Engineering technical writing is a specialized field that requires a unique blend of engineering knowledge, writing proficiency, and the ability to translate complex technical information into easy-to-read content.
It’s not a job for everyone, but it can be a highly rewarding career choice if you love engineering and technical details and have a knack for writing high-quality content.
But before I share some of the best tips for becoming an effective engineering technical writer, let’s take a more detailed look at what being an engineering technical writer entails and what skills and qualities you ought to possess before pursuing this career path.
What is an engineering technical writer?
An engineering technical writer, as we’ve established above, is someone who can blend the fields of engineering and writing, crafting technically-accurate content that can still be understood by a wider audience.
You could be an engineer looking to pivot into a professional writing career. Or perhaps you’re a professional writer looking to specialize and find a new niche.
Here are some of the skills worth possessing if you’re considering a career in engineering technical writing:
- – Logical reasoning skills: As an engineering technical writer, you must be able to logically understand how a procedure or tool operates, and then be able to translate this into simple terms for the general public.
- – Excellent command of language: You must possess excellent language skills in order to use industry-specific terminology.
- – Excellent writing skills: You need to be able to write clearly and concisely, making even the most complex concepts understandable.
- – Technical or engineering knowledge: Of course, a comprehensive knowledge of the engineering topic or field in question is a must.
- – Attention to detail: You must be able to detect and amend both logical and spelling and grammar mistakes.
- – Adaptability: You should be able to adapt your writing technique and tone to match your company’s style and target audience.
- – Curiosity and a willingness to learn: You should be curious about the world and eager to study and expand your knowledge of technical subjects.
If you already possess these skills, or are actively pursuing them, an engineering technical writing career may be on the cards.
But how do you go on to pursue this?
How to become an engineering technical writer
Below, I’ll go through some of the steps to pursuing an engineering technical writing career.
This doesn’t mean this is the only way to find success in this field, and you may come into the career path through entirely different means. That said, the below will generally serve you well.
1. Identify your area of specialization
Of course, to write effectively about engineering topics, you need a solid understanding of the subject matter.
If you don’t already have an engineering background, you can start by taking courses in engineering fundamentals. You don’t necessarily have to go back to university for this – even online platforms like Coursera or edX offer fantastic introductory courses. Since you’re not planning on becoming an actual engineer, you won’t necessarily need degree qualifications.
You may also want to focus your area of specialization further. Perhaps there’s only one aspect of engineering you’re interested in?
If that’s the case, identifying this area and then learning more about it will serve you well.
2. Improve your skills
While I’ve listed some general skills further up in this article, there are always opportunities to improve.
Here are more ways to improve your skills:
- – Learn more about engineering or the area of specialization you want to focus on. This is related to the point above, but it’s really worth spending a bit of time learning more about your chosen field.
- – Enhance your writing skills by taking technical writing or even general writing courses, read extensively (this includes technical manuals, engineering textbooks, and on-topic articles), and practice your writing.
- – Gain relevant experience by doing an internship with an engineering firm, tech company, or technical writing company, volunteer to write for engineering blogs or charity organizations, or offer your services as an entry-level freelance writer.
- – Spend time learning to use technical writing tools, which will include basic writing tools like Microsoft Word, Pages, or Google Docs, but could also include more specialized tools like desktop publishing software or markup languages.
Once you’ve mastered all the fundamental skills, you can start working on a portfolio.
3. Create your portfolio
It’s difficult to get a job as a writer if you don’t have a professional portfolio of writing samples to demonstrate your skills.
Begin by assembling any existing writing samples, such as user manuals, white papers, blog posts, or technical reports from previous work. If you don’t have any professional experience, you can include some sample pieces or look for volunteer or internship work that can help you build up a portfolio. If all else fails, write some content specifically for your portfolio – it doesn’t necessarily need to be client work to begin.
What matters most is that your samples are unique and relevant to your technical niche.
4. Network effectively
It’s a great idea to network with fellow writers and experts in your local area to learn more about engineering technical writing opportunities.
Here are a few helpful tips to network effectively:
- – Join technical writing groups or other professional organizations in your area.
- – Find networking opportunities on LinkedIn or even platforms like Facebook and Meetup.
- – Follow the firms and professionals you respect on LinkedIn and social media, where appropriate, to begin developing personalized relationships.
- – Attend conferences, seminars, and webinars related to technical writing and engineering.
All these avenues will give you the chance to learn about new job openings or present other opportunities that will help you grow as an engineering technical writer.
5. Look for engineering technical writing jobs
Chances are you’ll already find some great leads if you’re networking and joining professional organizations.
You don’t have to work as a full-time engineering technical writer. You can take on fully remote, part-time, freelance, or contract work as a writer, so choose whichever type of employment works best for you.
Try making use of job search networks like LinkedIn or Indeed if you’re after a full-time technical writing career at a specific firm, or reach out to recruitment agencies to help you find the best placement.
Finding freelance or contract work is sometimes more difficult, but you can consider registering with a technical writing agency, sending cold emails to ideal clients, or joining freelance networks like Upwork to help you get started.
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6. Constantly work on your craft
The digital marketing landscape is constantly changing, and there’s unlikely to come a point where you’ll be “done” with learning.
Consistently work on fine-tuning your skills and your portfolio to build confidence, acquire more jobs, and attract more high-profile clients.
It’s also beneficial to keep informed on the technical side of things, reading up on the latest information and newest technologies to ensure your knowledge base is up to date, allowing you to create more insightful articles and better meeting the changing demands of your audience.
Do you need an effective engineering technical writer?
Technical writers are best matched to fulfill the writing needs of engineering companies.
If you need an effective engineering technical writer for your engineering business or are a writer who wants to join one of the world’s premier engineering technical writing teams, contact us today.
Engineering Technical Writer FAQs
Do I need a formal degree to become an engineering technical writer?
A formal degree in engineering or technical writing can help, but this isn’t always necessary. Relevant experience and a strong technical writing portfolio can also advance your career.
Which industries hire engineering technical writers?
Engineering technical writers can work in a range of industries, including aerospace, automotive, software, telecommunications, and more.
What are some common challenges faced by engineering technical writers?
Some of the challenges engineering technical writers face is having to stay up to date with the latest technologies, understanding very complex technical concepts, ensuring accuracy, and meeting tight deadlines.
