PMEL Forum

POSITION TITLE: Technical Writer   
LOCATION: AFPSL, 813 Irving-Wick Dr.  West, Heath, Ohio 43056
SUPERVISOR: Technical Order Department Manager   
CLASSIFICATION: Non-Exempt   
HOURS: Full-Time Monday thru Friday (40 Hrs) some OT may be required   
SALARY: $22. 74 to $27. 82 per hour         

JOB DESCRIPTION:
The Technical Writer is responsible for the development and revision of calibration procedures/technical orders for AFPSL and U. S.  Air Force calibration technicians.
   
EXPERIENCE AND EDUCATION:
1.    HS Diploma or related equivalent experience
2.    Completion of the DOD Precision Measurement Equipment Laboratory (PMEL) School.
3.    Minimum of five years of work experience in a U. S.  Air Force PMEL

BASIC REQUIREMENTS:   
1.    Experience with U. S.  Air Force Calibration Procedure Technical Orders
2.    Good communication and interpersonal skills
3.    Working knowledge of Microsoft Office (i. e.  Excel, Word) required.
4.    Understanding of the U. S.  Air Force Equipment Management System and Federal Supply System.
5.    Excellent working knowledge of metrology and calibration principles, practices and issues in the RF/Microwave (K3/K4) section.  Particularly in the areas of Signal Generators, Spectrum Analyzers, Oscilloscopes, Electronic Counters and Network Analyzers.
6.    Understanding of metrology mathematical skills, including the ability to calculate test accuracy ratios/test uncertainty ratios, root sum squared calculations and simple uncertainty analysis.
7.    Excellent documentation and customer service skills
8.    Excellent attention to detail
9.    Demonstrates ability to work independently while meeting deadlines
10.    Travel may be required

RESPONSIBILITIES AND DUTIES:

Essential/Typical Duties:
1.    Use Air Force PMEL knowledge to develop, write, and edit material for Air Force 33K Series Technical Orders.
2.    Read commercial data and other materials to become familiar with specific product technologies and calibration methods
3.    Organize material and complete writing assignment in accordance with set standards regarding order, clarity, conciseness, style, and terminology
4.    Coordinate Technical Order development and changes with Air Force Metrology and Calibration (AFMETCAL).

Non-Essential Duties:
Perform other related duties as assigned.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS:
Often requires:
Climbing, Stooping, Kneeling, Reaching, Standing, Sitting, Walking, Pushing,
Pulling, Talking and Hearing.

Lifting/Moving Requirements: Up to 20 pounds
Environmental Conditions: Office Conditions

All qualified candidates should submit their resumes (and any relevant documents) to:
Greg Stern – REF: Tech Writer
Email:                HR@bionetics. com
Fax:                         (757) 952-3700
Mailing Address:                 The Bionetics Corporation
                                      Attn: Greg Stern
                                      101Production Drive, Suite 100
                                      Yorktown, VA 23693
                                      REF: TECH WRITER

EOE M/F/D/V Employability in the U. S.  and pre-employment drug screen required.

**If using Bionetics' Career website, simply submit your resume through the provided link.   Applications are not required for job consideration. **

Bionetics,
  Personally I believe I would be a great fit for this position however until you can guarantee me the freedom to actually fix the procedures and not just do what is asked of me on some form my some so called civil servant I will not be joining your group. I have already spoken to two or more people up there and they are already aware of the problem of which I'm referring to. You "fix" the procedure as they want you to knowing that it is not correct and "fix" it again 30-90 days later.

On another note is there still a health insurance problem? I don't recall the exact details of it but a few years ago there was some minor issue...

Interested parties,
  Pay is good but you are not writing procedures except for new ones. They have a form (with a form number) that instructs you on the changes to make. You make them whether they are correct or not. Until the Air Force wants to give the contractor the permission to do the job correctly then procedures will never be fixed. Also you know those equipment specialists whose name you see in the AFTO 22 list - many are great people but some are very bull headed and at times reluctant to help you. This is a job for which I have been told by more than one person I would be good for however after getting most of my questions answered I found out I would not have the freedom to actually fix any problems.

--
I don't intend to hurt any feelings or step on any toes I just feel that this job isn't really a writer position but more of a band aid for some problems. AFMETCAL has too much old thinking in the program which really stifles the field from getting things done correctly and efficiently.

Broken_Wings
Since I haven't seen any other responses to your posting, I guess I will have to be the one to clear up your misconceptions.   I am a Bionetics Technical Writer and have been working here for the better part of 8 years.   I have been called much worse than a band aid, so you haven't hurt my feelings at all, but it seems you're operating on some bad information.

First, the TCMs employed by the Government are there to provide oversight, inspection and direction to ensure the requirements of the contract are met.   They have many additional responsibilities relating to the research and purchase of Standards and answering questions from the field.   Many TCMs have engineering degrees or an extensive background with the Air Force Metrology Program.   Also, many are retired Air Force, have been on the bench and have served with the Evaluation Team at some point in their careers.

Second, the form you allude to in your first and third paragraphs is the AFTO Form 252.   The majority of AFTO Form 252s that are initated for correction by the T. O.  Department are as a direct result of an AFTO Form 22 submitted by contractors, civilians or military personnel in the field.   By contract, we are required to make the changes specified on the direction.   There is not enough time in the day to search for additional errors in every T. O.  that has been put into work.   If a Technical Writer notices a problem, or if the change could break the procedure, we have methods to notify the TCM of these problems and either have them corrected at that time, or the TCM can rescind the work order for further research.   I have worked with many of the TCMs at AFMETCAL and they have always been responsive and receptive to suggestions for improvement of the T. O.   As for the bull-headed comment, I'm reminded of a sign that was posted in the Standards Lab at a company I worked at in California.   It read (partially):  Metrologists are opinionated, obstinate, argumentative, (continued like that for at least another 25 synonyms), but they're always right.   So bull-headed is probably a pretty good description of anyone in this field.

Lastly, I have read many of your previous postings and you seem to provide some valuable information regarding questions in the K3, K4 areas.   From your first statement in this posting it seems like you have a little bit of an ego.   (Another major requirement for someone that works in the Metrology field. )  I have worked in the field since I completed the U. S.  Navy portion of the PMEL School at Lowry AFB in 1979, so I know of what I speak.   I can recommend working here for no other reason but that it's a very humbling experience.   I started here with over 20 years Metrology experience, confident in the fact that I would fix everything.   After almost 8 years here, I am still learning something new every day.   I would hate to see any qualified personnel, pass the job up based on your post.   I would hope anyone interested would at least do their own research and determine whether it would be a good fit before rejecting it out of hand.

John Treekiller
Technical Writer

Tree
It's nice you didn't mention the syntax, improper grammer and run on sentince in his post :evil:

Yeah I didn't have grammar in school. I'm not that old. I'm not an editor either. I will say this ... it is easier to spot somebody else's mistake than your own. (apparently that apostrophe isn't right)

Quote from: Broken_Wings link=topic=1811. msg15609#msg15609 date=1288295173
Yeah I didn't have grammar in school.  I'm not that old.  I'm not an editor either. 

Perhaps you should learn grammer before becoming a tech writer.   :evil:

Great post Broken_Wings!!!

"Perhaps you should learn grammer before becoming a tech writer. "

You're right I meant "Perhaps you should learn grammer "to be a gamer" before becoming a tech writer. "

Quote from: 666Vette link=topic=1811. msg15688#msg15688 date=1289940686

Quote from: Broken_Wings link=topic=1811.  msg15609#msg15609 date=1288295173
Yeah I didn't have grammar in school.   I'm not that old.   I'm not an editor either.  

Perhaps you should learn grammer before becoming a tech writer.    :evil:

Great post Broken_Wings!!!

Or spelling