Shanghai Tech WriterTechnical Writing, Technology, Web2.0, Google, Shanghai, China

Updated (03/27/2008): Visit the new job posting here.

NI does a lot of campus recruiting and I think they prefer to hire fresh graduates so they can start them off right. I noticed on the NI China website that they also do a lot on campus recruiting for the Shanghai R&D center. For me, I actually saw the technical writer job posting from China Splash website, an English search engine for jobs in China. It was an entry level position and I think they were probably looking to hire a fresh college graduate, but I didn’t care. I was interested in the job because the job description (see below) fits me perfectly! I love learning about and working with technology. I probably would have done something in the engineering/IT field if I had more technical background, but my educational background was in music/economics, and I was an elementary school teacher for six years. Sort of an odd combination but my previous teaching job was primarily focused on technology anyway, so I got to read/learn about different kinds of technology and teach others about new technology.

When I saw the technical writer job posting, I thought it was a suitable fit because the job didn’t require technical background/knowledge. They wanted somebody who’s good with words and like to learn/write about technology! That’s exactly what technical writing is about, working with engineers, learning about new technology, and writing about it in a way that can be understood by non-technical people.

If anyone is interested in becoming a technical writer in Shanghai, I just saw another posting on ChinaSplash website. I believe the Shanghai R&D center is planning major expansion in the coming years. When I interviewed with them few weeks ago, the manager mentioned they were doubling/tripling the size of their technical writing team. I’ll be writing a few entries on the entire interviewing process with NI.

Technical Writer – Position based in Shanghai, China

Good with words and interested in technology? The technical writers at National Instruments are part of development teams in engineering. Technical writers document how to use the products that the development teams create. They also work with the engineers to improve the usability of the products. To be successful in this position, you should have great written communication skills plus coursework in computer science or related practical experience.

National Instruments is seeking a qualified technical writer with strong communication skills and an interest in technology.

Responsibilities:

• Editing/rewriting/writing documentation, including printed materials and electronic help, according to company guidelines.
• Sending documentation through review; meeting with content experts and documentation group leaders to discuss documentation content and project status.
• Preparing information for publishing and evaluating industry tools and trends.
• Working with project managers and engineers to improve the usability of products.
• Taking on short-term training and work assignments at the National Instruments corporate headquarters in Austin, Texas.

Requirements:

• Native/fluent oral and written English skills
• B.A. or above in English or other majors with writing emphasis
• Strong interest in computers and technology
• Coursework in mathematics and/or science
• Strong verbal/written communication skills and interpersonal skills
• Excellent organizational skills and attention to detail
• Persistence and initiative
• Ability to manage multiple projects/priorities
• Experience with word processing software (MS Word, Adobe FrameMaker, etc.)