Field of studyEnglish, Journalism, Technical Field
Study levelMaster's
Original posting
Senior Technical Editor
Nexight Group is seeking an experienced Senior Technical Editor to provide editorial leadership and quality oversight for a high-volume portfolio of technical publications and communications products supporting a federal transportation client. This senior-level role requires exceptional editorial judgment, technical editing expertise, and leadership skills to guide a team of writers and editors, manage complex editorial workflows, and ensure technically accurate, clear, consistent, and publication-ready products for diverse audiences.
This position is contingent upon Nexight Group receiving an anticipated federal contract award. Employment under this position will begin only after contract award and authorization to proceed.
Nexight Group is a small technical and management consulting firm that serves a variety of clients in many topic areas. We value adaptability, critical thinking, curiosity, initiative, and taking pride in high-quality work. Our staff work collaboratively, communicate openly, and continuously look for ways to improve our work and deliver greater value to clients. To learn more about the company, please visit our careers page.
Applicants should have the necessary skills to perform the following job responsibilities:
Provide editorial leadership and quality oversight across a high-volume portfolio of technical publications and communications products, establishing consistent standards and practices for editorial quality, technical accuracy, and consistency across the team.
Direct and mentor writers and editors, assigning editorial work based on subject matter, product requirements, staff expertise, workload, and deadlines and providing constructive feedback that strengthens team performance.
Perform and oversee substantive editing, copyediting, proofreading, rewriting, and formatting to improve accuracy, clarity, logical flow, organization, readability, and consistency.
Review complex technical and research content for accuracy and completeness, including fact checking, reference checking, data verification, terminology, tables, figures, citations, product names, trademarks, copyrights, and permissions.
Collaborate with authors, researchers, engineers, subject matter experts, communications staff, designers, and other stakeholders to translate complex technical information into authoritative, audience-appropriate communications.
Manage complex editorial workflows and multiple review cycles, maintaining version control and ensuring comments, technical review feedback, and required approvals are accurately incorporated.
Ensure compliance with applicable agency and federal editorial, accessibility, copyright, permissions, and publishing requirements.
Provide editorial oversight throughout the complete production lifecycle, from initial content review and planning through layout, quality assurance, approval, and final publication across print, web, and digital formats.
Proactively identify editorial risks, inconsistencies, recurring quality issues, and process inefficiencies and implement practical improvements to strengthen quality and efficiency.
Manage editorial workload, priorities, schedules, quality, and continuity across concurrent assignments.
This is a hybrid position. Candidates should be within reasonable commuting distance of the Washington, DC, metropolitan area and available for meetings and other activities at client locations in McLean, VA, and Washington, DC, as required.
Summary of Qualifications
Required Education and Experience
Master's degree in English, Journalism, or a technical field.
10+ years of progressively responsible professional experience in technical editing, writing, publishing, or related technical communications work.
Demonstrated supervisory experience leading, mentoring, or directing writers, editors, or other communications professionals.
Demonstrated project management experience managing complex editorial or publication workflows, schedules, assignments, reviews, and deadlines.
Extensive experience performing substantive editing, copyediting, proofreading, fact checking, reference checking, and quality assurance for complex technical publications.
Experience managing technical publications through multiple review and approval cycles from draft through final production.
Experience working directly with subject matter experts and translating complex technical or research information for diverse audiences.
Experience applying formal editorial standards, accessibility requirements, copyright and permissions requirements, and publication quality controls.
Strong proficiency with Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and electronic review/editing tools.
Ability to successfully complete required federal personnel security/background investigation and obtain required facility and system access.
Required Demonstrated Ability and Skill
Exceptional editorial judgment and expert command of grammar, punctuation, style, organization, and technical document conventions.
Ability to identify both detailed editorial issues and higher-level problems involving logic, organization, completeness, audience needs, and technical clarity.
Ability to lead, mentor, and develop writers and editors, providing clear, constructive feedback while maintaining productive working relationships.
Ability to build trusted relationships and communicate professionally with clients, authors, subject matter experts, reviewers, designers, colleagues, and senior leaders.
Ability to manage multiple complex publications and editorial assignments simultaneously while maintaining rigorous attention to detail and meeting time-sensitive deadlines.
Sound judgment and strong critical thinking and problem-solving skills, including the ability to identify quality risks, resolve ambiguous editorial issues, and determine when questions require SME or client input.
Curiosity, critical thinking, adaptability, and initiative, including the ability to quickly become conversant in unfamiliar technical topics, solve problems proactively, and identify opportunities to improve editorial processes and products.
Ability to take ownership of work independently while collaborating effectively across multidisciplinary teams in a fast-paced, deadline-oriented consulting environment.
Preferred Qualifications
Transportation, highway/surface transportation, infrastructure, engineering, or applied-research communications experience.
Federal government technical publishing or communications experience.
Experience leading editorial teams supporting high-volume portfolios of concurrent technical publications.
Advanced knowledge of Section 508 accessibility and federal publishing requirements.
Familiarity with Adobe Acrobat and publishing/design workflows.
All full-time employees of Nexight Group receive a competitive salary and attractive benefits, including medical, dental, and vision insurance; paid parental leave; company contributions to employee health savings accounts (HSAs); company 401(k) contributions; profit sharing; and an annual bonus program.
To Apply
Please submit the following information:
Resume
A cover letter that articulates your qualifications, uses examples that demonstrate your skills and background relevant to the position, and details your motivation for this position
Two writing and/or editing samples demonstrating your ability to improve and communicate complex technical information for diverse audiences. At least one sample should demonstrate substantive editing or editorial leadership. Samples may include technical reports, research publications, articles, guidance documents, or other substantive publications. For editing samples, please briefly describe your editorial role and the nature of your contribution to the final product.
Applications without a resume, cover letter, and writing/editing samples will not be considered.
If you require reasonable accommodation to complete a job application, pre-employment testing, or a job interview or to otherwise participate in the hiring process, please contact: careers@nexightgroup.com.
Nexight Group LLC provides equal employment opportunities without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, marital status, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information, or any other protected characteristic under applicable law. This involves all phases of employment, including, but not limited to, recruiting, employment, placement, promotion, transfer, demotion, reduction of workforce and termination, rates of pay or other forms of compensation, selection for training, the use of all facilities, and participation in all company-sponsored employee activities. Provisions in applicable laws providing for bona fide occupational qualifications, business necessity, or age limitations will be adhered to by the company where appropriate.
All applicants must be authorized to work in the United States without sponsorship. PRINCIPALS ONLY. VEVRAA Federal Contractor. Priority referrals of protected veterans desired. Equal Opportunity Employer.