Technical Author

We are excited to announce an opportunity for a Technical Author to join our global Technical Publications team based at our Severn Beach, Bristol site.

You'll be working with world-leading semiconductor and plasma processing technologies; you will create and maintain customer-focused technical content across manuals, online help, HTML, multimedia, and digital platforms. Collaborating with engineers, technicians, service teams, and product specialists, you will ensure information is accurate, effective, and easy to use. You will also help shape the future of Technical Publications by supporting digital transformation, content innovation, and modern documentation practices that enhance the customer experience.

What You'll Do

• Content Creation: Create and publish high-quality customer manuals and technical documentation using MadCap Flare and other authoring tools.
• Multi-Format Authoring: Develop clear, user-focused content for installation, operation, maintenance, troubleshooting, and service activities across PDF, HTML, online help, video, and other digital formats.
• Technical Validation: Validate technical information through hands-on interaction with products, systems, and laboratory testing activities.
• Cross-Functional Collaboration: Work closely with authors, engineers, technicians, service personnel, and product managers to gather and verify technical information.
• Publication Innovation: Contribute to the development of our Technical Publications strategy, including digital publishing, content reuse, multimedia content, AI-assisted authoring, and customer self-service initiatives.
• Content Review: Participate in content reviews and peer-review activities to ensure accuracy, consistency, and adherence to standards.
• Continuous Improvement: Analyse user feedback and drive improvements that enhance documentation quality and the customer experience.
• Document Control: Follow document control processes, including version control, branching, review cycles, and publishing procedures.
• Professional Development: Expand your expertise in technical communication, content strategy, knowledge management, and emerging technologies within a collaborative team environment.
• Health & Safety: Uphold company health, safety, and environmental standards while supporting operational excellence.
• Hybrid Working: Minimum three days per week on site.

What We're Looking For

• Communication Passion: A passion for technical communication and content creation.
• Self-Management: Ability to manage priorities, work independently, and deliver agreed objectives.
• Growth Mindset: Curiosity, continuous learning, and a desire to improve processes and customer experiences.
• Collaborative Approach: Confidence to work effectively across multiple disciplines and functions.
• Digital Mindset: Interest in modern documentation practices, digital content delivery, and emerging technologies.
• Information Gathering: Ability to gather information from multiple stakeholders and convert it into accurate, user-focused content.
• Travel: Willingness to travel in the UK on occasion.

Education/Experience

• A recognised technical authoring qualification (ISTC, NVQ, Diploma, etc.) or equivalent experience.
• Demonstrate experience in the following areas:
• Creating technical documentation within an engineering, manufacturing, scientific, software, or technical environment.
• Familiarity with authoring tools such as MadCap Flare, Adobe FrameMaker, Adobe Acrobat, or equivalent platforms.
• Advantageous to demonstrate some experience in the following areas:
• Document control processes including review cycles, branching, and version management.
• Structured authoring, content re-use, or single-sourcing approaches.
• AI-assisted authoring, HTML, video, multimedia or other visual content creation.
• Navigating CAD software and technical illustrations.
• Understanding of Simplified Technical English.

Why Join Us?

At Oxford Instruments Plasma Technology, we provide tools for the engineering of micro- and nano-structures, with customers using our process solutions to research and produce materials and semiconductors vital for everything from medical devices and diagnostics to electric cars and quantum computers. You’ll be part of a business at the forefront of scientific and technological innovation. Our tools enable breakthroughs at micro- and nano-scale across a wide range of industries.

We offer:

• Competitive salary
• 25 days holiday + half-day Fridays
• Hybrid working – 3days onsite
• Private healthcare
• Share incentive plan
• Pension and flexible benefits
• Structured career development
• A collaborative, supportive environment with strong work-life balance