Senior Editor, Software Engineering - US-Based
About Toptal
Toptal is a global network of top talent in business, design, and technology that enables companies to scale their teams, on-demand. With $200+ million in annual revenue and team members based around the globe, Toptal is the world’s largest fully remote workforce.
We take the best elements of virtual teams and combine them with a support structure that encourages innovation, social interaction, and fun. We see no borders, move at a fast pace, and are never afraid to break the mold.
Job Summary:
As a Senior Editor, Software Engineering, it is essential to have hands-on experience in software development. This includes involvement in a comprehensive project from start to finish, such as developing and launching a full-stack application or having experience in implementing cloud computing solutions on a large scale. A practical background in software development is crucial for providing insightful feedback and thorough revisions on our engineering articles. Moreover, the role heavily relies on effective communication, requiring expert abilities in editing and writing. Your experience as a software developer, combined with your skills as an editor and a writer, will be fundamental in this position.
In this role, you will contribute to the creation of high-quality content for the Toptal Engineering Blog and related resources. You will help us continue to grow as a world-class English-language publication for top software development experts. Reporting to the Managing Editor, Design and Technical Content, in Toptal’s Content Marketing department, you will work closely with Toptal’s global network of world-class developers to write and enhance in-depth, thought-leading articles on the most important topics in computer science.
You will be responsible for maintaining an extremely high standard for all articles, with a particular focus on resources written for technical hiring managers, as well as advanced programming tutorials written for software engineers. Stellar writing abilities, ambition, collaboration, and drive are requirements for this position.
This is a remote position. We do not offer visa sponsorship or assistance. Applicants must be authorized to work in the US at the time of hire. Resumes and communication must be submitted in English.
Responsibilities:
The following information is intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed. It is not intended to be an exhaustive list of all duties, responsibilities, or required skills.
- Work with Toptal network developers to write, edit, and publish high-quality, cutting-edge articles to address key business goals, priority themes, and audience needs.
- Translate complex engineering jargon and topics into readable and understandable ideas that have a clear business purpose as well as insightful technical takeaways.
- Debug code, research, and learn as needed to support authors effectively as an editor.
- Follow the editorial processes of the Toptal Engineering Blog and wider Toptal Content Marketing team to develop, publish, and distribute content in a timely manner.
- Provide editorial assistance from a strategic, high-level view down to the grammatical nitty-gritty, and everything in between, transforming key ideas into clear, concise prose as needed.
- Coordinate with related teams to ensure consistent, on-brand delivery of content and all related components and assets, including text, metadata, and images.
- Perform critical subject-matter reviews for engineering-related content developed by other teams.
- Stay on the cutting edge of industry trends by reviewing articles published by competitors and media outlets in the space.
In the first week, expect to:
- Learn about Toptal’s Engineering content and get a sense of its voice.
- Onboard to the Content Marketing team by meeting with fellow editors and writers and learning about what they do.
- Learn the publishing process and associated tools.
In the first month, expect to:
- Become familiar with what an A+ Toptal Engineering article looks like, and develop personal habits and processes to ensure that all pieces to be published will achieve this standard.
- Assist writers of various skill levels in all aspects of writing while maintaining a professional and helpful communication style.
In the first three months, expect to:
- Work with top engineering experts from around the world to prepare in-depth articles on the most important concepts and trends in engineering, showcasing their expertise through educational articles (practical, theoretical, and/or conceptual).
- Publish and distribute completed articles, then monitor and facilitate responses to audience feedback, exercising discretion and independent judgment.
- Collaborate with peers on the Content Marketing team to contribute ideas for process improvement as needed.
- Collaborate on a conceptual level with colleagues on the Illustrations team to ensure relevant, correct, and descriptive imagery accompanies technical content where applicable.
In the first six months, expect to:
- Keep collaborators engaged while you continue to balance multiple simultaneous editing assignments.
- Help demonstrate the expertise and knowledge of Toptal’s world-class talent network and Toptal as a whole.
- Demonstrate the value of joining Toptal’s talent network to those with in-demand skills and expertise.
In the first year, expect to:
- Work to improve the quality and impact of the publication via partnerships and assets across Toptal (PR, events, community, etc.).
- Continually raise the bar and contribute new ideas for elevating the expertise of Toptal’s network talent.
- Act on feedback to help ensure writers enjoy working with Toptal Content Marketing and are proud of the end result.
Qualifications and Job Requirements:
- Bachelor’s degree is required, preferably in computer science or a related field such as mathematics.
- Hands-on software engineering experience and knowledge of recent best practices, with especially strong debugging skills and an understanding of foundational software concepts.
- Continuous learning mindset and the ability to quickly pick up and apply new software concepts, languages, and skills via research and experimentation.
- Demonstrated writing and editing experience, with a dedicated focus on development and tech topics.
- Ability to understand and analyze complex concepts, and to explain them in clear, concise, and engaging language.
- Experience collaborating with different technical stakeholders and extracting key ideas from subject-matter experts.
- Strong knowledge of important events and trends across multiple industries at the top of the engineering/development world.
- Unparalleled attention to detail.
- An exceptional eye for quality and a relentless drive to improve anything that falls below your standards or Toptal’s standards.
- Outstanding written and verbal communication skills.
- Ability to work in a fast-paced, rapidly growing company and handle a wide variety of challenges, deadlines, and a diverse array of contacts.
- You must be a world-class individual contributor to thrive at Toptal. You will not be here just to tell other people what to do.
Essential Job Functions
- Regularly and reliably attend scheduled virtual team meetings on camera.
- Work independently with minimal supervision.
- Use all required digital collaboration tools.
- Prioritize and self-manage workflows and deadlines.
US FLSA Classification: Full-Time/Exempt
The US-based salary range for this full-time position is $95,000 - $130,000 per year. Our salary ranges are determined by role, level, and location. The range displayed on each job posting reflects the minimum and maximum target for new hire salaries for the position across all US locations. Within the range, individual pay is determined by work location and additional factors, including job-related skills, experience, and relevant education or training.
Applications are accepted on an ongoing basis. Please note that the US-based salary range does not include the value of Toptal’s benefit offerings. In the US, Toptal’s benefit offerings include participation in a 401(k) retirement plan; medical, dental, and vision health insurance plans; basic life insurance coverage and short-term and long-term disability coverage; access to flexible spending, dependent care, and health savings accounts; access to telehealth virtual doctors; an employee assistance program; and flexible paid time off.
