpose of the Position

The position’s primary responsibility is to strengthen Thorlabs’ position as a leading manufacturer of Imaging System products through the development of effective product presentations for our website, catalog, and tradeshows based upon information from Engineering and Business Unit Leaders. Create and update technical documentation on products for the manufacturing and quality teams. Create and maintain technical presentation material and other collateral. This position requires a high degree of drive, interaction, and communication with customers, sales, engineering, and business leaders. Although the location of the position is in Sterling, VA, from time to time it may be required to undertake duties at other Thorlabs locations.

Essential Job Functions include the following, but are not limited to:

• Develop and maintain user documentation, including user manuals, application notes, installation manuals, assembly instructions, and other customer-focused materials, to aid customers and users in learning and operating new products.
• Write scientific and technical specifications, marketing materials and user instructions and manuals for products, processes and services for internal and external use that include but are not limited to the following: mechanical drawings, optical diagrams, wiring diagrams, manuals, images, and illustrations.
• Interact with SMEs to gather product requirements, detailed functional specifications, and design descriptions, to make sure that new products and product enhancements are adequately defined, well-understood, and approved.
• Perform feature, functionality, and user experience testing for the contents of the documentation of new products. Quickly identify, capture, and resolve action items that might affect new product introduction. 
• Ensures and maintain documentation in a standard format following established guidelines.
• Photograph consumer products. Creates or Edit Illustrations/Images using Photoshop, Illustrator.
• Review new product presentations, web page updates, and other marketing materials created by technical marketers, ensuring they follow Thorlabs’ standards and are technically sound
• Assist other non-technical writer team members on any documentation tasks

NPI Team Job Functions include the following, but are not limited to:

• Interface with a variety of teams to introduce new products in the market. Teams include research, engineering (mechanics, optics, electronics, firmware, software), manufacturing, marketing, and sales.
• Introduce new products into the market after project has been transferred from engineering.
• Facilitate the developments of documentation, instructions and procedures that improve manufacturability of new products.
• Propose and support development of new products or improvement of existing products
• Support all other NPI Team members in order to meet project timelines
• Document all project inputs and outputs in ECRO process such as making new revisions of product documentation and bill’s of material (BOMs)

In addition to the essential functions and duties listed above, all positions are also responsible for:

• Meeting company standards pertaining to quantity and quality of work performed on an ongoing basis, performing all work-related tasks in a manner that is in compliance with all Company policies and procedures.
• Adhering to Company policies, procedures, and directives regarding standards of workplace behavior in completing job duties and assignments.

The Company retains the right to change or assign other duties to this position.

Physical Activities:

This is largely a sedentary role; however, the ability to maneuver in and around a lab and manufacturing environment is necessary

Requirements

Qualifications

Experience:

·       3+ years of significant hands-on laboratory experience in a photonics or bioimaging lab

Education:

• An advanced degree in Biology, Imaging, Physics, Optics, Lasers, or a closely related field or a bachelor’s degree plus 3+ years of equivalent experience.

Specialized Knowledge and Skills:

• Laboratory experience and familiarity with photonics or imaging equipment and systems
• Strong interpersonal skills that allow for working in a multidisciplinary team environment
• Willing to constantly learn new technologies, new applications, and new developed products.
• Strong organizational and planning skills
• Able to multitask, be detail oriented, solve problems, and can work under time constraints.
• Strong bias for action.
• Excellent writing and presentation skills in English.
• Photography/graphic design experience is considered a plus
• Work experience with any of the following programs and/or software is highly desired; Madcap Flare, Adobe Photoshop, Adobe Illustrator, SolidWorks, HTML, AXAPTA, Inkscape or other vector graphics editing software

Thorlabs values its diverse environment and is proud to be an Equal Employment Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer.  All qualified individuals will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, genetics, disability, age or veteran status. Job descriptions are not intended as and do not create employment contracts.  The organization maintains its status as an at-will employer.  Employees can be terminated for any reason not prohibited by law.

Benefits

Thorlabs offers a complete benefits package that includes medical, dental and vision insurance, company paid life insurance, a generous PTO package, a 401(k) plan, and tuition reimbursement just to name a few.