Job description

As a Technical Writer, you will own and drive documentation efforts for sophisticated technical programs supporting national-security missions. You’ll work closely with software engineers, systems engineers, program leadership, subject-matter experts, and customer stakeholders to gather information, understand complex technologies, and produce polished, mission-ready documentation. This is an opportunity to do more than document products, you’ll help shape how critical technical information is communicated, understood, maintained, and ultimately used. Gaithersburg, MD is the primary work location. The Technical Writer can have a flexible, telework-friendly schedule but must be local to Gaithersburg, MD to come in throughout the week as needed. Clearance Level Required: Active Top Secret/SCI with the ability to successfully pass a Polygraph examination. Primary Responsibilities Develop, write, edit, and maintain technical documentation for GEOINT systems, software, and mission capabilities. Translate technical concepts into clear, concise, audience-appropriate documentation. Collaborate with engineers, developers, architects, analysts, and subject-matter experts to gather and validate technical information. Create and maintain system documentation, user guides, SOPs, release notes, technical manuals, and other program deliverables. Review and update existing documentation for accuracy, consistency, clarity, and completeness. Interview technical and mission personnel to gather information and translate it into usable documentation. Manage multiple documentation assignments and meet established deadlines. Work within controlled and classified environments while following program security and documentation requirements. Follow established documentation standards, templates, and content-development processes. Basic Qualifications U.S. citizenship is required per contract. Bachelor’s degree in English, Technical Communication, Computer Science, Information Technology, Engineering, or a related field with 4 years of relevant experience; additional relevant experience may be considered in lieu of a degree. 3–5 years of professional technical writing experience supporting software, technology, systems engineering, defense, intelligence, or similar technical environments. Experience creating and maintaining technical documentation such as system documentation, SOPs, user guides, technical manuals, and release documentation. Experience working with technical teams to gather, understand, and document system or software information. Hands-on experience with Confluence and Jira or similar collaboration/documentation tools. Strong writing, editing, proofreading, and information-organization skills. Ability to research unfamiliar technical topics and work with subject-matter experts to develop accurate documentation. Strong attention to detail and technical accuracy. Ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment. Strong interpersonal and communication skills. Preferred Qualifications Experience supporting Intelligence Community (IC), Department of Defense (DoD), or other federal customers. Experience working in a classified environment. Familiarity with software development, cloud technologies, DevSecOps, cybersecurity, data systems, or systems engineering. Experience documenting Agile software development or DevSecOps teams. Experience with Markdown, Git, XML, DITA, or similar documentation/content-management tools. Familiarity with CI/CD pipelines, AWS or Azure, containers, APIs, or modern software development environments. Certified Professional Technical Communicator (CPTC) or similar certification. #Maru #NSBA If you re looking for comfort, keep scrolling. At Leidos, we outthink, outbuild, and outpace the status quo — because the mission demands it. We re not hiring followers. We re recruiting the ones who disrupt, provoke, and refuse to fail. Step 10 is ancient history. We re already at step 30 — and moving faster than anyone else dares. Original Posting: September 21, 2026 For U.S. Positions: While subject to change based on business needs, Leidos reasonably anticipates that this job requisition will remain open for at least 3 days with an anticipated close date of no earlier than 3 days after the original posting date as listed above. Pay Range: Pay Range $65,650.00 - $118,675.00 The Leidos pay range for this job level is a general guideline only and not a guarantee of compensation or salary. Additional factors considered in extending an offer include (but are not limited to) responsibilities of the job, education, experience, knowledge, skills, and abilities, as well as internal equity, alignment with market data, applicable bargaining agreement (if any), or other law.

Requirements

Must-haves

This is an opportunity to do more than document products, you’ll help shape how critical technical information is communicated, understood, maintained, and ultimately used.
Gaithersburg, MD is the primary work location. The Technical Writer can have a flexible, telework-friendly schedule but must be local to Gaithersburg, MD to come in throughout the week as needed.
Active Top Secret/SCI with the ability to successfully pass a Polygraph examination.
Primary Responsibilities Develop, write, edit, and maintain technical documentation for GEOINT systems, software, and mission capabilities.
Translate technical concepts into clear, concise, audience-appropriate documentation.
Collaborate with engineers, developers, architects, analysts, and subject-matter experts to gather and validate technical information.
Create and maintain system documentation, user guides, SOPs, release notes, technical manuals, and other program deliverables.
Review and update existing documentation for accuracy, consistency, clarity, and completeness.
Interview technical and mission personnel to gather information and translate it into usable documentation.
Manage multiple documentation assignments and meet established deadlines.
Work within controlled and classified environments while following program security and documentation requirements.
Follow established documentation standards, templates, and content-development processes.
Basic Qualifications U.S. citizenship is required per contract.
3–5 years of professional technical writing experience supporting software, technology, systems engineering, defense, intelligence, or similar technical environments.
Experience creating and maintaining technical documentation such as system documentation, SOPs, user guides, technical manuals, and release documentation.
Experience working with technical teams to gather, understand, and document system or software information.
Hands-on experience with Confluence and Jira or similar collaboration/documentation tools.
Strong writing, editing, proofreading, and information-organization skills.
Ability to research unfamiliar technical topics and work with subject-matter experts to develop accurate documentation.
Strong attention to detail and technical accuracy.
Ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment.
Strong interpersonal and communication skills.
Experience working in a classified environment.

Nice-to-haves

Preferred Qualifications Experience supporting Intelligence Community (IC), Department of Defense (DoD), or other federal customers.

Application prep

Use the role’s language and application details while tailoring your materials.

Keywords to mirror

jiraagileci/cdawsazure

Platform: workday
Effort: long