Technical Writer - Data Migration Specialist

ECHO Incorporated is an industry leader in developing and manufacturing high-performance, professional-grade, handheld outdoor power equipment. With distributors and thousands of dealers across North and South America, ECHO is constantly anticipating the future of the outdoor power equipment industry and the need for environmental sustainability. Working for ECHO means joining a team of people who are committed to collaboration, innovation, creativity, and high-quality products that make us a globally competitive brand.

ECHO is seeking an experienced Data Migration Specialist to join our Technical Publications team and support the development, maintenance, and modernization of product documentation for ECHO/Shindaiwa products. This role blends traditional technical writing with hands-on involvement in DITA migration initiatives, content optimization, and cross-functional collaboration across global teams.

The salary range for this position is $70,000-$80,000 based on experience and qualifications.

This is a hybrid position that will offer the flexibility of working from home and on-site at our Lake Zurich facility.

ECHO’s benefits include:

• 11 paid holidays
• Extremely affordable medical, dental, and vision insurance
• Paid time off 
• Yearly bonus potential
• 5% 401K match
• Tuition reimbursement

Duties/Responsibilities: 

• Collaborate with Technical Publications teams and SMEs across Japan, Europe, and South America.

• Research and validate technical information using SMEs, AS400, VBOM, engineering drawings, bills of material, and historical documentation.

• Develop operator’s manuals, quick start guides, bulletins, instruction sheets, and supplemental materials according to the publication schedule.

• Produce high-quality, standards-compliant content with clear, audience-appropriate language.

• Partner with internal teams to understand product specifications and documentation requirements.

• Analyze existing and future content to identify reuse and single-sourcing opportunities.

• Create accurate illustrations using Adobe Illustrator and SolidWorks Composer.

• Maintain consistent naming conventions, revision control, and file management practices.

• Ensure adherence to ECHO style guides and documentation standards.

• Coordinate translation needs and implement strategies to reduce translation costs.

• Execute DITA migration strategies, including content assessment, cleanup, conversion, and validation.

• Work closely with SMEs and cross-functional teams to prepare content for migration.

• Train and support technical writers and team members on DITA authoring, best practices, and content reuse.

• Perform quality assurance on migrated content to ensure accuracy, completeness, and compliance with DITA standards.

• Document migration processes to support future migrations and continuous improvement.

• Cross-train with other technical writers to share and expand authoring and illustration skills.

• Assist internal departments with writing, language development, and communication needs as required.

Job Experience/Skills:

• 5+ years of experience in data migration or structured content environments.

• Experience with XML/DITA authoring tools (e.g., oXygen, Arbortext).

• Experience working within a content management system (CMS), including file workflows and version control.

• Familiarity with 2-stroke engines is a plus.

• Strong research, communication, and problem-solving skills.

• Ability to manage multiple projects and meet deadlines in a fast-paced environment.

Education: College degree preferred or equivalent experience.

Equal Opportunity Employment:

We are an equal opportunity employer. We welcome all applicants.

E-Verification:

In compliance with federal law, all persons hired will be required to verify identity and eligibility to work in the United States and to complete the required employment eligibility verification form upon hire.