Senior Technical Writer ยท Knowledge Manager

Erica J.
Sturkie

Turning complexity into clarity.

I build the systems, docs, and frameworks that help teams work smarter. From ISO accreditation projects to naval ship documentation and automotive assembly line instructions, I thrive where organization meets precision - and where a great document can change everything.

๐Ÿ“ Austin, TX

Erica J. Sturkie
About Me

Writer. Organizer.
Problem-solver.

I'm a Senior Technical Writer and Knowledge Management Professional with over a decade of experience helping organizations communicate complex ideas clearly and maintain the systems that keep teams aligned and accountable.

My work spans defense contracting, clean energy startups, big tech, and robotics; industries where precision isn't optional. I love a mature environment, but I'm especially drawn to those where documentation infrastructure does not yet exist and needs to be built from the ground up.

Outside of work, I'm a DEFCON regular, a Raspberry Pi tinkerer, and a Python learner. I believe the same curiosity that makes a great hacker makes a great technical writer: always asking why, and never satisfied with "that's just how it's done."

๐Ÿ—๏ธ
I build from zero
Grew a controlled document library from nothing to 300+ documents in under a year at Infinitum. Created documentation frameworks at Tesla, Infinitum, and Apptronik from scratch.
๐ŸŽฏ
I lead with process
Led ISO/IEC 17025:2017 accreditation with zero audit findings, on time, for Infinitum's Product Test Lab. I design repeatable workflows and systems that hold up under scrutiny.
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I bridge people and systems
Whether it's onboarding teams to Jira, partnering with engineers, or mentoring junior writers โ€” I make knowledge accessible to everyone.
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I stay curious
Annual DEFCON attendee since 2016. Currently studying Python. Built a retro game emulator on a Raspberry Pi. Built this website to showcase my experience. I learn by doing.
Experience

Where I've been,
what I've built.

Oct 2025 โ€“ Present
Apptronik
Senior Technical Writer ยท Austin, TX
  • Establishing foundational formatting, style, template, and tone standards for hardware-specific documentation. Building the hardware documentation system from the ground up for a fast-moving robotics company.
Feb 2024 โ€“ Oct 2025
Infinitum
Knowledge Management Specialist & Documentation Specialist ยท Austin, TX
  • Served as LQMS Representative, leading the team to ISO/IEC 17025:2017 accreditation within a 6-month window with zero audit observations or non-conformances.
  • Built a Controlled Document Library from scratch using Confluence and Comala; grew it to 300+ controlled documents and expanded its use across multiple teams.
  • Expanded the Articulate LMS company-wide; maintained training records and collaborated with SMEs to author and deploy e-learning courses.
  • Served as Org Admin for the Atlassian instance, managing user access, permissions, and Jira workflows to optimize productivity and metrics reporting.
Oct 2022 โ€“ Feb 2024
Tesla ยท Gigafactory Texas
Technical Writer
  • Authored all Manufacturing Instructions for manual stations on the Model Y and Cybertruck Drive Unit assembly lines ahead of schedule; attended the Cybertruck Drive Unit factory acceptance test in South Korea.
  • Developed and implemented a new writing sample procedure for the team's interview process, improving candidate evaluation consistency.
  • Mentored junior team members on best practices, standardization, and document processing. Received three SPARC Coin recognitions from external stakeholders.
Mar 2022 โ€“ Oct 2022
EOS IT Solutions @ Meta
Senior Technical Writer ยท Austin, TX (Remote)
  • Drafted SOPs, work instructions, and guides in collaboration with functional leads and SMEs; maintained QMS documentation for ISO 9001 certification.
  • Reviewed and edited training video productions using Adobe Premiere Pro and Articulate 360; created process flows using LucidChart.
Feb 2020 โ€“ Mar 2022
Peraton
Mid-Level Project Analyst / Technical Writer II ยท Austin, TX (Remote)
  • Managed metrics databases and delivered weekly data reports with charts and graphs to NAVSEA customers; performed daily QA to ensure data integrity.
  • Simultaneously supported 90+ active standards projects, including writing, reviewing, and presenting to the NAVSEA Program Manager for approval and funding.
  • Managed SUBSAFE program documentation tracker and reported metrics regularly to the Program Manager.
Jan 2018 โ€“ Oct 2019
Dan River Region Association of Realtorsยฎ
CEO / Association Executive ยท Danville, VA
  • Built and launched the organization's website from scratch, implementing SEO strategies that landed it on Google's first page within 1 month of launch.
  • Managed the MLS, monthly e-newsletter, board relations, fiscal oversight, and event planning for the organization.
Jun 2015 โ€“ Dec 2017
Peraton
Project Analyst / Technical Writer I ยท Herndon, VA
  • Provided full lifecycle support for 90+ active standards projects involving technical document development, revision, and amendment for NAVSEA.
  • Organized bi-weekly brown bag sessions to build collective team knowledge and share best practices across the group.
Skills

What I bring
to the table.

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Technical Writing & Documentation
Expert in creating manuals, SOPs, work instructions, and controlled documents with a strong command of content style guides and audience-aware communication.
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Data & Metrics Reporting
Extensive experience designing data collection frameworks, maintaining complex Excel databases, and producing charts and dashboards that illustrate team impact.
๐Ÿงฉ
Jira & Confluence (Atlassian)
Proficient in building Jira projects, custom workflows, automation rules, and managing Confluence spaces as an Org Admin across multi-team environments.
๐ŸŽ“
E-Learning & LMS
Experienced in developing and deploying e-learning courses using the Articulate suite, managing LMS platforms, and maintaining personnel training records.
โœ…
Document Control & Compliance
Deep expertise in ISO/IEC 17025, ISO 9001, and QMS compliance. Experienced in structured document libraries, versioning tools, and audit-ready documentation practices.
๐ŸŽจ
Adobe Creative Suite
Seasoned user of Adobe Illustrator, Photoshop, and Premiere Pro for creating graphics, digital media, and training video productions.
๐Ÿ”
Agile & Project Management
Certified ScrumMaster with proven ability to juggle large project portfolios with competing priorities, shifting scopes, and cross-functional stakeholder needs.
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Stakeholder Collaboration
Outstanding interpersonal skills with a track record of building lasting relationships with engineers, executives, subject matter experts, and cross-departmental teams.
Education

Foundations &
credentials.

Master of Business Administration
Western Governors University
Bachelor of Arts, English
Averett University
Valedictorian, summa cum laude

Certifications & Personal Development

CSM

Certified ScrumMaster

Scrum Alliance ยท Issued Feb 2025 ยท Expires Feb 2027

PY

Python Programming

boot.dev ยท In progress

๐Ÿ•น๏ธ

Retro Gaming Emulator ยท Raspberry Pi

Hardware, Linux CLI, system config

๐Ÿ”

DEFCON Attendee

Annual attendee since DEFCON 24 (2016)

Writing & Insights

Thoughts on craft,
process, & tools.

This is my space to share what I've learned โ€” about documentation, knowledge management, tooling, and working across complex organizations. Posts coming soon.

Document Control

What I learned building a document library from zero to 300+ controlled docs

How I approached scope, tooling, and stakeholder buy-in when creating a controlled document library from scratch at a fast-moving startup.

ISO Compliance

How we got ISO/IEC 17025 accreditation in 6 months with zero findings

A look at the preparation, documentation strategy, and process design that led to a clean audit on the first try.

Tooling

Jira for non-developers: what I've learned setting it up for hardware teams

Reflections on adapting Jira's software-centric workflows to serve lab, manufacturing, and cross-functional operations teams.

Get in Touch

Let's connect.

Whether you're hiring, collaborating, or just want to talk docs, I'd love to hear from you.