About Company
Opencast is a leading technology consultancy based in the heart of Newcastle upon Tyne, delivering bespoke digital services to high-profile clients in the public and private sectors. With a strong focus on user-centric design, innovative technology, and a collaborative culture, we empower our clients to achieve their digital transformation goals. We pride ourselves on creating an environment where our people can thrive, grow, and make a real impact, whether working from our vibrant Newcastle hub or remotely from across the UK. Join a team where your expertise is valued, and your contributions drive meaningful change.
Job Description
Opencast is seeking a highly skilled and experienced Technical Writer to join our dynamic and growing team. This is a fully remote role, offering the flexibility to work from anywhere in the UK, with the option for occasional travel to our vibrant Newcastle upon Tyne office for team collaboration and company events, if desired. In this crucial position, you will be responsible for transforming complex technical information into accessible, clear, and engaging documentation for a variety of audiences, including software developers, product owners, clients, and end-users of our cutting-edge digital services.
As a Technical Writer at Opencast, you will be embedded within project teams, working hand-in-hand with our talented engineers, UX designers, business analysts, and product managers from the initial design phase through to deployment. Your expertise will be vital in creating and maintaining a wide range of technical content, including comprehensive user manuals, API specifications, system architecture documents, release notes, online help systems, and internal knowledge base articles. You will be instrumental in defining documentation requirements, establishing consistent style guides, and ensuring that all technical communications accurately reflect product functionality and meet the highest standards of quality and usability.
This role demands a meticulous eye for detail, a deep understanding of software development lifecycles, and an unwavering commitment to clarity. You will be expected to proactively gather information through interviews, hands-on product exploration, and collaboration tools, translating intricate technical concepts into language that is easily understood by both technical and non-technical stakeholders. Beyond simply writing, you will act as an advocate for excellent documentation, identifying opportunities for improvement, streamlining processes, and contributing to the overall knowledge sharing culture within Opencast. If you are passionate about bridging the gap between technology and user understanding, thrive in a fast-paced, consultancy environment, and are eager to contribute to impactful public and private sector projects, we encourage you to apply. This is a fantastic opportunity to shape how we communicate our innovative solutions and make a significant difference.
Key Responsibilities
- Plan, write, edit, and maintain comprehensive technical documentation, including user manuals, API documentation, system guides, release notes, online help, and internal knowledge base articles.
- Collaborate with cross-functional teams (developers, product owners, QA, UX) to gather information, define documentation scope, and ensure accuracy and completeness.
- Translate complex technical information into easily understandable language for diverse audiences.
- Develop and maintain documentation standards, style guides, and templates to ensure consistency and quality across all content.
- Identify opportunities for content improvement and optimization based on user feedback and analytics.
- Manage documentation lifecycle from initial planning through to publication and ongoing maintenance.
- Participate in product reviews and testing to ensure documentation aligns with product functionality.
- Contribute to the continuous improvement of documentation processes and tools.
Required Skills
- Proven experience as a Technical Writer in a software development or IT consultancy environment.
- Exceptional writing, editing, and proofreading skills, with a keen eye for detail and accuracy.
- Ability to understand complex technical concepts and explain them clearly and concisely.
- Proficiency with documentation tools (e.g., Confluence, Jira, Git, Markdown, DITA, XML).
- Experience with API documentation tools (e.g., Swagger/OpenAPI) and concepts.
- Strong communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to collaborate effectively with diverse teams.
- Demonstrated ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously and meet deadlines.
- Familiarity with Agile development methodologies.
Preferred Qualifications
- Bachelor’s degree in English, Technical Communication, Computer Science, or a related field.
- Experience with content management systems (CMS).
- Knowledge of UX principles and how they apply to documentation.
- Experience with version control systems (e.g., Git).
- Portfolio of writing samples demonstrating technical documentation expertise.
Perks & Benefits
- Competitive salary and annual bonus scheme.
- Generous pension contribution.
- Flexible and remote working options.
- 25 days annual leave plus bank holidays, with options to buy/sell leave.
- Private medical insurance and life assurance.
- Dedicated learning and development budget for courses, conferences, and certifications.
- Regular team social events and company-wide gatherings.
- Cycle to work scheme.
- Employee assistance programme.
- Opportunity to work on impactful projects with leading organisations.
How to Apply
Ready to make an impact? We encourage all qualified candidates to apply by clicking on the application link below. Please ensure your resume highlights your relevant technical writing experience and includes a link to your online portfolio or writing samples if available. We look forward to reviewing your application!