Senior Technical Writer

📌 Core Information

🔹 Job Title: Senior Technical Writer

🔹 Company: Corelight

🔹 Location: North America (Remote OK)

🔹 Job Type: Full-Time

🔹 Category: Computer and Network Security

🔹 Date Posted: April 16, 2025

🔹 Experience Level: 5-10 years

🔹 Remote Status: Remote OK

🚀 Job Overview

Key aspects of this role include:

• Writing clear, concise, and complete step-by-step procedures for cybersecurity products and solutions
• Creating screenshots and network diagrams to explain/enhance topics
• Contributing to both UI and API documentation
• Collaborating with engineering, product, and support teams
• Managing multiple ongoing projects simultaneously

ASSUMPTION: This role requires strong technical writing skills and the ability to work closely with technical teams to gather and document complex information.

📋 Key Responsibilities

✅ Write clear, concise, and complete step-by-step procedures for cybersecurity products and solutions

✅ Create screenshots and network diagrams to explain/enhance topics

✅ Contribute to both UI and API documentation

✅ Collaborate with engineering, product, and support teams to gather information about the product and how it is used by customers

✅ Edit and streamline text within the user interface

✅ Help standardize terminology and develop style guidelines

✅ Manage multiple ongoing projects simultaneously

✅ Identify and address content gaps or the need for additional media such as diagrams or videos

ASSUMPTION: The role requires a high level of organization and the ability to manage multiple projects effectively.

🎯 Required Qualifications

Education: Bachelor’s degree in a technical field (or equivalent experience)

Experience: 5+ years experience writing, editing, researching, and planning technical documentation

Required Skills:

• Excellent skills in grammar, minimalist documentation design, and effective information architecture
• Ability to structure written content thoughtfully, considering maintenance and re-usability
• Experience with networking, security, and cloud solutions. Background in cyber security is a plus.
• Strong technical skills with ability to work closely with technical subject matter experts
• Effective collaboration with globally distributed teams

Preferred Skills:

• Basic HTML/CSS
• Issue tracking software (JIRA)
• Graphics software (Adobe Illustrator)
• Development cycle planning and management (Agile, Kanban, Scrum mastering)

ASSUMPTION: While not explicitly stated, familiarity with Sphinx (using reStructuredText in Visual Studio Code) and GitLab is likely required for this role.

💰 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: $130,000 - $150,000 USD per year

Benefits:

• Stock Options
• Equity

Working Hours: Full-time (40 hours/week)

ASSUMPTION: The salary range provided is an estimate based on the company's size and the role's requirements. It may vary depending on factors such as the candidate's location, skills, and experience.

📌 Applicant Insights

🔍 Company Context

Industry: Corelight operates in the competitive and rapidly evolving field of computer and network security, focusing on network detection and response (NDR) solutions.

Company Size: Corelight is a mid-sized company with 201-500 employees, providing a balance between a startup's agility and an enterprise's stability.

Founded: Corelight was founded in 2013, building on open-source innovations from Zeek, Suricata, and YARA.

Company Description:

• Corelight transforms network and cloud activity into evidence, enabling data-first defenders to stay ahead of ever-changing attacks.
• The company's open NDR platform provides comprehensive, correlated evidence for network visibility, investigation, hunting, and disruption of future attacks.
• Corelight's customers include Fortune 500 companies, major government agencies, and research universities.

Company Specialties:

• Bro
• Intrusion Detection
• Cybersecurity
• Zeek
• Network Security Monitoring (NSM)
• Network Traffic Analysis (NTA)
• Network Detection and Response (NDR)
• Threat Detection

Company Website: https://www.corelight.com

ASSUMPTION: Corelight's focus on open-source technologies and its commitment to providing comprehensive evidence for network security make it an attractive employer for technical writers with a background in cybersecurity.

📊 Role Analysis

Career Level: This role is a senior-level position, requiring a high level of expertise and experience in technical writing.

Reporting Structure: The Senior Technical Writer will likely report to the Director of Technical Writing or a similar role and work closely with various teams, including engineering, product, and support.

Work Arrangement: The role is remote-friendly, allowing for flexible work arrangements.

Growth Opportunities:

• Potential to mentor junior technical writers or contribute to the development of the company's documentation processes.
• Opportunities to expand skills and knowledge in cybersecurity and related technologies.
• Potential for career advancement within the technical writing team or other departments as the company grows.

ASSUMPTION: Given Corelight's focus on innovation and growth, there may be opportunities for the right candidate to shape the company's documentation strategy and processes.

🌍 Location & Work Environment

Office Type: Corelight has offices in San Francisco, CA, and Worthington, OH, but the role is remote-friendly, allowing for flexibility in work location.

Office Location(s): 548 Market St, PMB 77799, San Francisco, CA 94104-5401, US; 5701 North High Street, Suite 308, Worthington, OH 43085, US

Geographic Context:

• The role is remote-friendly, allowing for flexibility in work location within the United States.
• Corelight's headquarters in San Francisco, CA, places the company at the heart of the global tech industry.
• The company's presence in Worthington, OH, provides an alternative office location for those who prefer a more suburban setting.

Work Schedule: The role requires a full-time commitment, with standard working hours expected. However, the remote-friendly nature of the role may offer some flexibility in scheduling.

ASSUMPTION: While the role is remote-friendly, candidates may need to be available for meetings and collaboration with teams based in different time zones.

💼 Interview & Application Insights

Typical Process:

• Online application and resume submission
• Phone or video screen with the hiring manager or a member of the HR team
• Technical writing test or assignment
• Final interview with the Director of Technical Writing or another senior team member

Key Assessment Areas:

• Technical writing skills and experience
• Familiarity with networking, security, and cloud solutions
• Ability to work closely with technical teams and gather information
• Cultural fit and alignment with Corelight's values

Application Tips:

• Highlight relevant experience and skills in your resume, focusing on technical writing, documentation, and familiarity with cybersecurity concepts.
• Tailor your cover letter to demonstrate your understanding of Corelight's products and the role's requirements.
• Prepare for the technical writing test or assignment by reviewing Corelight's existing documentation and familiarizing yourself with the company's products and services.
• Research Corelight's company culture and values to ensure a strong cultural fit.

ATS Keywords: Technical Writing, Documentation, Cybersecurity, Networking, Security, Cloud Solutions, Collaboration, Global Teams, Agile, Kanban, Scrum, Sphinx, GitLab, reStructuredText, Visual Studio Code

ASSUMPTION: Corelight's use of Sphinx and GitLab for documentation authoring and management may be assessed during the interview process or through a technical writing test or assignment.

🛠️ Tools & Technologies

• Sphinx (using reStructuredText in Visual Studio Code)
• GitLab
• Adobe Illustrator (for graphics and diagrams)
• JIRA (for issue tracking)
• Agile, Kanban, or Scrum (for project management)

ASSUMPTION: Familiarity with these tools and technologies is likely required for the role, although specific proficiency levels may vary.

👔 Cultural Fit Considerations

Company Values:

• Customer-focused
• Innovative
• Collaborative
• Accountable
• Inclusive

Work Style:

• Remote-friendly and globally distributed teams
• Agile and collaborative work environment
• Focus on continuous learning and improvement
• Strong commitment to customer success

Self-Assessment Questions:

• Do you have a strong commitment to customer success and a customer-focused mindset?
• Are you comfortable working in a remote and globally distributed team environment?
• Do you thrive in an agile and collaborative work environment, with a focus on continuous learning and improvement?
• Are you able to work effectively with technical subject matter experts and gather information from various sources?

ASSUMPTION: Corelight places a strong emphasis on cultural fit and values-driven decision-making, so candidates should carefully consider how their work style and values align with the company's.

⚠️ Potential Challenges

• The role may require working with complex technical concepts and documentation tools, which could present a learning curve for candidates without relevant experience.
• Corelight's focus on innovation and rapid growth may result in a fast-paced work environment with shifting priorities and tight deadlines.
• The role may require occasional travel for team meetings or customer visits, which could be a challenge for candidates who prefer a fully remote work arrangement.
• The company's remote-friendly work environment may present communication and collaboration challenges, requiring strong self-motivation and time management skills.

ASSUMPTION: These challenges are inherent to the role and the company's work environment, and candidates should carefully consider whether they are well-suited to these potential obstacles.

📈 Similar Roles Comparison

• This role is similar to other Senior Technical Writer positions in the cybersecurity industry, but Corelight's focus on open-source technologies and its commitment to providing comprehensive evidence for network security set it apart from other employers.
• Corelight's mid-sized company structure provides a balance between the agility of a startup and the stability of an enterprise, offering unique opportunities for growth and development.
• Career paths for Senior Technical Writers at Corelight may include advancement to a leadership role within the technical writing team or transition to a related role within the company, such as a product manager or solutions architect.

ASSUMPTION: Candidates should consider their long-term career goals and how this role aligns with their desired career path when evaluating Corelight as an employer.

📝 Sample Projects

• Updating Corelight's user guide to reflect changes in the company's products or services
• Creating a new API documentation set for a recently launched product or feature
• Developing a video tutorial series to complement Corelight's existing documentation and improve customer onboarding

ASSUMPTION: These sample projects are intended to illustrate the types of tasks and responsibilities that a Senior Technical Writer at Corelight might encounter, but the specific projects assigned may vary based on the company's priorities and the candidate's skills and experience.

❓ Key Questions to Ask During Interview

• Can you describe the typical workflow for a Senior Technical Writer at Corelight, and how this role fits into the broader documentation strategy?
• How does Corelight support the professional development and growth of its technical writing team members?
• Can you provide examples of how Corelight's values are reflected in the company's culture and work environment?
• How does Corelight approach collaboration and communication in a remote-friendly work environment, and what tools and processes are in place to support this?
• What are the most significant challenges facing the technical writing team in the coming months, and how can this role contribute to addressing them?

ASSUMPTION: These questions are designed to help candidates better understand the role, the company, and the work environment, allowing them to make an informed decision about whether the position is the right fit for their skills, experience, and career goals.

📌 Next Steps for Applicants

To apply for this position:

• Submit your application through this link
• Tailor your resume to highlight your relevant experience and skills in technical writing, documentation, and cybersecurity
• Write a cover letter that demonstrates your understanding of Corelight's products and the role's requirements
• Prepare for the technical writing test or assignment by reviewing Corelight's existing documentation and familiarizing yourself with the company's products and services
• Follow up with the hiring manager or HR team one week after submitting your application to inquire about the status of your application

⚠️ This job description contains AI-assisted information. Details should be verified directly with the employer before making decisions.