Overview
Key Requirements for the Technical Writer
Primary Responsibilities
Embed with technical teams (architects, CBM/W, delivery managers, POs).
Attend discussions and whiteboard sessions, gather information, and document everything clearly.
Produce internal technical documentation (NOT customer-facing, NOT business-facing).
Create materials that leaders can review to make decisions.
Capture discussions before architects and engineers move ahead too quickly without documentation.
Document early stages of the program: requirements, system understanding, transformation planning.
Skillset
Strong technical documentation skills in an enterprise environment.
Comfortable working with enterprise-scale, cross-functional teams.
Ability to understand technical language and concepts enough to document them accurately.
Doesn’t need to be a tech expert, but must grasp the “why” behind the tech conversations.
Experience documenting modernization/transformation projects is helpful.
Bonus: Experience with SHARES (United’s legacy airline system).
Also acceptable: experience with Sabre or airline reservation systems.
Work Expectations
Hybrid but must be comfortable traveling to Houston (main technical hub).
Expect 1–2 days per week in Houston, especially at the beginning.
Other teams also sit in Chicago and LA.
Heavy first-phase whiteboard and architecture sessions will be in Houston.
Start Timeline
They need someone ASAP.
Ideally someone who can listen in on meetings next week, even before the onboarding paperwork is complete.
OK if the candidate is employed and needs a two-week notice, as long as they can at least listen/observe next week.
Contract Details
Initial funding: 6 months (“seed funding” to complete analysis).
Expected program length: 3–7 years, meaning extension is very likely.
Rate
Mohi has seen candidates around $75/hr.
He’s had conversations but hasn’t been satisfied (reasons below).
Why Previous Candidates Weren’t a Fit
Hybrid requirement pushback – One candidate didn’t want weekly in-office expectations.
Lack of enterprise-level experience – One local Houston candidate didn’t have enterprise documentation experience.
Some had strong writing skills, but not strong technical writing at enterprise scale.