Senior Technical Writer

Diane M. Gaskill

Senior Technical Writer

San Jose, CA 95133 ● 408-***-**** ● ********@*********.*** ● www.linkedin.com/in/dianemgaskill

PROFESIONAL SUMMARY

Versatile, dependable senior technical communicator with outstanding motivation, strong customer focus, and content development experience in the IT services, computer networking, cloud computing and security, data storage systems, embedded computers, and e-commerce fields. Broad expertise in producing a wide variety of manuals and online help systems that document an extensive range of enterprise software applications and hardware platforms to all levels of end users, engineers, and developers.

Self-starter - able to manage documentation projects from concept to delivery; design and produce documentation for a variety of engineering and developer tools and products. Adept at gathering, analyzing, composing, and translating technical information into clear, usable documents to be used by technical and non-technical personnel. Links to online documentation that I created available on request.

Proven ability to handle responsibility and difficult assignments with minimum supervision in highly technical, Agile-based environments. Highly skilled in content architecture and development, usability, localization, project management, training course development, hardware design, training, and technical support. Works well independently and collaboratively in a team environment.

SKILLS

User Experience ● Usability ● UI Design ● Project Management Expertise ● Technical document design ● Strategic Content Development ● Content Management ● Localization ● Effective User Documentation ● Cross-Functional Team Collaboration ● Data Research & Analysis ● Analytical Problem Solving ● Strong Communicator ● Customer Satisfaction ● Enterprise level complex Technical Documentation

AI, Oxygen, Markdown, Flare, FrameMaker, DITA, XMetaL, OXygen, Javadocs, XML, HTML, CSS, Acrobat Pro, RoboHELP, RoboHTML, SDL Live Content, Illustrator, Photoshop, MS Office; Schematron, Saxon, XSLT; Agile, Git, Jira, Confluence, SCM, SharePoint, ClearCase, MS Visual SourceSafe, StarTeam, Google Drive, Windows, UNIX, Linux, and Mac OSX.

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

Oracle, America, Inc Santa Clara CA Principal User Assistance Developer 2/2020 – 8/2025

Developed Oracle Cloud Infrastructure User Assistance documentation for database security and and resource monitoring, resource cost control, and internal engineering documentation with AI, oXygen, DITA, Bitbucket, Git, Jira, Confluence, SCM, and other enterprise tools. Contributed to localization, style efforts, department tenancy cost management, and AI testing.

Wi-Fi Alliance Santa Clara CA Senior Technical Writer 5/2019 – 11/2019

Developed user guides and test plans for Wi-Fi 6 devices and test stations, so that they could be tested and certified for use. Developed templates for all documents to improve document usability and ease of maintenance.

eBay,Inc., San Jose CA Senior Technical Writer 9/2016-2/2019

Designed and developed online HTML5 user guides for eBay Developer Network and eBay large seller software tools for enterprise sellers. Co-designed a new way of presenting highly usable information to eBay sellers.

Managed the localization of technical documentation to 9 languages.

Demonstrated and taught complex software tools to large seller audiences

Worked with team management to set and implement department goals, including usability and localization

Cisco Systems, Inc., San Jose CA Senior Technical Writer (contract) 6/2016-9/2016

Authored highly technical documentation for the complex 5G network-based mobile communications product.

Google, Inc. Mountain View CA; Senior Technical Writer (contract) 9/2015-3/2016

Created and developed procedures to build Google data storage systems. Designed procedures to test and assemble high resolution video satellites. Improved existing manufacturing processes, saving 40% in assembly time.

Hitachi Data Systems, Santa Clara CA Senior Technical Writer 6/2006-9/2015

Lead writer: Managed the development of a 40-manual XML project and context-sensitive HTML help for the enterprise data storage system product line. Coordinated efforts of local, remote, and offshore writing teams. Assisted in hiring and training new writers. Managed localization of documentation to eight languages.

Major force in converting and restructuring the company documentation from Word to structured FrameMaker/XML and DITA, using Xmetal, Oxygen, and SDL Live Content. Savings estimated at $.5M/yr. Received significant positive feedback from senior management and from both internal and external customers.

Lockheed Martin Space Systems Co., Sunnyvale CA; Senior Technical Writer (Contract) 7/2005-6/2006

Designed, authored, and managed development of network design guide for complex, highly technical, and proprietary network system for satellites and other space vehicles.

Symbol Technologies, Inc. San Jose, CA; Senior Information Project Manager 7/2003-7/2005

Managed development of context-sensitive HTML online help systems and manuals for enterprise-level client/server wireless network management applications. Clients included hand-held wireless W-Fi devices such as scanners, computers, switches, client bridges, access points, and related devices.

Researched and implemented software tools to produce the documentation described above, saving the company 20% in cost while improving productivity by 40%.

Nellcor Puritan Bennet, Pleasanton, CA; Senior Technical Writer (contract) 2/2003-7/2003

Designed and developed embedded system API reference manuals and Systems Guides for OEM and third-party developers of medical electronic equipment.

Zebra Technologies Inc. Vernon Hills, IL; Senior Technical Writer (contract) 10/2002-12/2002

Improved functionality and usability of company documentation by at least 50% by educating the technical publications staff to use an efficient set of tools and processes.

Regalcom, Inc. Fremont, CA; Senior Technical Writer (contract) 9/2002-10/2002

Designed, developed, and produced end-user manuals for a company-built computer system and for web-based e-commerce software applications used to sell products via the internet.

Blue Pumpkin Software, Sunnyvale, CA; Technical Publications Manager 6/2000-8/2002

Managed the development of customer documentation, planned and implemented department budgeting, and set department goals. Managed and implemented the localization of the products and documentation to three languages

Authored enterprise-level API and SDK manuals and context-sensitive online help.

PREVIOUS POSITIONS

Legato Systems, Inc. Writing Group Manager, Evans & Sutherland / Accelgraphics Inc., Technical Publications Manager; Kubota Graphics Corporation, Technical Publications Manager

EDUCATION, TRAINING, & PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT

University Of Calif., Berkeley, CA: Engineering; DeAnza College, Cupertino, CA: Technical Writing, Business Management; University of Calif., Santa Cruz, CA: Certificate; Managing the Development of Technical Documentation; Mission College, Santa Clara, CA: English, FORTRAN, Pascal, CAD Applications

Oracle: AI, GenAI, Oracle ChatGPT, Jira, Git, Confluence, Bitbucket, SCM; eBay, Inc: Flare, CSS Design; Legato Systems: FrameMaker to Acrobat Advanced Techniques; Evans & Sutherland: Managing Interpersonal Relationships; Kubota Graphics Corporation: FrameBuilder, SGML; Hewlett-Packard Company: Product Usability, Object-Oriented Programming, Advanced Pascal, C, UNIX, HP3000 System Management, and IMAGE Database Management.

United States Navy: Certified US Navy technical instructor; Electronics engineering and maintenance.

PUBLICATIONS

Usability for Documentation-a guide that provides product and documentation usability procedures

Localization and FrameMaker-a guide to internationalize and localize software and documentation.

Internationalization and Localization for Writers and Editors-a guide to write for international audiences.

Managing the Localization Lifecycle-a one-hour seminar for localization managers

AWARDS and TESTIMONIALS

Several awards from management and recognition from peers at eBay, Hitachi Data Systems, Legato Systems, and previous companies for outstanding contributions and personal innovation, and for “significantly increasing the quality and usability of the technical documentation.”

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