Job Summary:

Reporting to the team lead, the Science Writer documents the many ways NASA missions and research lead to cutting-edge innovation and new products that benefit the public. The Writer must be adept at conveying scientific research and technical details in a clear and compelling way to
non-scientific audiences.

Writing feature articles for publication—on the Spinoff and NASA webpages as well as in a variety of print products—is the primary duty of the position. The writer will also contribute multimedia content to, and develop strategy for, the program’s social media accounts.

Other work may include writing marketing materials for NASA’s patent portfolio, as well as contributing copy for brochures, flyers and presentations.

For Spinoff articles, the science writer interfaces with a broad array of sources, ranging from NASA scientists and engineers to company executives and marketing/public relations personnel. The writer finds and advances story leads, conducts interviews, drafts articles, gathers appropriate imagery, and guides his or her articles through a vetting process at NASA. The writer also reworks article content in a variety of formats, including shortened summaries, PowerPoint Presentations, and the like.

Responsibilities:

Writes feature-length science articles using information researched from technical publications and internet resources, manufacturers’ promotional material and advertising campaigns, and interviews with manufacturers and NASA sources.

• Performs independent research using NASA publications and websites, technical documents, company materials, and other trustworthy sources to verify facts and enrich his or her understanding of the subject matter.

• Verifies technology transfer with NASA field centers and company representatives.
• Coordinates with the graphic designer on design, layouts, and image selection for Spinoff and other publications.
• Collaborates with the Spinoff team and works independently to develop new materials such as posters, flyers, brochures, etc., for NASA clients.
• Proofreads and edits materials written by other Spinoff writers.
• Attends technical trade shows and conferences to obtain story leads and vendor contacts.
• Assists editor in keeping Spinoff website, database, and social media fresh and up to date.
• Responds to inquiries from NASA and the public regarding spinoff technologies.
• Participates in spinoff- and technology-transfer-related marketing events sponsored by NASA.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree or higher, particularly in English, journalism, or communications.
• You are REQUIRED to attach a Cover Letter with your resume.
• Experience working in the publishing environment, which may include magazines, journals, newsletters, books, brochures, posters, etc.
• Experience interviewing sources with a range of backgrounds, including highly technical fields.
• Ability to understand and work with complex technical information from a variety of engineering and scientific fields and translate it into smooth prose for a broad, educated lay audience.
• Strong editing and proofreading skills.
• Outstanding oral and written professional communication skills.
• Ability to multi-task duties and projects, particularly the ability to manage several deadlines effectively and prioritize work.
• Above all, must be an excellent writer, editor, and communicator.
• At least two years of experience in writing and publication development, including experience writing articles under tight deadlines and interviewing sources from a range of backgrounds.
• Excellent research and writing skills, including the ability to communicate technical concepts to nontechnical audiences.
• A willingness and enthusiasm to learn about NASA’s current and historical missions and research efforts, as well as a range of technological and scientific topics.
• Intermediate skills with Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint) and an ability to learn advanced tools and techniques.
• US citizen.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience with current industry standards for design in print and online publications.
• Knowledge of social media tools and marketing strategies.
• Experience with software tools to create short videos and/or GIFs for social media.
• Familiarity with desktop publishing

The anticipated pay range for this role is listed below. Our pay ranges represent national averages and may vary by location as a geographic differential may be applied to some locations within the United States.

RTI considers multiple factors when making an offer including, for example established salary range, internal budget, business needs, and education and years of work experience possessed by the applicant. Further, salary is merely one element to our offer.

At RTI, we demonstrate our commitment to rewarding individual and team achievement through a total rewards package. This package includes (among other things) a competitive base salary, a generous paid time off policy, merit-based annual increases, bonus opportunities and a robust recognition program. Other benefits include a competitive range of insurance plans (including health, dental, life, and short-term and long-term disability), access to a retirement savings program such as a 401(k) plan, paid parental leave for all parents, financial assistance with adoption expenses or infertility treatments, financial reimbursement for education and developmental opportunities, an employee assistance program, and numerous other offerings to support a healthy work-life balance.