Technical Publications Manager

iFIT•Logan, UT

14h•$112,000 - $120,000•Hybrid

About The Position

iFIT is seeking an experienced, hands-on Technical Publications Manager to lead the strategy, creation, and international localization of owner’s manuals and assembly guides for treadmills, exercise bikes, ellipticals, and strength machines. The role manages the full documentation lifecycle, from interpreting engineering CAD files and creating exploded assembly drawings to writing step-by-step manuals and coordinating translation into six European languages. The manager leads two technical writing and graphics assistants and works with Engineering, Quality, Product Design, and external translation agencies to deliver accurate documentation aligned with product launches and safety requirements. The position is hybrid in Logan, Utah. It oversees documentation roadmaps, schedules, quality standards, localization workflows, and team performance, while improving content reuse and publishing efficiency through content management systems or XML-based authoring. The role also communicates project status to cross-functional partners and senior leadership and keeps current with technical publishing and localization best practices.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Technical Communication, Mechanical Engineering, or Graphic Design, or equivalent practical experience.
At least 5 years of technical writing and technical illustration experience; consumer hardgoods, machinery, or fitness equipment manufacturing experience is ideal.
Proficiency with SolidWorks Composer or similar 3D CAD illustration software.
Proficiency with Adobe Creative Cloud, including Illustrator and Photoshop; advanced skills in Adobe InDesign or dedicated authoring platforms.
Direct experience managing multilingual localization workflows, working with translation agencies, and managing Translation Memories.
Proven track record managing projects, establishing documentation standards, and guiding direct reports.
Ability to manage multiple concurrent projects in a fast-paced, cross-functional environment.
Authorized to work in the United States without sponsorship.
Proficiency with Google Workspace, Excel, Arena, Slack, and Atlassian tools including Jira and Confluence.

Nice To Haves

Knowledge of international machinery compliance standards, including CE, ISO, and FCC/RED.
Experience implementing content management systems or XML-based authoring such as DITA.

Responsibilities

Lead, coach, and develop two technical writing and graphics assistants, including delegating work and providing performance feedback and career guidance.
Own documentation roadmaps for treadmill, bike, elliptical, and strength product lines, aligning manuals and assembly guides with product launch schedules.
Define milestones, manage schedules, and track documentation deliverables through release.
Create exploded-view assembly diagrams, hardware lists, and step-by-step assembly drawings from 3D CAD models.
Write clear, concise, safety-compliant owner’s manuals, assembly guides, and maintenance documentation.
Design user-friendly layouts using Adobe InDesign or a dedicated authoring platform.
Partner with Engineering, Quality, and Product Design to review CAD changes, bills of materials, and engineering change orders and maintain accurate documentation through production.
Oversee translation and desktop publishing into six European languages using computer-assisted translation tools, translation memories, and external agency partners.
Review and approve translated content for accuracy, layout integrity, and consistency before release.
Ensure manuals meet global regulatory safety standards, machinery directives, and required warnings, including ISO 20957 and CE requirements.
Establish documentation standards, templates, and style guides.
Set team goals, KPIs, and metrics for documentation quality, turnaround time, and localization cost.
Implement and maintain content management systems or XML-based authoring, such as DITA, to improve reuse and efficiency.
Manage multiple concurrent documentation projects while maintaining schedules and quality standards.
Communicate project status to team members, cross-functional partners, and senior leadership.
Stay current with technical publishing, localization tools, and industry best practices.