Technical Writer- ASRS (Automated Storage and Retrieval Systems) | Welwyn Garden City | Hybrid (2 days office)

About the role:

Shape the future of training and delivery of maintenance instructions within Ocado. To identify and develop the use of multimedia tools to create and revise maintenance instructions to enable end users to service and repair Ocado products as effectively as possible. By using a mix of existing and multimedia techniques (e.g. videos, animations and of course traditional documents) to produce high quality new and revised maintenance, installation, and service instructions. Whilst meeting the high expectations of technical content and format accuracy for the entire product lifecycle.

The Technical publications team create the technical manuals that enable our technicians on sites to service and maintain our ASRS equipment. Historically the manuals are written in text heavy documents complemented by illustrations. The ASRS stream wants to elevate our offering in technical documentation to take advantage of modern multimedia resources. To this end we wish to recruit a technical publications engineer with proven content creation experience.

While the technical writer works directly with a development team, they are a member of a technical writing team within their business stream which provides the support, guidance and education needed to perform the role, and also a wider technical writing unit. Away from the direct work with the development team(s), the technical writer is expected to take an active role in furthering the aims of the technical writing team. They will do this by contributing to improve the practices and working methods that are followed, and to enhance the end user's experience of using product support documentation.

What we're looking for:

• Drive the development and evolution of technical instructions for Ocado’s automation products including Robots, Charging Systems, Recovery Solutions and more.
• Produce unambiguous multimedia content to instruct end users how to perform maintenance tasks, including:
  • Illustrations
  • Animations
  • Video content
  • Written instructions.
• Produce clear and consistent multimedia content from existing design data (e.g. 3D CAD models, engineering drawings, electrical schematics, engineering bill of materials) to support technical understanding.
• Produce clear, easy-to-read, and consistent instructions and supporting content, for the elements of the Ocado Automated Storage and Retrieval Systems (ASRS) including:
  • Operation and Maintenance Manuals
  • Component Maintenance Manuals
  • Installation Manuals

As a technical writer you will:

• Produce clear, easy-to-read, and consistent documentation and supporting content, forAutomated Storage and Retrieval Systems (ASRS) including:
  • Operation and Maintenance Manuals
  • Component Maintenance Manuals
  • Installation Manuals
  • Troubleshooting Guides

• Liaise with design teams and interpret design data to write concise, usable technical procedures in accordance with the Ocado style guide, and ensure consistent attribute naming for technical features.
• Produce consistent unambiguous illustrations and other visualisations from existing design data (e.g. 3D CAD models, engineering drawings, electrical schematics, engineering bill of materials) to support technical understanding.
• Actively engage with engineering projects and hands-on data capture with your own independent task analysis.
• Become a subject matter expert for the areas you work on.
• Validate the written manuals by personally executing the procedures on the intended automation equipment with some travel to Ocado sites within the UK.
• Work with Project Managers, Design Teams, Developers, and other Technical Writers.
• Understand the needs of Training Managers responsible for training on site technicians in the use of our automated solutions, to ensure help content supports and complements their efforts
• Review and proofread other writers’ work.
• Contribute to the working methods and processes of the wider Technical Writing team
• Troubleshooting Guides.
• Liaise with design teams and interpret design data to write concise, usable technical procedures.
• Actively engage with engineering projects to identify and capture data necessary to create technical multimedia content.
• Become a subject matter expert in the creation of technical content .
• Validate the technical instructions by personally executing the procedures on the intended automation equipment with end users located on Ocado sites within the UK.
• Work with Project Managers, Design Teams, Developers, and other Technical Publication and Content Creators.
• Understand the needs of Training Managers responsible for training on-site technicians in the use of our automated solutions, to ensure help content supports and complements their efforts.
• Review and proofread other team members work.
• Contribute to developing the working methods and processes of the wider Technical Publications team.

Essential Skills required:

• Working knowledge to create functional illustrations, animations and video instructions.
• The ability to create accessible illustrations from design data (including CAD) to support written procedures.
• Proven technical content creation experience (ideally for electro-mechanical systems), such as operation and maintenance manual, component maintenance manual, install manual and troubleshooting guides.
• Working knowledge of structured content creation tools
• Impeccable written English, and the ability to write consistently and concisely in accordance with a style guide.
• Experience working within a structured authoring environment using industry recognised tools
• Ability to understand sometimes complex flows or technical information, and to be able to explain them clearly and simply to an end-user.
• Ability to work independently to tight deadlines, across multiple projects simultaneously.

What do I get in return:

• Flexible working patterns and options for remote working (depending on your role/team)
• Wellbeing support through Apps such as Unmind and an Employee Assistance Programme
• 25 days annual leave, rising to 27 days after 5 years service (plus optional holiday purchase)
• Pension scheme(various options available including employer contribution matching up to 7%)
• Private Medical Insurance
• 22 weeks paid maternity leave and 6 weeks paid paternity leave (once relevant service requirements complete)
• Train Ticket loan (interest-free)
• Cycle to Work Scheme
• Opportunity to participate in Share save and Buy as You Earn share schemes
• 15% discount on Ocado.com and free delivery for all employees
• Income Protection(can be up to 50% of salary for 3 years) and Life Assurance(3 x annual salary)
• Free shuttle bus to and from Hatfield Train Station to the Hatfield offices
• Free shuttle bus to and from Welwyn Garden City Train Station to the Welwyn Garden City offices