FedWriters is hiring: Technical Writer Editor in Silver Spring

Scientific & Technical EditorYou are the person who reads a 40-page technical report and immediately sees both the science and the story — and knows exactly how to make the writing do justice to both. As a Scientific & Technical Editor supporting NOAA's Oceanic and Atmospheric Research (OAR), you will serve as the quality and clarity backbone for OAR's external-facing written communications, working across headquarters, labs, and programs to review, copy edit, and improve technical products for plain language, scientific accuracy, and consistent tone. You will help draft and enforce OAR-wide writing and editing guidelines, train staff on best practices, and refresh aging web content to meet updated style standards. This is a role for an experienced editor who brings both the technical literacy to understand what scientists are saying and the craft to help them say it more clearly — someone who takes pride in making every document they touch smarter, sharper, and more accessible.FWI is expanding rapidly and has been recognized as a 2024 and 2025 Top Workplace by the Washington Post, offering excellent growth opportunities in a collaborative environment.Work Schedule and Location:Remote:This position is primarily remote with ad hoc in-person support at SSMC3, 1315 East-West Highway, Silver Spring, MD 20910 as neededNormal work hours are Monday through Friday, 8 hours per day / 40 hours per week, excluding federal holidaysLocal and non-local travel may be required, including international travel; all unplanned travel must be approved in writing by the COR at least 10 calendar days in advanceResponsibilitiesReview, copy edit, and improve existing and draft technical products, external reports, outreach products, and internal memos for plain language, technical accuracy, and consistent tone, voice, and styleWork with the OAR Communications Director to revise and maintain guidelines on best practices for writing and editing within OARDistribute resources and train OAR staff across headquarters, labs, and programs on best practices for writing, editing, and plain language communicationResearch and write content for pamphlets, summary reports, and other products intended for hardcopy publicationRevisit and update older website content, applying newly revised style guidelines with emphasis on technical accuracy, consistency, and toneMake edits and updates to websites, including changes to images and content formattingDocument workflows and maintain organized files containing data associated with editorial products and review processesDevelop, writes, and edits material for reports, manuals, briefs, proposals, instruction books, and related environmental and scientific publicationsEnsure proper cross-referencing, user-friendly presentation, and adherence to all applicable indexing and formatting guidelines across all productsQualificationsRequired:BA/BS in English, Journalism, a scientific or environmental discipline, or a closely related technical field; advanced degrees or certifications may qualify for shorter periods of required experience8+ years of professional and/or academic experience in technical writing, editing, or science communicationsDesired:Demonstrated experience copy editing and improving scientific or technical documents for federal agencies, research institutions, or peer-reviewed publicationsExpert command of plain language principles, federal plain language guidelines, and science communication best practicesExperience developing, maintaining, and training staff on organization-wide writing and editorial style guidesFamiliarity with web content editing, including experience making updates to CMS-based websites and applying accessibility and formatting standardsStrong technical literacy; ability to read and accurately represent scientific content across multiple NOAA research disciplinesExperience managing editorial workflows across distributed, multi-site organizationsMay supervise a team of writers or act in a lead editorial capacity across a program or organizationAbility to obtain and maintain a Low-risk federal security clearanceFWI is an Equal Opportunity Employer, including disability/vets.Why Join Our TeamAt FWI, we place the highest importance on creating an exceptional employee experience. You'll have opportunities to achieve your career aspirations through internal promotions, professional development, and other recognition and rewards programs. Join our team and take advantage of the many benefits we offer, including:Health InsuranceDental InsuranceVision InsuranceLong-term and Short-term Disability InsuranceLife Insurance401(k) PlanHoliday PayPaid Time OffPay Range$56,095.20 - $59,047.58