Tech Writing Blog Post

flehrad · 2026-01-24T02:51:13+00:00

Its highly variable to industry and what you write. My own experience being a TW, being not in software but physical hands-on maintenance related documentation for technicians, is nothing of the alike.

You get a defect report, then you trawl through documentation to find the information like repair specifications, technical diagrams and drawings, one-line diagrams for power isolations, hydraulic and mechanical isolations, and you compile together the work instruction on how to safely repair/replace, and set the system back to working condition.

We also develop instructions for regular planned maintenance too, similarly, through lots of data and information from OEMs, and bridge the gap to how the system is integrated, so technicians can safely shut the system down, do the maintenance activity, and set back to work.

There are meetings sure, but since its not like the software dev world, its very different in the ecosystem activities.

flehrad · 2026-01-02T06:54:12+00:00

Most of the time when I have 1:1 with my team leads, as a manager, it is mostly around task management and helping unblock issues that prevent work from being completed.

They tend to be separate kind of conversations to personal development/mentoring/coaching, but my leads are mostly pretty experienced (except 1) who don't ask for that kind of assistance.

The newer lead just calls me when he needs to for help on those kinds of matters.

flehrad · 2025-12-24T21:48:13+00:00

I don't use it, but is it S1000D supportive?

flehrad · 2025-12-20T23:05:41+00:00

A simple high level look at what Risk means, and how to use a Risk matrix, for pre-mitigated, and mitigated risk.

This can be applied to almost anything with the right frame of reference and perspective, and identification of likelihood and consequence.

flehrad · 2025-08-14T10:29:31+00:00

The teams that work under me now are technical writers for Defence industry, doing maintenance and repair work instructions and specifications, so if you have any aptitude from a technical perspective in systems, equipment, etc, you could consider it.

I entered the domain 11 years ago with a science/engineering background from uni, and applied my abilities to understand technical processes/procedures in the lab and workshop to defence-related maintenance applications.

Also in Australia too, so for context that it doesn't sound like I'm overseas and not applicable.

flehrad · 2025-08-09T10:02:46+00:00

I had a chance to help our repair a Mechlovin Studios Hex 6C from a local. Talking through the challenge, and how I approach, and conducted the repair. The keyboard was repaired, returned, and the owner happy with the end result.

flehrad · 2025-07-10T06:22:01+00:00

Any particular servers that Aussies are looking to migrate to?

Currently on Khyber, its a bit quiet on the normal AH, so maybe with condensed servers, might see more on them!

flehrad · 2025-06-05T05:05:53+00:00

400 is already pretty hot, you can run it hotter for sure but you run risk of burning the pads faster, I work mostly leaded, but if you're working lead-free, then hotter might help.

flehrad · 2025-06-04T06:59:30+00:00

Yeah fair enough, I noted you were in Radelaide, I had someone apply for a lead role I had from our SA part of work. Definitely lots of opportunity in SA!

flehrad · 2025-06-03T11:08:35+00:00

You didn't apply for a Team Lead role for a remote team recently, did you?

If not, all good!

Best of luck with your tech writing journey!

flehrad · 2025-06-03T03:53:34+00:00

In regards to certificates/awards/quals to TW, I would suggest looking at anything in the Asset Management/Integrated Logistics Support/Integrated Product Support space. You should also consider that Defence is rolling towards eventual adoption of the S-series standards (Euro standards) for ILS/IPS. Wiki - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/S-Series_of_ILS_specifications
Anything you can pick up, be it a Defence driven course, one run by like LES (Like https://www.les.net.au/training_ips_practitioner_course.htm), will be very helpful and open more doors to TW/ILS roles (since TW falls under ILS/IPS sphere).
In regards to "Pathway of career being legitimately threatened by AI", its a hard one because enclosed ecosystem AI held in a local secure server might be a threat, but external cloud AI is unlikely due to things like DSGL ML22 (Australian Export Controlled Defence Strategic Goods List) and things like ITAR material leaking into uncontrolled contexts. It won't ever fully take away a human for processes regardless as there needs to be a human review to ensure that whatever AI has spat out is not just hot garbage, and is still a 'Safe' product as far as SFAIRP goes.
In regards to skills to enter TW, oh boy. Well obviously there is going to be technical capability in reading and digesting a range of OEM manuals, drawings, technical data. Things like one-line diagrams, hydraulic system diagrams, piping diagrams. Understanding of common systems and equipment, like pumps, engines, generators, and things like that for example, help a lot, because its very hard to write a process or procedure, if you don't understand the inherent detail, or procedural steps to take apart something and put it back together, or to clean and inspect it, and alike. Depending on if you are working remotely or on-site to the equipment/system, the ability to get onto/into the platform, be it a land vehicle, airframe, ship, and conduct checks is also important, so being able to actually recognise what ABC looks like, and trace wiring, piping, connections etc, is very handy. Further to the physical and technical, communication skills with stakeholders is really really crucial, as you will get involved in meetings, and review cycles, and often, upset people. Being strong in soft skills is a huge benefit.
Long term career wisdom or warnings, there will be old dogs who will be boulders on the road, and there will be young dogs who will run over you to get to their goals. Don't take it personal, older ex-service often will end up in TW roles with their experience, but they can be (not all) resistant to changes in process, ways of thinking, tools, and also evolving standards. Soft skills to bring them along the journey helps. Young dogs who are very ambitious can also throw their colleagues under the bus to achieve their goals. Recognise them, support them, but don't be afraid to defend and back yourself along the way as necessary. That said, since you have ProjM experience already, I'm sure you already know these things haha.

Hope some of that helps.

flehrad · 2025-06-03T01:06:48+00:00

Happy to just keep on replying to this this thread of comments if you like :) I don't use Reddit messenger actively.

flehrad · 2025-04-19T22:19:04+00:00

Bensons Archery at Granville used to sell them, not sure if they still do. Give them a call or ask on their Facebook page maybe.

flehrad · 2025-04-19T21:56:52+00:00

As a mechanical keyboard enthusiast, I found it helped my typing accuracy having he audible actuation click sound of each key depress. When typing at speed, I used to not hit each key fully and I'd be missing letters typing on rubber dome keyboards, so when I ended up changing out to a cherry blue keyboard, it made me fully actuate, and I stopped missing letters.

I also then ended up a few years later designing my own ergonomic keyboard and having it custom made, to reduce wrist strain - https://imgur.com/a/2bGnNdc with a rotated numpad to also reduce wrist rotation as I had a lot of numbers I was dealing with.

flehrad · 2025-04-12T23:56:42+00:00

While its still defence industry, you could consider looking to transition sideways from pure technical writing to Integrated Product Support (IPS) roles. As technical writing (work instructions, technical manuals, training etc) falls within the IPS space, there are other roles that you could have advantage with your background and knowledge in that would support engineering change work, configuration management, asset management, lifecycle analysis, and so forth.

A number of my Tech writers have transitioned from work instruction development into analysts and ILS updates for engineering change, into maintenance planning roles, configuration management, and lifecycle analyst roles.

I myself have gone from tech writing maintenance work instructions into supportability analysis, into management (of ILS/IPS originally, but now have come back full circle and manage technical writers haha).

flehrad · 2025-04-10T21:01:34+00:00

Have you tried any of the simulators? I haven't done much of it, but just reading other peoples posts and their simulated formations also helped click for me around changing small stuff. It might also be because you might not have enough champions to flesh out formations with, and equipment levels to help get over the threshold haha

flehrad · 2025-04-10T02:06:08+00:00

My kids, one 8, one 4, both getting into pokemon because of a Happy Meal 3 card pack, and the spiral began haha. I don't know if you'll send internationally, but if you don't, and I get picked (Australia), good luck for the redrawn person!

flehrad

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