Technical Writer

Position Description:

The Technical Writer will support the NOAA Research Security Program by developing, editing, and maintaining clear, accurate, and compliant documentation in alignment with federal standards. This role will be responsible for producing deliverables such as policies, SOPs, training materials, incident response documentation, and compliance reports, ensuring consistency with NSPM-33, NIST, and related federal research security guidelines.

Location: (Hybrid) Silver Spring, MD 

Clearance:  Active Top Secret /SCI Clearance (SSBI/Tier 5) required prior to start.

Responsibilities:

• Draft, edit, and format policies, procedures, and standard operating procedures (SOPs) in support of the Research Security Program.
• Translate technical and security requirements (cybersecurity, export control, compliance, risk management) into clear, user-friendly documents.
• Prepare deliverables including assessment reports, training materials, compliance reports, risk registers, and incident response documentation.
• Create templates and standardized disclosure forms in accordance with NSPM-33 requirements.
• Develop user-friendly reference guides and training aids for federal employees, contractors, and researchers.
• Ensure all documents adhere to federal style, Section 508 accessibility standards, and NOAA’s documentation guidelines.
• Collaborate with program managers, analysts, cybersecurity specialists, and trainers to capture technical input and convert it into polished documentation.
• Maintain version control and manage document updates during review cycles.
• Support preparation of presentation materials (PowerPoint, briefing decks) and process diagrams for stakeholder engagement.

Minimum Qualifications:

• Active Top Secret /SCI Clearance (SSBI/Tier 5) required prior to start.
• Bachelor’s degree in English, Communications, Technical Writing, or a related field.
• 5+ years of experience in technical writing within a federal, research, or cybersecurity program environment.
• Strong writing, editing, and formatting skills with the ability to simplify complex technical material.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite, Google Workspace, and Smartsheets.
• Experience preparing federal deliverables (policies, SOPs, compliance reports).
• Understanding of federal IT/security standards (e.g., NIST SP 800 series, FISMA, RMF).

Preferred Skills:

• Experience with research security, export control policies, or federal compliance documentation.
• Familiarity with NSPM-33 and research-related security frameworks.
• Knowledge of Section 508 accessibility compliance.
• Ability to create process diagrams using Visio or Lucid chart.
• Experience drafting training content and job aids.

Security Requirement

• Active Top Secret /SCI Clearance (SSBI/Tier 5) required prior to start.

• Must comply with DoD/NISPOM regulations and NOAA security requirements.