Technical Publications Manager

 

We are currently seeking an ambitious pace-setter to join our team as a Technical Publications Manager hybrid in Logan, Utah.

iFIT is seeking an experienced, hands-on Technical Publications Manager to lead the strategy, creation, and international localization of our owner’s manuals and assembly guides for treadmills, exercise bikes, ellipticals, and strength machines. The ideal candidate brings deep technical writing and illustration expertise, a track record of shipping accurate documentation for high-volume consumer hardgoods, and the leadership ability to guide a small, detail-driven team. You will lead two technical publishing assistants and manage the full documentation lifecycle — from reading engineering CAD files and building exploded assembly drawings to writing step-by-step manuals and coordinating translation into six European languages.

 

ROLE COMMITMENTS

• Lead and mentor a team of two technical writing and graphics assistants.
• Own the documentation roadmap for the treadmill, bike, elliptical, and strength product lines.
• Keep manuals and assembly guides aligned with product launch schedules.
• Build strong partnerships with Engineering, Quality, and external translation agencies.
• Champion clear, safety-compliant documentation standards across the team.
• Deliver a high-quality customer experience from unboxing to assembly and build the value of the iFIT brand portfolio.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• Lead and manage two technical writing and graphics assistants; provide coaching, performance feedback, and career development guidance.
• Supervise, mentor, and delegate tasks to maintain high quality and meet tight deadlines.
• Identify documentation requirements across all treadmill, bike, elliptical, and strength machine product lines and align them with product launch schedules.
• Define milestones, manage schedules, and track deliverables for every manual and assembly guide through release.
• Extract and convert 3D CAD models into clear, accurate exploded-view assembly diagrams, hardware lists, and step-by-step assembly drawings.
• Write clear, concise, and safety-compliant copy for owner’s manuals, assembly guides, and maintenance documentation.
• Design clean, user-friendly layouts using Adobe InDesign or a dedicated authoring platform.
• Partner with Engineering, Quality, and Product Design to review CAD changes, BOMs, and ECOs and keep documentation accurate through production.
• Oversee the translation and DTP process for converting English manuals into six European languages, using CAT tools, Translation Memories, and external agency partners.
• Review and approve translated content for accuracy, layout integrity, and consistency before release.
• Ensure all manuals meet global regulatory safety standards, machinery directives, and required warnings such as ISO 20957 and CE.
• Establish documentation standards, templates, and style guides for the team.
• Establish team goals, KPIs, and metrics to measure documentation quality, turnaround time, and localization cost.
• Implement and maintain Content Management Systems or XML-based authoring such as DITA to improve reuse and efficiency.
• Manage multiple concurrent documentation projects while maintaining schedules and quality standards.
• Communicate project status effectively to team members, cross-functional partners, and senior leadership.
• Stay current with advancements in technical publishing, localization tools, and industry best practices.
• Proficiency with SolidWorks Composer, Adobe Creative Cloud (Illustrator, Photoshop, InDesign), Google Workspace, Excel, Arena, Slack, and Atlassian (Jira/Confluence).

EDUCATION & EXPERIENCE
Education and Basic Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Technical Communication, Mechanical Engineering, or Graphic Design, or equivalent practical experience.
• 5+ years of technical writing and technical illustration experience, ideally in consumer hardgoods, machinery, or fitness equipment manufacturing.
• Proficiency in SolidWorks Composer or similar 3D CAD illustration software, and Adobe Creative Cloud including Illustrator and Photoshop.
• Advanced skills in Adobe InDesign or dedicated authoring platforms.
• Direct experience managing multi-language localization workflows, working with translation agencies, and managing Translation Memories.
• Proven track record of managing projects, establishing documentation standards, and guiding direct reports.
• Ability to manage multiple concurrent projects in a fast-paced, cross-functional environment.
• Authorized to work in the United States without sponsorship.

Preferred Qualifications

• Knowledge of international machinery compliance standards including CE, ISO, and FCC/RED.
• Experience implementing Content Management Systems or XML-based authoring such as DITA.

DISCLAIMER
Compensation may vary based on the job level, your geographic work location, position incentive plan, and exemption status.
Although we currently may consider hiring in the states listed below, not all positions are available in all locations, and work in a particular state is not guaranteed. Current list of states where iFIT may consider hiring: AK, AL, AR, AZ, CA, CO, CT, FL, GA, ID, IL, IN, KS, KY, LA, MA, MD, MI, MN, MO, MS, NC, NH, NJ, NV, NY, OH, OK, OR, PA, RI, SC, SD, TN, TX, UT, VA, WA, WI, WY.
Subject to applicable state laws, your employment at iFIT is “at-will”. At-will employment means that you and the company each have the right to terminate the employment relationship at any time for any cause or for no cause at all.