At a Glance
- Tasks: Create and improve technical documentation for various teams at Canonical.
- Company: Canonical is a leading tech firm driving the open-source movement, known for Ubuntu.
- Benefits: Enjoy remote work, a personal development budget, annual bonuses, and travel opportunities.
- Other info: Roles available from graduate to senior levels, fully remote, with a focus on community engagement.
- Why this job: Join a collaborative team, influence product development, and elevate documentation standards in tech.
- Qualifications: Ideal candidates are strong communicators with technical writing skills and a passion for software.
The predicted salary is between 36000 - 60000 € per year.
Our ambition is to set a standard of excellence in the industry for technical documentation and documentation practice. This is your chance to be a part of that, as a Technical Author at Canonical.
We have dozens of positions available across the organisation, at all levels from Graduate to Senior Staff. These roles will lead documentation efforts within engineering, business operations, or other areas of the company.
The role of a Technical AuthorA product-focused Technical Author is a member of a product engineering team, typically focusing on one product or family of products. You will help the team develop documentation that serves users\' needs and contribute to the long‑term success of the project.
A customer‑focused Technical Author works with teams such as Field Engineering, Customer Success, or Support, dealing with users of complex software suites in custom configurations. You will take a responsive approach to documentation problems and develop strong technical and contextual knowledge.
An operations‑focused Technical Author is part of a business team (e.g., Legal, HR, or Talent) and maintains internal documentation such as employee handbooks. You will help improve materials relied upon by hundreds of colleagues and define communication patterns for a growing organization.
You will also be part of Canonical’s documentation practice team, working with other Technical Authors to define excellence and drive resources across the company and the open‑source community.
LocationFully remote roles open to candidates worldwide.
As a Technical Author you will- Create, maintain, and improve software and other documentation.
- Work with team members to help them make effective documentation contributions.
- Influence the development of Canonical products and services as an expert user with opinions about function and design.
- Engage with user communities to ensure that the documentation meets their needs.
- Encourage and support community engagement in and contribution to documentation.
- Help standardise the structure, presentation, style and language of content across products.
- Collaborate with documentation peers to advance the state of the art at Canonical.
- Challenge and advance documentation understanding and best practices as part of a disciplinary team.
- Is an excellent collaborator and communicator.
- Cares deeply about functional written communication.
- Is a technical writer with a programmer’s mindset, or a programmer with a record of excellent documentation.
- Has a record of community engagement in open‑source software, documentation, research, or related disciplines.
- Is sympathetic to the needs and challenges of open‑source communities.
- Demonstrates technical curiosity and a fascination with software technology.
- Has demonstrable documentation skills, insight, and enthusiasm.
- Has experience in software development contexts.
- Is familiar with Linux, command line, Git, and documentation markup languages such as reStructuredText or MyST.
- Holds a BSc/BA degree or equivalent.
- Is able to travel twice a year for up to two weeks for events.
- Deep technical domain knowledge.
- Open‑source community leadership and management.
- User‑experience, interaction, or visual design.
We consider geographical location, experience, and performance when shaping compensation worldwide. In addition to base pay, we offer a performance‑driven annual bonus or commission. We provide benefits that reflect our values and ideals and meet local needs.
- Distributed work environment with twice‑yearly in‑person team sprints.
- Personal learning and development budget of USD 2,000 per year.
- Annual compensation review.
- Recognition rewards.
- Annual holiday leave.
- Maternity and paternity leave.
- Employee Assistance Programme.
- Opportunity to travel to new locations to meet colleagues.
- Priority Pass and travel upgrades for long‑haul company events.
We are proud to foster a workplace free from discrimination. Diversity of experience, perspectives, and background create a better work environment and better products. Whatever your identity, we will give your application fair consideration.
#J-18808-LjbffrTechnical Author (multiple roles and seniority levels) in London employer: Canonical
Canonical is an exceptional employer that champions a distributed work environment, allowing Technical Authors to thrive in a fully remote setting while collaborating with a global team. With a strong emphasis on personal development, employees benefit from a generous learning budget and annual compensation reviews, alongside unique opportunities for community engagement and travel. The company fosters a culture of excellence and inclusivity, ensuring that every team member can contribute meaningfully to the evolution of open-source software.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Technical Author (multiple roles and seniority levels) in London
✨Tip Number 1
Familiarise yourself with the Diátaxis approach to documentation, as it's a key part of the role. Understanding this framework will not only help you in your application but also demonstrate your commitment to improving documentation practices.
✨Tip Number 2
Engage with the open-source community by contributing to projects or forums related to technical writing. This will showcase your passion for documentation and your ability to collaborate effectively, which are crucial for the Technical Author position.
✨Tip Number 3
Brush up on your knowledge of Linux and command-line tools, as these skills are essential for the role. Being comfortable with Git and documentation markup languages like reStructuredText will set you apart from other candidates.
✨Tip Number 4
Network with current or former Canonical employees through platforms like LinkedIn. Gaining insights into their experiences can provide you with valuable information about the company culture and expectations, helping you tailor your approach.
We think you need these skills to ace Technical Author (multiple roles and seniority levels) in London
Some tips for your application 🫡
Understand the Role:Before applying, make sure you fully understand the different focuses of the Technical Author role at Canonical. Whether it's product-focused, customer-focused, or operations-focused, tailor your application to highlight relevant experiences and skills.
Showcase Your Skills:In your CV and cover letter, emphasise your technical writing abilities, collaboration skills, and any experience with open-source software. Mention specific tools and languages you are familiar with, such as Linux, Git, and documentation markup languages.
Demonstrate Community Engagement:Highlight any involvement in open-source communities or contributions to documentation projects. This shows your commitment to the field and your understanding of the challenges faced by users and developers alike.
Tailor Your Application:Customise your application materials for Canonical. Use their language and values in your cover letter, and ensure your CV reflects how your background aligns with their mission to set a standard of excellence in technical documentation.
How to prepare for a job interview at Canonical
✨Showcase Your Technical Knowledge
As a Technical Author, it's crucial to demonstrate your understanding of technical concepts and tools. Be prepared to discuss your experience with Linux, Git, and documentation markup languages like reStructuredText or MyST. This will show that you have the technical mindset needed for the role.
✨Emphasise Collaboration Skills
Highlight your ability to work effectively with cross-functional teams. Discuss past experiences where you've collaborated with engineers or product teams to create documentation. This will illustrate your capability to influence product development through effective communication.
✨Demonstrate Community Engagement
Canonical values community involvement, especially in open-source projects. Share examples of how you've engaged with user communities or contributed to open-source documentation. This will reflect your commitment to the principles of open-source software and its communities.
✨Prepare for Practical Scenarios
Expect to face practical scenarios during the interview. Be ready to discuss how you would approach creating or improving documentation for specific products or user needs. This will showcase your problem-solving skills and your understanding of user experience.