This free Technical Writer job description template is ready to use — copy it, replace the {{placeholders}}, and post your role in minutes. It includes a company intro, a role summary, responsibilities, requirements, nice-to-haves, and compensation, with writing tips and FAQs below to help you tailor it to your team.
When to use this template
Use this when you're hiring someone to own documentation — turning a complex product into clear guides, tutorials, and API references that help users succeed. It assumes a dedicated docs role rather than asking engineers to write on the side.
Technical writers want to know how technical the product is, who the audience is (end users vs. developers), and what tooling they'll work in. The more technical the audience, the more important it is that the writer can read code and talk to engineers credibly.
If you mainly need marketing content rather than product documentation, use the Content Marketer template instead — the two roles attract different writers.
Writing tips
- Clarify the audience: end users, administrators, or developers.
- Be clear about how technical the product is and whether they'll read code.
- Name your docs tooling and whether you use docs-as-code workflows.
- Distinguish this from marketing/content writing.
- Include the salary range and seniority level.
The job description
Copy the template below and replace the {{placeholders}} and [bracketed notes] with your specifics.
About {{company}}
{{company}} is [what you do]. Great documentation is part of our product, and we're hiring a Technical Writer to own it.
The role
As a Technical Writer, you'll turn a complex product into clear, useful documentation — guides, tutorials, and references that help our users succeed. You'll work closely with engineers and product, and own the docs end to end. This role reports to {{hiring_manager}} and is based {{work_type}} in {{location}}.
What you'll do
- Write and maintain clear documentation, guides, and tutorials.
- Own [API references / developer docs] in partnership with engineering.
- Work with engineers and product to understand features deeply.
- Keep documentation accurate and up to date as the product changes.
- Improve the structure and findability of the docs over time.
What we're looking for
- 3+ years writing technical documentation for a software product.
- Excellent writing — clear, concise, and accurate.
- The ability to understand technical concepts and explain them simply.
- Comfort working closely with engineers and reading [code / APIs].
- Organization and ownership over a body of documentation.
Nice to have
- Experience with docs-as-code tooling and version control.
- A background writing for a developer audience.
- Basic familiarity with [your stack or languages].
What we offer
- Salary range: {{salary_range}}, plus equity.
- [Comprehensive benefits].
- Flexible {{work_type}} working and [PTO policy].
- A company that treats documentation as part of the product, not an afterthought.
How to personalize
Replace these placeholders before posting:
- {{company}}
- {{location}}
- {{work_type}}
- {{salary_range}}
- {{hiring_manager}}
The bracketed notes — like [your benefits] or [your primary language(s)] — are prompts to swap in your own details. The more specific you are about the actual work and stack, the stronger your applicant pool will be.
Frequently asked questions
- What does a Technical Writer do?
- A Technical Writer creates the documentation that helps people use a product: guides, tutorials, API references, and help articles. They work closely with engineers and product to understand features, then explain them clearly and keep the docs accurate as the product evolves.
- What's the difference between a Technical Writer and a Content Marketer?
- A Technical Writer produces product documentation that helps existing users succeed. A Content Marketer creates content that attracts and educates prospects to drive growth. One supports the product; the other supports marketing — different goals, audiences, and skills.
- What skills should a Technical Writer have?
- Excellent, concise writing; the ability to grasp technical concepts and explain them simply; comfort working with engineers and reading code or APIs; and the organization to own a large, evolving body of documentation. Experience with docs-as-code tooling is a common plus.