Senior Technical Writer Job at Launchfirestorm in San Diego

Who We Are At Firestorm, we’re on a mission to revolutionize how defense solutions are designed and delivered. Our goal is to empower U.S. ally nations to effectively deter aggressors—regardless of their defense budget—through innovative, cost-efficient technologies. We call this vision “democratized deterrence.” As a VC-backed company at the intersection of defense and Silicon Valley, we’re pioneering the development of mission-adaptable aerial vehicles that put power back into the hands of operators. By prioritizing operator effectiveness, we’re pioneering a new era of aerial vehicle design. We aim to upend the traditional defense procurement model by delivering world-class capabilities at a fraction of the usual cost. Join us at Firestorm as we redefine defense procurement, making cutting-edge technology accessible to all at a fraction of the cost.

About the Role At Firestorm Labs, driving business growth and equipping end-users with clear, effective documentation is essential to mission success. As a Senior Technical Writer supporting our Advanced Manufacturing, xCell team, your mission is to partner closely with product, engineering and the business development team, to deliver accurate, updated and easy-to-understand documentation. You will play a key role in creating instructional materials as well as technical manuals, ensuring our teams are fully equipped for continuity of operations and supporting customers effectively.

This role will work closely with our broader engineering teams to develop and manage documentation that supports all phases of execution for the xCell product line. You’ll produce user manuals, system guides, SOPs, and instructor-led training materials tailored to defense audiences. This is a unique opportunity to shape the knowledge infrastructure behind next-generation manufacturing, define documentation strategies and processes that scale with Firestorm’s growth, and ensure clarity, consistency, and operational readiness.

The ideal candidate brings a hunger for knowledge, a thirst for quality, and an eye for accuracy. Strong critical thinking and the ability to digest technically complex information are vital. This role is for a mission-focused technical communicator passionate about supporting the warfighter by ensuring effective and accurate training delivery. The management in coordinating stakeholders and managing documentation roadmaps will set the standard for clarity, quality, and consistency across written materials at Firestorm Labs, ensuring operators are fully equipped to deploy and maintain next-generation systems.

What You’ll Do Develop, maintain, and organize comprehensive technical documentation for the xCell product line, including user manuals, system guides, and standard operating procedures (SOPs).

Create training content, including manuals and instructor-led training materials, aligned with military training standards and frameworks (e.g., ADDIE, SAT).

Translate complex technical information into clear, concise and user-friendly documentation for both technical and non-technical audiences, particularly warfighters and support teams.

Ensure all documentation complies with relevant military standards (e.g., MIL-STD-40051, MIL-HDBK-1222) and internal quality guidelines.

Work cross-functionally with engineers, product managers and training personnel to gather source material, validate content accuracy, and align documentation with system updates and milestones.

Participate in technical reviews, demos, validation events, and training development sessions to gather insights and support continuous improvement.

Manage version control, organize documentation libraries, and support knowledge management across the xCell program.

Help define and implement scalable documentation processes, style guides, and templates to support future growth and consistency.

Develop and maintain technical manuals, operational procedures, checklists, templates, troubleshooting guides, and release notes to support end users and internal teams.

Create and contribute to documentation style guides, processes, lifecycle workflows, and toolkits to improve quality, efficiency, and scalability of documentation efforts.

Review and edit documents for clarity, consistency, accuracy, and technical integrity.

Incorporate visuals (e.g., graphics, diagrams, flowcharts) and multimedia assets to enhance the learning experience and usability of documentation.

Identify gaps or risks in documentation efforts, proposing and implementing solutions to keep projects on track.

Help build a culture of technical writing and documentation by developing training, templates, and process improvements to enable contributions across the company.

Qualifications Bachelor’s degree in Technical Writing, English, Communications, or a related field.

Minimum 6 years of experience as a technical writer or curriculum developer, supporting training development or instructional design, and documentation efforts within the defense, aerospace or manufacturing sectors.

Demonstrated experience developing user manuals, SOPs, training guides, and technical documentation for complex systems.

Strong ability to synthesize information from technical subject matter experts and cross-functional teams into clear, concise, and persuasive documents.

Familiarity with DoD documentation and training development standards (e.g., MIL-STD-40051, ADDIE, SAT).

Experience creating and maintaining technical manuals, operational guides, and user-facing documentation.

Excellent verbal and written communication skills with the ability to tailor messaging for technical and non-technical audiences.

Proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite and version control / document management systems.

Strong project management and organizational skills with the ability to manage competing priorities independently while collaborating effectively across teams.

U.S. Citizenship is required, with the ability to obtain and maintain a DoD security clearance.

Preferred Qualifications Experience working in a fast-paced, high-growth environment or startup

Familiarity with autonomous systems or prior exposure to military training environments, technical documentation standards, or direct work with warfighter end-users

Knowledge of DoD and federal technical standards, such as military documentation formats, instructional design practices, or defense compliance requirements

Visual design experience to enhance technical content through diagrams, illustrations, or multimedia integration

Deep expertise with writing technical user-facing documentation, style guides, and scalable documentation processes

Work Environment Based at our Headquarters in San Diego, CA.

We welcome candidates who are local or open to relocating; relocation assistance is available and may be included in the offer package where appropriate.

This role requires an on-site presence

Willingness to travel up to 15% within a calendar year domestically.

Compensation US Salary Range : $113,000 - $162,000 USD

The posted salary range reflects an estimate based on a variety of compensation factors, including but not limited to relevant experience, education, certifications, specialized skills, geographic location, and business needs. Actual compensation may vary, and this range is subject to change as our compensation structure or market conditions evolve.

Benefits & Perks Our culture fosters collaboration, respect, and trust, empowering passionate people to do their best work. We offer a competitive salary, comprehensive benefits, and opportunities for career growth. In addition to an opportunity to take part in an innovative, collaborative and fast-growing business with a highly motivated and skilled team, we also take pride in taking care of our employees. Here are just a few ways that we show our appreciation :

We offer comprehensive medical, dental, and visions plans

401(k) Retirement Savings Plan to invest in your long-term retirement goals

Equity grants for new hires

Unlimited PTO

Extremely generous company holiday calendar, including a holiday hiatus in November, & December.

Generous Parental Leave

Lifestyle Spending Account

FSA

DCFSA

HSA

Hospital Indemnity insurance

Critical Illness insurance

Accident insurance

Basic Life / AD&D, short-term and long-term disability insurance, 100% covered by Firestorm.Plus, the option to purchase additional life insurance for you and your family.

Mental Health Resources : We provide free mental health resources 24 / 7 including therapy and more. Additional work-life services, such as free legal and financial support, are available to you as well.

Export Control Compliance To conform to U.S. government export control regulations, including the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR) and Export Administration Regulations (EAR), you must be a U.S. citizen, lawful permanent resident of the U.S., protected individual as defined by 8 U.S.C. 1324b(a)(3), or otherwise eligible to obtain the required authorizations from the U.S. Department of State or U.S. Department of Commerce.

Equal Opportunity Statement Firestorm is an equal opportunity employer, committed to creating a diverse and inclusive workplace, and upholding equitable hiring practices. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic under federal, state, or local law, including those with a criminal history, in a manner consistent with the requirements of applicable state and local laws, including the CA Fair Chance Initiative for Hiring Ordinance. We actively encourage members of recognized minorities, women, Veterans, and those with disabilities to apply, and we work to create a welcoming and supportive environment for all applicants throughout the interview process.

Firestorm is committed to fostering an inclusive and accessible work environment. If you require accommodations or assistance during the application process, please don’t hesitate to reach out to us at careers@launchfirestorm.com so we can provide the support you need.

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