Contract Managing Editor for website update, network/storage exp req’d, ~4 months, onsite San Jose (CSM-421)

Contract Managing Editor for website update, network/storage exp req’d, ~4 months, onsite San Jose (CSM-421)

Job code:	CSM-421
Compensation:	Open, 1099 or corp-to-corp (or W2 by request)
Audience:	IT/network/storage managers, directors, and C-level executives
Location:	Entirely onsite in San Jose (required)
Starts:	ASAP
Duration:	Full-time, 40 hrs/week, four (4) months (through November 1)
Relo/Visa help:	No
Representation:	Principals only, please

This leading networking storage industry company needs a contract Managing Editor to coordinate the efforts of up to five copywriters updating multiple web sites to make the experience seamless and the content clear, concise, and findable.

You’ll work onsite in San Jose reviewing and editing copy for 800+ web pages from three distinct web domains, overseeing and driving all aspects of content creation by collaborating with in-house SMEs and managing copywriter and editor resources.

You’ll focus on enhancing existing product, solution, and technology-related content and will add approximately 10% original material, so you’ll need a working understanding of contemporary networking and/or storage products.

Of course you’ll also need superior copyediting and project-management skills.

The audience for this content includes IT, network, and storage managers, directors, and C-level executives and the content will be deployed via direct sales, OEMs, channel partners, distributors and system integrators.

This will be full-time (40 hours/week), fully onsite work in San Jose, through November 1, 2014. The pay rate is open but the client is price-sensitive and the bidding is currently in the proposal stage.

Required:

• Solid working knowledge of storage and networking technology
• Excellent copyediting and proven project-management skills
• Track record of productive collaboration with cross-functional teams as well as autonomous productivity
• Full-time availability
• Ability and willingness to work entirely onsite in San Jose (travelling at your own expense)

Desired:

• Experience writing about storage technology for Hitachi Data Systems, NetApp, Brocade, EMC, etc.
• Technical publications management background

To apply:

Please email your Word-formatted resume (and a cover letter highlighting any relevant but less-than-obvious experience) to Andrew Davis, synergistech@gmail.com, citing “CSM-421” in your Subject line.

Contract Technical Writer, mobile dev ecosystem API doc from scratch; 2/5 onsite Menlo Park (CME-420)

Contract Technical Writer, mobile dev ecosystem API doc from scratch; 2/5 onsite Menlo Park (CME-420)

Job code:	CME-420
Compensation:	Up to $85/hr 1099 or corp-to-corp (or W2 by request), with potential to convert to staff/FTE
Audience:	Two dozen mobile handset + applications vendors, part of new non-Android, non-iOS alliance
Location:	Average of two (2) meetings/week onsite in Menlo Park
Starts:	ASAP
Duration:	Full-time, 40 hrs/week, three (3) months, renewable long-term
Relo/Visa help:	No
Representation:	Principals only, please

This thriving multinational electronics vendor’s entrepreneurial incubator team needs a contract Technical Writer to create original API reference content for a novel mobile developer ecosystem.

In addition to researching, designing, and writing their new product’s programmer reference guide, you’ll advise on the best RESTful API content delivery tools and processes; this team has no content infrastructure yet.

You’ll work as independently as possible to support new releases every three-to-four (3-4) months. To that end, you’ll need to be able to write sample code, ideally in Scala but otherwise in Java, C++, Python, and/or JavaScript. Once you’re up to speed, onsite meetings in Menlo Park (near Hwy 280) should only be necessary a couple (2) times/week.

The incubator’s longer-term deliverables will include mobile products leveraging big data, cloud, and Internet of Things technology. In addition to writing API reference documentation, you’ll have the chance to contribute to the style guide, FAQs, articles, best practices, and developer tutorials as well as represent the company at developer conferences, hackathons, and (via forums) to its users.

The ideal candidate has solo-mode experience creating original RESTful API reference documentation for mobile platform technology, strong Java skills, and exposure to Scala and/or the Play framework.

This will be full-time (40 hours/week), partially onsite work in Menlo Park, lasting at least three (3) months and (potentially) renewing long-term. You’d be paid on a 1099 basis, unless you prefer W2. If all goes well and you’re amenable, there’s the potential to convert to staff status.

Required:

• Strong experience writing original API reference documentation in solo mode
• Solid knowledge of RESTful web services, HTTP, and web service technologies
• Proven ability to read (and create commented code samples) in Java, C++, Python, and/or JavaScript
• Track record of autonomous productivity in a software development startup environment
• Sharable, relevant writing samples and reachable references
• Full-time availability
• Ability to work onsite in Menlo Park, CA, up to twice a week (traveling at your own expense)

Desired:

• Exposure to Scala
• Familiarity with the Play framework
• Working knowledge of cloud computing
• Degree in Computer Science or directly related discipline

To apply:

Please email your Word-formatted resume (and a cover letter highlighting any relevant but less-than-obvious experience) to Andrew Davis, synergistech@gmail.com, citing “CME-420” in your Subject line.

Contract-to-Staff Senior Technical Writer, API + netadmin doc, unstruct’d FM, mostly offsite/Mountain View, >12 mos (SNA-419)

Contract-to-Staff Senior Technical Writer, API + netadmin doc, unstruct’d FM, mostly offsite/Mountain View, >12 mos (SNA-419)

Job code:	SNA-419
Compensation:	Up to $58/hr W2 (with no-cost health + dental insurance & matching 401k) or $67hr 1099 or corp-to-corp, then competitive base salary and excellent benefits
Audience:	Software developers, network administrators, system administrators, IT operations staff in IPTV data center
Location:	Two visits/week to Mountain View for information-gathering and review meetings, otherwise all offsite while on contract, then two partial days/week onsite after converting to staff
Starts:	ASAP
Duration:	Full-time, 40 hrs/week, on contract for up to 12 months then converting to staff
Relo/Visa help:	No
Representation:	Principals only, please

This multinational mobile technology company needs a contract-to-staff Senior Technical Writer to create API reference as well as network administration manuals for its sophisticated internet TV (IPTV) services.

You’ll use unstructured FrameMaker and Webworks ePublisher to update and augment developer reference content as well as installation, configuration, and tuning documentation for programmers as well as network administrators, system administrators, and other IT personnel managing its 36-server TV services platform. You’ll collaborate with teams in India, the UK, and Canada as they migrate their platform product to a PaaS (cloud) service.

You’ll need at least a modicum of software development experience and a good basic understanding of object-oriented programming (OOP). For example, you’ll need to know the meaning, significance, and use of a method, property, class, subclass, object, event, and exception. In addition, you’ll need solid experience creating installation, configuration, and tuning documentation for complex client/server enterprise systems, a working knowledge of virtualized server technology, and high-quality, relevant portfolio samples.

The ideal candidate can read some object-oriented code and create simple code examples, or at least determine whether the samples the SMEs provide are useful and sufficient.

This will be full-time (40 hours/week), mostly offsite work with approximately two in-person visits per week to Mountain View for information-gathering and review sessions. The initial contract engagement will last up to 12 months, working either on a 1099 (paying to $67/hr) or W2 (paying to $58/hr) basis. Thereafter you’ll convert to staff status, working onsite in Mountain View an average of two days/week and earning a competitive base salary plus excellent benefits.

Required:

• Working knowledge of object-oriented programming
• Solid background creating API reference documentation for complex systems
• Experience researching, documenting, and validating complex client/server network-administration procedures
• Proficiency with (unstructured) FrameMaker
• Knowledge of server virtualization technology from an IT operations perspective
• Sharable, relevant writing samples and reachable references
• Full-time availability
• Ability to work onsite in Mountain View, CA, twice a week (traveling at your own expense)

Desired:

• Understanding of one or more broadcast TV technologies such as MPEG/H.264 video, AC3/AAC audio, IPTV, and set-top boxes
• Casual hands-on experience reading and writing object-oriented code, even if just for personal curiosity

To apply:

Please email your Word-formatted resume (and a cover letter highlighting any relevant but less-than-obvious experience) to Andrew Davis, synergistech@gmail.com, citing “SNA-419” in your Subject line.

Staff Lead Technical Writer, PaaS API ref doc, smart grid analytics, onsite Redwood City (SLR-418)

Staff Lead Technical Writer, PaaS API ref doc, smart grid analytics, onsite Redwood City (SLR-418)

Job code:	SLR-418
Compensation:	Very competitive base salary, performance bonus, pre-IPO stock options, full medical + dental + vision coverage
Audience:	External engineers implementing data integration and big-data analytics platform to optimize the smart grid
Location:	Onsite daily in Redwood City, CA
Starts:	ASAP
Duration:	Full-time employment (FTE), indefinite
Relo/Visa help:	No
Representation:	Principals only, please

This fast-growing data analytics platform startup, led by one of the most experienced and successful CEOs in Silicon Valley, needs an accomplished staff Lead Technical Writer to own their API developer reference doc and guide the fledgling department to greatness.

You’ll research, plan, write, validate, and deliver reference materials to support developers and data integrators. Your API documentation, code samples, and related content will enable customers to build on and extend the company’s applications, use batch and streaming web services methods to integrate data sources, and design and code analytics algorithms.

Now is a great time to come aboard at this 100-person company; they’re opening their architecture, refactoring existing functionality, and starting anew on the content development front. Their old doc set, authored in XMetaL, is all-but-useless; you’ll have free reign to pick new authoring tools, processes, and people.

Your first priority will be to document their data integrator product, so the more you know about ETL (data extraction, transformation, and load) techniques the better. Your ability to read and write supporting code samples yourself (mostly JavaScript in JSON) will help a lot, even though the SMEs (up to the CEO) are committed to getting doc done right and will pitch in if asked.

Later on, you’ll document their analytics engine’s data aggregation from streaming services, security, logic, and application development tools and, after that, their machine-learning module’s tools for building analytic algorithms. Last, but not least, you’ll help explain their web front-end development tools.

You’ll work entirely onsite in Redwood City, reporting to the Senior Director of Education Services. As the first Technical Writer, you’ll be charged not only with creating lots of original content but also with picking and implementing authoring tools (collaborative capabilities would be nice, but they already have foreign customers and will need to translate their content) and building out the content team.

This is a salaried, full-time employee (FTE) job working entirely onsite in Redwood City. You’ll earn a highly competitive salary, performance bonus, pre-IPO stock options, and full benefits (plus gym membership, fully stocked kitchen, and Friday evening socials with food, beverages, and music).

Required:

• Solid experience researching and writing original API reference content about complex software
• Understanding of ETL techniques, application development, and/or machine learning
• Ability to read and write JavaScript code
• Strong consensus building and project management skills
• Sharable, relevant writing samples and reachable references
• Full-time availability
• Ability to work onsite daily in Redwood City, CA (traveling at your own expense)

Desired:

• Experience working with big data analytics
• Exposure to machine learning concepts (linear regression, PCA, decision trees, k-means clustering)
• Familiarity with wikis and one or more DITA XML authoring tools

To apply:

Please email your Word-formatted resume (and a cover letter highlighting any relevant but less-than-obvious experience) to Andrew Davis, synergistech@gmail.com, citing “SLR-418” in your Subject line.

Contract Technical Writer, netadmin doc, unstruct’d FM, mostly offsite/Mountain View, 6+ months (CNA-417)

Contract Technical Writer, netadmin doc, unstruct’d FM, mostly offsite/Mountain View, 6+ months (CNA-417)

Job code:	CNA-417
Compensation:	Up to $54/hr W2 (with no-cost health + dental insurance & matching 401k) or $63/hr 1099 or corp-to-corp
Audience:	Network administrators, system administrators, IT operations staff in IPTV data center
Location:	Two visits/week to Mountain View for information-gathering and review meetings, otherwise all offsite
Starts:	ASAP
Duration:	Full-time, 40 hrs/week, six (6) months (renewable)
Relo/Visa help:	No
Representation:	Principals only, please

This multinational mobile technology company needs a contract Technical Writer to create network administration manuals for its sophisticated internet TV (IPTV) services.

You’ll use unstructured FrameMaker and Webworks ePublisher to update and augment installation, configuration, and tuning documentation for network administrators, system administrators, and other IT personnel managing its 36-server TV services platform. You’ll collaborate with teams in India, the UK, and Canada as they migrate their platform product to a PaaS (cloud) service.

The ideal candidate has solid experience creating installation, configuration, and tuning documentation for complex client/server network-based enterprise systems, a working knowledge of virtualized server technology, and high-quality, relevant portfolio samples.

This will be full-time (40 hours/week), mostly offsite work with approximately two in-person visits per week to Mountain View for information-gathering and review sessions. The initial (renewable) engagement will last six (6) months. You can work on either a 1099 (paying to $63/hr) or W2 (paying to $54/hr) basis.

Required:

• Experience researching, documenting, and validating complex client/server network-administration procedures
• Proficiency with (unstructured) FrameMaker
• Knowledge of server virtualization technology from an IT operations perspective
• Sharable, relevant writing samples and reachable references
• Full-time availability
• Ability to visit Mountain View, CA, for mid-day meetings twice a week (traveling at your own expense)

To apply:

Please email your Word-formatted resume (and a cover letter highlighting any relevant but less-than-obvious experience) to Andrew Davis, synergistech@gmail.com, citing “CNA-417” in your Subject line.

Staff Junior Technical Writer, storage doc storage technology chip doc + datasheets, onsite Santa Clara (SDT-416)

Staff Junior Technical Writer, storage doc storage technology chip doc + datasheets, onsite Santa Clara (SDT-416)

Job code:	SDT-416
Compensation:	Competitive salary, plus full employment benefits
Audience:	Engineers manufacturing hard disk drive (HDD) and solid state drive (SSD) solutions
Location:	Onsite in Santa Clara, CA (Hwy 237 between Lawrence Expwy and Great America Pkwy
Starts:	ASAP
Duration:	Full-time employment (FTE), indefinite
Relo/Visa help:	No
Representation:	Principals only, please

This successful semiconductor industry company needs a staff Technical Writer to write both original procedural and reference content as well as maintain existing datasheets for data storage technology (HDD and SSD) engineers.

This is an excellent opportunity for a recent grad or junior-level Technical Writer who is curious about the science behind storage technology. You’ll get involved in the full lifecycle of content development and delivery, using FrameMaker and Visio to create and augment important product documentation. You’ll help assess customers’ needs, prioritize in-demand features, and use feedback to improve the content.

You’ll work onsite in Santa Clara as part of a substantial technical writing team, led by an experienced publications manager who’s good at mentoring.

The ideal candidate has graphic design or illustration skills and experience in the semiconductor industry. Neither of these is as important, though, as excellent problem-solving skills and a can-do spirit.

This is a full-time (40 hours/week), salaried, fully onsite employee position in Santa Clara. You’ll earn a competitive salary and receive comprehensive employee benefits.

Required:

• No more than three (3) years’ experience as a Technical Writer – really! – or equivalent experience
• Working knowledge of style guides (e.g., Chicago Manual of Style, Microsoft Manual of Style)
• Strong organizing, planning, and project-management skills
• Bachelor’s degree
• Focused, positive mindset and bias toward getting stuff done

Desired:

• Work experience in the semiconductor industry (or an understanding of HDD and SSD fundamentals)
• Graphic design/illustration skills

To apply:

Please email your Word-formatted resume (and a cover letter highlighting any relevant but less-than-obvious experience) to Andrew Davis, synergistech@gmail.com, citing “SDT-416” in your Subject line.

Staff Content Strategist & UI text Writer. UX bgr + proj mgt req’d, Agile + global content exp pref’d; onsite Mountain View (SSU-415)

Staff Content Strategist & UI text Writer. UX bgr + proj mgt req’d, Agile + global content exp pref’d; onsite Mountain View (SSU-415)

Job code:	SSU-415
Compensation:	Competitive base salary, performance bonus, and legendary employee benefits
Audience:	End users of consumer web apps
Location:	Onsite in Mountain View, CA
Starts:	ASAP
Duration:	Full-time employment (FTE), indefinite
Relo/Visa help:	No
Representation:	Principals only, please

Our admired consumer software client needs a staff UX Writer/Content Strategist to both design and create crisp, helpful UI text that enhances customer experiences for their popular web app ecosystem.

Not only will you create great onscreen prose for end users, you’ll also help set the vision for content and drive cohesive product narratives across multiple platforms and touch points.

You’ll collaborate with designers, researchers, product managers, prototypers, engineers, marketing, and customer operations to define requirements and establish a unified voice and standard terminology across products. In addition to becoming an expert in your product, you’ll become the “go-to” resource for user experience writing, using hard data as well as logic and empathy to inform content choices. Your recommendations will include not just the right words but also complementary data and images.

You’ll manage projects and stakeholders to achieve consensus, then drive the resulting vision for product content across the product domain, delivering cohesive narratives throughout the product (and working with marketing and operations to improve the consistency of those narratives beyond it). Oh yes, and you’ll also document standards for messaging frameworks and style guides as well as develop concepts for content in early stage (pre-release) products.

The ideal candidate is a passionate advocate for user-centered design, and is committed to anticipating users’ needs by understanding behaviors.

This is a salaried, full-time employee (FTE) job working entirely onsite in Mountain View. You’ll earn a highly competitive salary, performance bonus, and (post-IPO) stock options.

Required:

• Solid experience creating style guidelines to help editorial/content work scale
• Proven ability to define project schedules, scope work, and manage diverse stakeholders
• Deep experience writing or doing developmental editing for a digital site or technology brand, as well as applying content strategy principles
• Strong working knowledge of content management, online publishing tools, and spreadsheets
• Track record of successful consensus-building and quick, autonomous productivity

Desired:

• Experience writing for a digital site or technology brand, with a focus on responsive writing (strategy for text that appears in multiple platforms and operating systems)
• Familiar with Adobe Creative Suite
• Advanced degree in a writing-related field
• Background working in an Agile product development environments
• Track record of successful collaboration with UX, product, legal, marketing, and design partners
• Working knowledge of localization best practices and how to create content for a global audience

To apply:

Please email your Word-formatted resume (and a cover letter highlighting any relevant but less-than-obvious experience) to Andrew Davis, synergistech@gmail.com, citing “SSU-415” in your Subject line.

Contract Technical Writer, API ref doc with code samples, 2+ days/wk onsite Palo Alto, $open (CCS-412)

Contract Technical Writer, API ref doc with code samples, 2+ days/wk onsite Palo Alto, $open (CCS-412)

Job code:	CCS-412
Compensation:	$open (1099, corp-to-corp, or W2 — your choice)
Audience:	Developers implementing persistent cloud-based storage solutions
Location:	Onsite 2+ days/week in Palo Alto, CA
Starts:	ASAP
Duration:	Full-time, 40 hrs/week, 3+ months
Relo/Visa help:	No
Representation:	Principals only, please

This stealth-mode software startup needs a Contract Technical Writer with strong software development skills to create conceptual and reference content – including working code samples – for their persistent cloud storage system.

You’ll need enough software industry and engineering experience to help define and improve the products, and the ability to write modern “paste-tweak-and-run” code examples to support APIs in Objective C, Java, REST, and C.

If you’ve participated actively in API development cycles, providing feedback on the APIs themselves, and can show samples of developer tutorials and, ideally, dynamic websites, this company wants to meet you.

In this role, you’ll need to work onsite in Palo Alto at least a couple days/week throughout the project. You can work corp-to-corp, as a 1099-based independent contractor, or as a W2 temporary employee for as long as mutually agreed. The project has no fixed term, and is renewable in three (3) month increments.

Required:

• Strong code reading and sample-code writing skills in one or more of these languages (Objective C, Java, C) or the REST protocol
• Experience providing feedback on APIs during development cycles
• Showable portfolio samples that include cut-and-paste’able code samples
• Willingness to work onsite in Palo Alto several days a week, and offsite (on your own equipment) the rest of the time

Desired:

• Working knowledge of storage and virtualization concepts
• Willingness to consider converting to staff/salaried employment

To apply:

Please email your Word-formatted resume (and a cover letter highlighting any relevant but less-than-obvious experience) to Andrew Davis, synergistech@gmail.com, citing “CCS-412” in your Subject line.

Staff or Contract Technical Writer, install + user doc, JavaScript pref’d, 100% offsite, $open (TWW-408)

Staff or Contract Technical Writer, install + user doc, JavaScript pref’d, 100% offsite, $open (TWW-408)

Job code:	TWW-408
Compensation:	$Open
Audience:	IT-savvy marketers implementing enterprise websites
Location:	Fully offsite
Starts:	ASAP
Duration:	Full-time, 40 hrs/week, indefinite (if staff), 3+ months (if contract)
Relo/Visa help:	No
Representation:	Principals only, please

This fast-growing digital marketing technology startup needs a talented Technical Writer with JavaScript reading and coding experience to create and produce clear, complete implementation and user guides using MS Word and Acrobat.

Their product lets digital marketers increase the flexibility, precision, and privacy compliance of online campaigns. Running on any web, mobile, console, kiosk, or e-reader device, it lets marketers easily deliver a personalized experience to every visitor, resulting in much more actionable data.

In this role, you can work fully offsite/remote, from anywhere in the continental US. And you can do so as a pure contract Technical Writer, renewed in three-month increments and with no fixed term.

The company would prefer, however, to hire a staff, salaried individual contributor – complete with full benefits and pre-IPO stock options – and have that person do double duty as either 1) an Instructional Designer (creating e-learning materials using Articulate Storyline), 2) a Technical Support/Help Desk expert, or 3) a Technical Trainer (travelling up to 12 times a year for 2-3 days/trip delivering in-person classes to clients in New York, Chicago, and Atlanta).

This is a small, young (average age = under 30), innovative company with teams in the UK and Australia. Everyone there wears multiple hats, and will expect you to pitch in and help solve problems whenever possible, to truly be a team player regardless of where you’re located or your job title. They’re well-funded, well-managed, and with customers like Safeway, Sony, Trend Micro, and Staples they’re well-positioned to thrive.

If you only want to work on contract as a Technical Writer, include your desired hourly pay rate in your reply. If you want to pursue a full-time (40 hours/week), salaried, blended Technical Writer/Technical Trainer (or /Instructional Designer, or /Technical Support) role and receive a competitive salary, complete employment benefits, and pre-IPO stock options, include your desired alternate roles in your reply and (optionally) your desired salary range.

Required:

• Strong technical writing skills and understanding of web infrastructure
• No allergies to MS Word
• Track record of teamwork as well as autonomous productivity

Desired:

• Experience reading and writing JavaScript, and an understanding of JSON and jQuery
• If doubling as an Instructional Designer, substantial course development experience and a working knowledge of Articulate Storyline (or similar)
• If doubling as a Technical Support/Help Desk expert, hands-on customer support background and a working knowledge of JavaScript
• If doubling as a Technical Trainer, willingness to travel domestically up to 12 times/year

To apply:

Please email your Word-formatted resume (and a cover letter highlighting any relevant but less-than-obvious experience) to Andrew Davis, synergistech@gmail.com, citing “TWW-408” in your Subject line.

Staff or Contract Technical Trainer, JavaScript req’d, JSON + jQuery pref’d, 100% offsite, $open (TTJ-407)

Staff or Contract Technical Trainer, JavaScript req’d, JSON + jQuery pref’d, 100% offsite, $open (TTJ-407)

Job code:	TTJ-407
Compensation:	$Open
Audience:	IT-savvy marketers implementing enterprise websites
Location:	Fully offsite, with one (1) week in Silicon Valley to train, and three (3) 2-3 day/quarter trainings in NYC, Chicago, and Atlanta (12 trainings/year total, < 36 days of travel)
Starts:	ASAP
Duration:	Full-time, 40 hrs/week, indefinite (if staff), 3+ months (if contract)
Relo/Visa help:	No
Representation:	Principals only, please

This fast-growing digital marketing technology startup needs a JavaScript-savvy Technical Trainer to deliver in-person ILT (instructor-led training) ~12 times/year.

The product lets digital marketers increase the flexibility, precision, and privacy compliance of online campaigns. Running on any web, mobile, console, kiosk, or e-reader device, it lets marketers easily deliver a personalized experience to every visitor, resulting in much more actionable data.

When not travelling, you can work fully offsite/remote, from anywhere in the continental US. You’ll only need to visit the company’s headquarters in Silicon Valley for a week to get trained, then travel to and lead the onsite trainings (2-3 days each in New York City, Chicago, and Atlanta each quarter).

This role could be a pure contract Technical Trainer, renewed in three month increments and with no fixed term.

Or it could be a staff, salaried role – complete with full benefits and pre-IPO stock options – for a Technical Trainer who’d do double duty as either 1) an Instructional Designer (creating e-learning materials using Articulate), 2) a Technical Support/Help Desk expert, or 3) a Technical Writer (creating and producing reference, implementation, and user guides in MS Word).

This is a small, young (average age = under 30), innovative company with teams in the UK and Australia. They don’t bring in lunch. They do expect you to pitch in and help solve problems whenever possible, to truly be a team player regardless of where you’re located or your job title. They’re well-funded, well-managed, and with customers like Capital One, Microsoft, monster.com, and United Airlines they’re well-positioned to thrive.

If you only want to work on contract as a travelling Technical Trainer, include your desired hourly pay rate in your reply. If you want to pursue a full-time (40 hours/week), salaried, blended Technical Trainer/Instructional Designer (or /Technical Support, or /Technical Writer) role and receive a competitive salary, complete employment benefits, and pre-IPO stock options, include your desired alternate roles in your reply and (optionally) your desired salary range.

Required:

• Solid JavaScript programming skills
• Stand-up technical training experience
• Working knowledge of regular expressions (regex)
• Willingness to learn Charles proxy (www.charlesproxy.com) before interviewing
• Track record of teamwork as well as autonomous productivity
• Ability and willingness to travel

Desired:

• Experience working with JSON and/or jQuery
• If doubling as an Instructional Designer, substantial course development experience
• If doubling as a Technical Support/Help Desk expert, hands-on customer support background and working knowledge of JavaScript
• If doubling as a Technical Writer, strong writing and organization skills, and an understanding of web infrastructure

To apply:

Please email your Word-formatted resume (and a cover letter highlighting any relevant but less-than-obvious experience) to Andrew Davis, synergistech@gmail.com, citing “TTJ-407” in your Subject line.

Contract Managing Editor for website update, network/storage exp req’d, ~4 months, onsite San Jose (CSM-421)

Contract Managing Editor for website update, network/storage exp req’d, ~4 months, onsite San Jose (CSM-421)

Job code:	CSM-421
Compensation:	Open, 1099 or corp-to-corp (or W2 by request)
Audience:	IT/network/storage managers, directors, and C-level executives
Location:	Entirely onsite in San Jose (required)
Starts:	ASAP
Duration:	Full-time, 40 hrs/week, four (4) months (through November 1)
Relo/Visa help:	No
Representation:	Principals only, please

This leading networking storage industry company needs a contract Managing Editor to coordinate the efforts of up to five copywriters updating multiple web sites to make the experience seamless and the content clear, concise, and findable.

You’ll work onsite in San Jose reviewing and editing copy for 800+ web pages from three distinct web domains, overseeing and driving all aspects of content creation by collaborating with in-house SMEs and managing copywriter and editor resources.

You’ll focus on enhancing existing product, solution, and technology-related content and will add approximately 10% original material, so you’ll need a working understanding of contemporary networking and/or storage products.

Of course you’ll also need superior copyediting and project-management skills.

The audience for this content includes IT, network, and storage managers, directors, and C-level executives and the content will be deployed via direct sales, OEMs, channel partners, distributors and system integrators.

This will be full-time (40 hours/week), fully onsite work in San Jose, through November 1, 2014. The pay rate is open but the client is price-sensitive and the bidding is currently in the proposal stage.

Required:

• Solid working knowledge of storage and networking technology
• Excellent copyediting and proven project-management skills
• Track record of productive collaboration with cross-functional teams as well as autonomous productivity
• Full-time availability
• Ability and willingness to work entirely onsite in San Jose (travelling at your own expense)

Desired:

• Experience writing about storage technology for Hitachi Data Systems, NetApp, Brocade, EMC, etc.
• Technical publications management background

To apply:

Please email your Word-formatted resume (and a cover letter highlighting any relevant but less-than-obvious experience) to Andrew Davis, synergistech@gmail.com, citing “CSM-421” in your Subject line.

Tech comms niches that create profit for companies; stop being a ‘necessary expense’ – http://bit.ly/1aiQ7E

I’m speaking to the Silicon Valley STC in September about my personal thesis that, to survive, technical communicators must generate demonstrable profits (as distinct from quality, productivity, or customer satisfaction improvements) for their employers and clients. So I assembled this list of seven Tech Writing career variants for those curious how the role of profit-generator looks in the real world, along with my sense of each niche’s prospects for longevity.
 
Please share your comments, suggestions of other profitable activities (from the company’s perspective), and related insights. Especially during these constrained times, everyone is likely to benefit from such a discussion.

Posted via email from Synergistech’s posterous

Confronting the ethical challenges of contracting work – http://bit.ly/H5KrZ

It’s amazing to me how many gotchas there are in the world of contracting. There’s the challenge of finding work. And that of staying current with technology and best practices. And then there are the ethical challenges of putting your clients’ interests first when logic suggests that doing so harms your own.

Here are a bunch of challenges in which contractors have to make hard choices. Making the right one for your clients, I contend, is the way to ensure your own longevity in the business, but that doesn’t make those choices easier.

Posted via email from Synergistech’s posterous

How NOT to guess whether you have professional prospects – http://bit.ly/CZjmX

IMO, there’s one key determinant of whether a technical communicator (or any professional) has a future. If you can say — and prove — that what you do creates profits for your client or employer, and doesn’t strain key resources such as SMEs’ time, then yes, all else being equal, you’re likely to survive RIFs. It’s those whose work doesn’t create short-term bottom-line profits for the company, even though it may boost quality or even customer satisfaction, that need to worry.
 
Again, this is just my opinion. I haven’t heard from anyone yet who disagrees; if you do, please speak up 🙂

Posted via email from Synergistech’s posterous

Ideas for getting expensive software without buying it – http://bit.ly/ALzDX

A fellow Technical Writer describes some useful workarounds for the contractor’s age-old dilemma of not (yet) being able to afford a legal copy of the software you know you need. I’m not sure how many companies still pay for training of any kind in the current economy, but the self-employed certainly have to watch their budgets even more closely than before. With her ideas on how to get something for nothing — or at least not much — there’ll be fewer excuses for not keeping current with today’s tools.

Posted via email from Synergistech’s posterous

Novel way of beating the bad Bay Area job mkt for Tech Writers – http://bit.ly/syner-53

If you aren’t tied to your SF Bay Area address and are tired of the insulting prices being offered for technical communications services locally, here’s an interesting solution: go mobile. For those familiar with the book ‘Who moved my cheese?,’ follow that cheese and you’ll stay solvent. You may even prosper. The key: outside the Bay Area, many of your technical and communications skills are worth as much or even more than they are locally, and your resume will go to the top of the pile because the local talent simply can’t compete. Who knows, you may even be able to raise your rates.
 
Comments?

Posted via email from Synergistech’s posterous

“Introduction to Developer Documentation” course, 10/6 – 11/19/08 (Last chance)

About the Course
“Introduction to Developer Documentation” is an introductory course in documenting Java APIs for individuals either new to writing developer documentation or who wish more guidance and structure than that provided by self-study of Bitzone’s book.

The course uses “Documenting APIs: Writing Developer Documentation for Java APIs and SDKs” as the textbook and also incorporates the four sample code projects and a 120-page course study guide. Bitzone anticipates about four hours of homework a week for the average student, though this varies depending on your goals and background.

Note from Bitzone: this session is the last one we plan to schedule. Please register early to ensure a space in the training, and if you have been delaying registering for the course, please consider taking this session. We have no plans to schedule any more.

To Register
We currently offer two options for registration:

1. Complete the attached registration form and mail it with your check made out to Bitzone to:
Bitzone
4102 Barrett Avenue
Richmond, CA 94805-1828

2. You can also pay via PayPal. Complete the registration form here, email it to vmaki@bitzone.com, and send payment to vmaki@bitzone.com via PayPal.

If you have any questions, see the syllabus here, or visit Bitzone’s Trainings page.

Synergistech’s view of the Silicon Valley job market

What’s hot, what’s not, and what to do about it?

Synergistech Communications recently posted its perspective on the state of the job market for technical communicators in Silicon Valley, together with candid advice on where the money is and how to remain in demand.

Synergistech’s take on current Silicon Valley contract rates for ten kinds of technical communications services appear here, along with answers to almost 50 other frequently asked questions from candidates.

Comments welcome!

Lead Technical Writer with UX & dev doc, to $120K – Sunnyvale, CA (SLX811)

SLX811, Staff Lead Technical Writer w/ UX exp, dev doc, Linux pref ~onsite/Sunnyvale, ~$120K

Source: Synergistech Communications, Inc.
Job Code: SLX811
Job Title: Lead/Principal Technical Writer
Cash/Prizes: Up to $120K plus bonuses and excellent benefits
Audience: Software developers implementing company’s mobile Linux platform
Location: Sunnyvale
On/Offsite: Mostly onsite, 2 days/week telecommuting okay
Relo/Visa: No

Company Industry/Products/Services:
Smartphone open-source application development platform

Company Size:
[ ] Small
[x] Medium
[ ] Large
[ ] Very Large

Company History:
[ ] Pre-IPO Startup
[x] Established Company
[ ] Industry Leader

Team:
Four staff technical Technical Writers and a few contractors reporting to an experienced Technical Publications Manager

Tasks:

• Develop, deliver, and maintain clear, accurate technical publications, online help, and related web content that teaches developers to create and customize compelling applications for the world’s leading smartphones and wireless mobile devices
• Research and create user-experience guidelines
• Create original API reference and customization documentation, programmers’ guides, and white papers
• Collaborate with Engineering, Marketing, QA, and Support to define documentation requirements and manage projects to ensure quality, timely deliverables
• Work with SMEs and other writers to ensure documentation meets both product and customer requirements and is delivered in multiple formats
• Review other writers’ work, mentor them as necessary, and project-manage your tasks to completion

Required:

• At least eight ( 8 ) years’ commercial documentation experience in the computer software industry, with a focus on creating useful and understandable developer documentation from scratch
• Experience working with user experience (UX) and user interface design experts to document user interface guidelines and user interface components for developers
• Strong knowledge of C programming, including the ability to read C code
• Demonstrated ability to design and implement technical documentation suites
• Excellent project-management and mentoring skills
• Experience working with cross-functional and globally distributed teams
• Proficiency with FrameMaker, Acrobat, and WebWorks Publisher
• Bachelor’s degree in Technical Writing, Computer Science, or a similar area

Desired:

• Familiarity with Linux
• Working knowledge of a GUI development toolkit, ideally GTK
• Experience with GTK Glade, Eclipse, or similar development environments
• Ability to read C++ and/or Java code
• Proven ability to write for embedded systems or about open-source software
• Experience with mobile systems and/or telephony documentation

Summary:
This well-funded, take-the-long-term-view company is developing the foundation for the next generation of mobile handsets. They need a smart, technical, C-literate Lead Technical Writer to complement their experienced, quality-focused team and help create original API documentation, developer’s tutorials, and user-interface guidelines.

The ideal candidate will also have a keen interest in and knowledge of wireless mobile devices and the wireless industry, as well as resourcefulness, flexibility, and a sense of humor.

Posted: 5/13/2008

Starts: ASAP

To apply:
Email andrew@synergistech.com with your resume in Word format, and please cite job “SLX811”

Sr Technical Writer for developer doc, to $110K – Sunnyvale, CA (SMD807)

SMD807, Sr Technical Writer, dev doc, read C, Linux pref ~onsite/Sunnyvale, to $110K

Source: Synergistech Communications, Inc.
Job Code: SMD807
Job Title: Senior Technical Writer
Cash/Prizes: Up to $110K plus bonuses and excellent benefits
Audience: Software developers implementing company’s mobile Linux platform
Location: Sunnyvale
On/Offsite: Mostly onsite, 2 days/week telecommuting okay
Relo/Visa: No

Company Industry/Products/Services:
Smartphone open-source application development platform

Company Size:
[ ] Small
[x] Medium
[ ] Large
[ ] Very Large

Company History:
[ ] Pre-IPO Startup
[x] Established Company
[ ] Industry Leader

Team:
Four senior-level Technical Writers, and a few contractors, reporting to an experienced Technical Publications Manager

Tasks:

• Develop, deliver, and maintain clear, accurate publications, online help, and related web content that teaches developers to create and customize compelling applications for the world’s leading smartphones and wireless mobile devices
• Create original API reference and customization documentation, programmers’ guides, and white papers
• Collaborate with Engineering, Marketing, QA, and Support to define documentation requirements and manage projects to ensure quality, timely deliverables
• Work with SMEs and other writers to ensure documentation meets both product and customer requirements and is delivered in multiple formats

Required:

• At least six (6) years’ commercial documentation experience in the computer software industry, with a focus on creating developer documentation and APIs
• Strong knowledge of C programming, including the ability to read C code
• Demonstrated ability to plan, prioritize, and produce multiple concurrent deliverables
• Proficiency with FrameMaker, Acrobat, and WebWorks Publisher
• Bachelor’s degree in Technical Writing, Computer Science, or a similar area

Desired:

• Familiarity with Linux
• Working knowledge of a GUI development toolkit, ideally GTK
• Ability to read C++ and/or Java code
• Understanding of XML and XML-based authoring
• Working knowledge of Doxygen, JavaDoc, or similar document-generation systems
• Proven ability to write for embedded systems or about open-source software
• Experience with mobile systems and/or telephony

Summary:
This well-funded, take-the-long-term-view company is developing the foundation for the next generation of mobile handsets. They need a smart, technical, C-literate Technical Writer to complement their experienced, quality-focused team and help create original API documentation and developer’s tutorials guides. This is not a “throw it over the wall and pray” shop, but rather a well-managed, talented department that gets a lot of respect.

The ideal candidate will also have a keen interest in and knowledge of wireless mobile devices and the wireless industry, as well as resourcefulness, flexibility, and a sense of humor.

Posted: 4/8/2008

Starts: ASAP

To apply:
Email andrew@synergistech.com with your resume in Word format, and please cite job “SMD807”