Darren Seamons

Experience

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  Metair, Hunting and AIM Aviation (ISO 9000)

  Jan 1990 - May 1999

  Technical Illustrator/Author

  Working sequentially for three different companies, initially I was responsible for creating 2D technical illustrations (Interleaf) and marketing material (Adobe Illustrator).In 1995 I was promoted to Senior Illustrator and Departmental UNIX System Administrator, and given the additional responsibility of:• Project management (permanent and contract staff), ensuring compliance with targets and deadlines, maintaining the standard of accuracy and providing manpower loadings.• Liaising with the customers to discuss and finalise specific contractual requirements. • Budget setting and manpower, hardware and software expenditure.• Maintaining the productivity of the UNIX (SUNOS/Solaris) publications system.From 1997 I became actively involved in the authoring of the Maintenance (ATA100) manuals, producing complete manuals from authoring and illustrating, to final release. Show less

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  Metair, Hunting and AIM Aviation

  Jan 1990 - Jan 1999

  Lead Technical Illustrator
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  Motorola

  May 1999 - Feb 2000

  Technical Author

  A six-week rolling contract (finally 9 months) at Motorola in which I was initially procured to research and write a Unix O/S based GPRS Clean Install Manual (written and illustrated in Interleaf 6.0). This job entailed:• Liaising with the Development Departments in Swindon and Ireland (often traveling on day trips to Co. Cork) to develop and maintain good working practices, productivity, technical accuracy and standards consistency.• Planning a strategy for the development of the manual, to include milestone objectives, the efficient use of manpower, time and other resources.• Project management, to highlight any foreseen or potential milestone slippage.This led to further work in other areas of the core business and ultimately to an offer of permanent employment as a Senior Technical Author. Show less

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  MYOB (formerly Solution 6)

  Feb 2000 - Dec 2001

  Technical Author

  During my time at Solution 6 (UK) Ltd (within the Development Department), my duties included:• Planning and writing User Online Help (Hypertext Development Kit (HDK)) for the company’s Visual Basic and Microsoft Access based Taxation/Accountancy software.• Developing end user training/user manuals (FrameMaker 6 and Adobe Acrobat Distiller).• Working alongside the Programmers and Product Managers to maintain good working practices, productivity, technical accuracy and standards consistency.• Developing the software Graphical User Interface (GUI) artwork and working with the Marketing Department to help produce the company's promotional brochures/stationary. Show less

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  Thales

  Aug 2002 - May 2005

  Technical Author

  Thales Optronics Ltd (ISO 9001/14001): Security cleared Technical AuthorWorking in the Upstream Services department of this global electronics company which manufactured small arms weapon mounts, turrets and periscopes, I was responsible for:• Budgeting, production (MS Word, Visio, FrameMaker 7 and CorelDraw 10, IsoDraw 6) and project management of the company’s manual suite.• Customer liaison in respect to the contractual standards, content and format of the manuals.• Maintenance and improvement of the publication standards and working practices. • Technical support of the customers and other parts of the core business.• Management of sub-contracted work (illustrations and authoring).• Liaison with Design, Manufacturing and the other ILS staff members, to continuously improve the company’s products. Show less

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  Moldflow (now part of AutoDesk)

  May 2005 - May 2008

  Project Lead Technical Communicator

  Project Lead Technical Communicator for a market leading (FEA software) plastic injection molding simulation company.• Responsible for the documentation (XMetal 5.1 DITA, HMTL and FrameMaker 7.2) project management for one of the company’s main software products and a team of worldwide Communicators.• Support documentation (Release Notes, Known Bugs List, Installation Guide, What’s New booklet) • Writing and delivering HCI test plans and working with Development to continuously improve product usability.• Configuration management (Rational Clearcase 7) Show less

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  Thales Avionics

  May 2008 - Oct 2010

  Technical Author/Trainer

  Working for the Publications and Training department of a global avionics company, I was primarily responsible for:• Authoring, editing and project management of the departmental Operator Manuals, Installation and Maintenance Manuals and Pilot Guides (FrameMaker SGML 7).• Management and production of all graphical requirements for training and publications (IsoDraw 7 CAD/CorelDraw/CorelPaint).• Estimating, project management and development of ATA 104 Level III and Level I Maintenance (First Line) training material for Satellite Communication (SATCOM) and other military based avionics systems (PowerPoint, CorelDraw and CorelPaint 11).Level 1 SATCOM training delivery (airline and train-the-trainer). Show less

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  Virgin Atlantic

  Oct 2010 - now

  As part of the Technical Information Services (TIS) team my responsibllities include:• Working closely with the project engineers to ensure aircraft modifications are project managed, authored, illustrated and published in accordance with EASA Part 21 and Part M airworthiness regulations, via the company network, online and on-board.• Engaging with Airbus/Boeing (iSpec 2200 and S1000D documentation specifications) to develop synergies and drive efficiency into existing/new authoring and consultation tools.• Managing permanent/contract Technical Authors, providing authoring (ADOC Web Manager/Arbortext Editor, ADAM Manager/Author and Toolbox) and illustrative (PTC IsoDraw 7) training• Part 21 and Part M documentation approvals in the role of Technical Publications Team Lead (TPTL). Show less

  • Subject Matter Expert - Engineering

    Nov 2023 - now

  • Part 21 Technical Publications Team Lead/Senior Technical Manuals Engineer

    Oct 2010 - Nov 2023