How to Land Tech Writing Jobs

Forget the stereotype: a tech writing job isn’t typing code in a dark room. It’s turning chaos into clarity, and getting paid handsomely for it.

You don’t need to be a coder or a formatting wizard to land high-paying technical writer jobs in tech. What companies actually need are writers who can organize complexity, communicate with precision, and make jargon sound human.

Technical writing is one of the most lucrative and recession-proof niches in the writing world, especially if you're freelancing. I know because I used to be a web3 copywriter and storyteller (you might have seen me speak at conferences about the projects I was working on!) I see new listings for API docs, onboarding guides, and SaaS documentation projects every single week over on ✍️ Make Writing Your Job, my freelance writing job board.

Let’s break down what technical writing jobs actually look like, the different types of roles available, and how to start landing remote-friendly jobs in this space — even if you’re brand new to tech.

What Is Technical Writing, Exactly?

Technical writing is the art of explaining how complex tools, products, and systems actually work.

In tech, that might mean:

• Writing API documentation for a dev tools startup — translating code and functionality into clear instructions so other developers can use the product

• Creating onboarding guides for a B2B SaaS product — helping new users understand how to set up and use a software tool designed for businesses

• Drafting internal wikis for engineers and product teams — organizing internal knowledge, processes, and tools so teams can work faster and stay aligned

• Building out a knowledge base or help center — writing FAQ-style articles and tutorials that help customers troubleshoot problems on their own

• Writing white papers or product specs — crafting polished, detailed documents that explain how a product works or why it matters to technical and business audiences

The best technical writers aren’t just translators of jargon, they’re information architects. They help companies scale knowledge, improve user experience, and reduce support tickets.

Are Technical Writing Jobs Right for You?

You don’t need a computer science degree to write about software. But the most successful tech writers share a few core traits:

• Clarity over cleverness — You enjoy being precise, not poetic

• Systems thinking — You like structure, flowcharts, and figuring out how things connect

• Empathy for the end user — You’re obsessed with helping people get answers fast

• Experience in tech or SaaS — Even if you’ve never written docs, time spent in tech-adjacent roles (like content marketing or UX writing) can be a strong foundation

And while you don’t need to code from scratch, being comfortable reading code snippets (like Python or JavaScript) is a big plus for developer-facing roles.

But if you’ve ever explained Notion to your boss with screenshots and color-coded steps, you’re closer to being a technical writer than you think.

Types of Tech Writing Jobs You’ll See

The field is more varied than most people realize. Here are some of the most common categories of technical writing jobs in tech:

Developer-Focused Documentation

Think: APIs, SDKs, CLI tools, and integrations: the building blocks developers use to connect products and write code faster.

These projects involve writing docs that help other developers understand how to use a tool, integrate it with their stack, or build on top of it. You’ll collaborate closely with engineers and translate technical functionality into something a dev can read once and immediately implement (without posting a desperate question on Stack Overflow).

These roles tend to pay well and often lead to long-term retainer work, especially if the docs actually reduce support tickets.

SaaS Onboarding & Help Docs

Perfect for writers with a background in content strategy, UX writing, or customer education.

You’ll create onboarding flows, product tours, and step-by-step tutorials that help new users get value from a software product as quickly as possible. Think of this as the friendly guide that makes a complex tool feel intuitive and keeps users from rage-quitting during signup.

These roles often sit at the intersection of product, marketing, and customer success, and are critical for reducing churn.

Internal Knowledge Bases & Wikis

Fast-growing tech companies generate a lot of internal chaos and someone needs to document it.

These roles involve creating and maintaining wikis that house everything from engineering workflows to team onboarding checklists to platform architecture. Your audience isn’t customers — it’s your coworkers, who just want to find that one elusive Notion doc without desperately pinging six different people.

This kind of work is ideal if you love building order from mess and designing scalable systems behind the scenes.

White Papers, Case Studies & Product Specs

These are the more narrative-driven branches of technical writing; still precise, but with a storytelling slant.

In white papers, you might break down a new AI feature or blockchain protocol for a business audience. In product specs, you’re outlining how something should work before the engineers build it. In case studies, you’re showcasing how a product drove real results for a customer.

These roles are common in enterprise tech, cybersecurity, and AI, and they reward writers who can balance detail with persuasion.

How to Start Landing Technical Writer Jobs

Whether you're pivoting from content writing or just testing the waters, here’s your playbook for breaking in:

1. Build a Tech Writing Sample (or Two)

You don’t need client work to get started, you just need a strong sample.

• Rewrite a clunky help article

• Create documentation for an open-source tool

• Draft a step-by-step guide to a product you love (Zapier, Notion, Figma — anything with complexity)

Keep it clean, user-centered, and organized like real documentation.

2. Learn the Tools of the Trade

Familiarity goes a long way. Most technical writing jobs expect comfort with:

• Markdown and HTML

• Basic Git/GitHub workflows (e.g., pull requests)

• Docs-as-code platforms like ReadMe or Docusaurus

• Knowledge base tools like Confluence, MadCap Flare, or Oxygen XML

• Screenshot/diagram tools like Loom, Snagit, or Lucidchart

You don’t need to be an expert in all of these — just fluent enough to get the job done and collaborate with developers.

3. Start Pitching Tech Companies Directly

Not every company has a documentation team, but they all need documentation.

Look for:

• Startups that recently raised funding

• Dev tools companies with strong blogs but weak docs

• SaaS products with outdated help centers

Reach out with a short email offering a sample rewrite or a quick audit. Focus on value, not your resume.

And don’t skip larger tech companies, either. Enterprise teams at places like Google or Salesforce often hire freelancers to support internal or product documentation.

Need help crafting your outreach? I put together a full breakdown on how to get hired as a technical writer— including real-world pitching tips and red flags to avoid.

Ready to Land Your First Tech Writing Job?

Technical writing jobs are some of the highest-paying, most stable freelance writing opportunities in tech — and you don’t need a computer science degree to break in.

You need clear samples, a few strategic pitches, and the right leads. That’s where ✍️ Make Writing Your Job comes in.

This is the destination for freelance writers who want to get paid (well) for their words. Whether you’re a ghostwriter, journalist, essayist, or content pro, MWYJ helps you go from underpaid to in demand.

Included with your subscription:

• 📋 Writing Job Board — curated 5x/week with remote writing jobs that actually pay, including ghostwriting, book editing, and technical writing roles

• 💬 Subscriber Chat — daily job drops and advice from me + our growing community of six-figure writers

• 🧠 ClassStack — live classes on building your portfolio, landing clients, pitching like a pro, and scaling your writing income

• 💼 GuestStack — freelance writing jobs + interviews with writers who’ve used our board to land $50K+ projects

• ✨ Founding Member Access — 24-hour early access to featured jobs, small group classes, and more

🧾 $15/month or $135/year — less than a coffee a week for more clients, more confidence, and way better career outcomes.

And if you’re exploring other types of freelance writing work — like content strategy, UX writing, or journalism — I’ve put together a list of 14 remote writing jobs that are AI-proof to help you navigate your next big pivot.

Start landing remote writing jobs that match your ambition.

You don’t need to code like an engineer. You don’t need a fancy title. You just need one strong sample, one clear pitch — and the right opportunity to land your first tech writing job.