Technical Writer (Contract)

RESPEC•Santa Fe, NM

About The Position

RESPEC is seeking a Technical Writer to support an application modernization initiative for a New Mexico state agency. This role will focus on transforming fragmented technical and business documentation into a clear, structured, and maintainable documentation system that supports development, QA, onboarding, and overall program execution. The ideal candidate is a strong organizer and communicator who can work effectively with imperfect or evolving source materials, interview technical stakeholders, and produce documentation that improves clarity, consistency, and team productivity.

Requirements

3–6 years of technical writing experience.
Experience working with existing, incomplete, or inconsistent documentation.
Demonstrated ability to structure and organize complex technical information in a clear and usable way.
Strong interviewing and information-gathering skills, especially when working with engineers and technical staff.
Ability to work effectively in environments with incomplete, changing, or evolving requirements.
Excellent written communication skills with a strong focus on clarity, conciseness, and usability.

Nice To Haves

Experience documenting web applications or LAMP-based environments.
Familiarity with developer wikis, knowledge bases, or internal documentation platforms.
Exposure to QA or testing documentation.
Ability to read code, particularly in PHP or JavaScript.
Experience using diagramming tools such as Visio or Lucidchart.
Familiarity with application modernization or migration initiatives.

Responsibilities

Assess existing documentation, including business requirements and developer wiki content, to identify gaps, inconsistencies, and areas for improvement.
Reorganize and standardize documentation into a clear, logical, and easy-to-navigate structure.
Translate system behavior, technical processes, and developer knowledge into clear, usable written documentation.
Document core application workflows and expected system behavior.
Create developer-focused documentation, including guidance on how the system works and how to safely implement changes.
Support QA efforts by documenting workflows, test considerations, and expected outcomes.
Improve the clarity and usability of technical and program artifacts, including statements of work, architecture documentation, and testing materials.
Establish documentation standards, templates, and best practices to support long-term consistency.
Support onboarding and knowledge transfer for new team members.