In this page
Facts and figures
Specialist recruitment for API and developer documentation roles
What should you look for in an API documentation writer?
API documentation roles we can help you fill
Permanent or contract API documentation writer?
Recruitment or a managed API documentation project?
How our recruitment process works
Why use Cherryleaf?
What clients say
FAQs
Contact us
Find API writers who understand developers, documentation, and delivery
Recruiting an API documentation writer can be hard, because the strongest candidates need more than good writing skills.
They must be able to understand an API, work confidently with developers and product teams, and turn technical detail into documentation that helps users complete real integration tasks.
Cherryleaf recruits permanent and contract API documentation writers for organisations across the UK and mainland Europe.
Because we also create API documentation and teach API documentation writing, we understand the work candidates will be expected to do.
We can help you define the role and find writers whose capabilities match your API, audience, and working environment.
Facts and figures
<2 in 1,000
IT vacancies are for technical writing roles, even for fewer for API documentation roles. This makes specialist recruitment essential (Source: ITJobswatch).
<1,000
API documentation writers in the entire UK workforce: a genuinely small talent pool. (Source: Cherryleaf)
2002
The year Cherryleaf was founded. We have over two decades of specialist experience and active candidate relationships.
Specialist recruitment for API and developer documentation roles
A suitable writer might need to:
- Understand REST APIs, webhooks, SDKs or other integration technologies
- Work from OpenAPI specifications and existing source material
- Test requests, responses and authentication processes
- Explain technical concepts accurately without unnecessary complexity
- Create tutorials, getting-started guides and task-based documentation
- Develop clear API reference content
- Write or review code examples
- Work within a docs-as-code or software development workflow
- Work within a docs-as-tests environment
- Develop agents and skills files
- Interview developers and other subject-matter experts
- Identify gaps, inconsistencies and assumptions in the available information
- Keep documentation aligned with frequent product releases
A generalist recruiter might search for a few familiar keywords. We look more closely at what candidates have documented, who used the content, how they obtained the information and how they worked with the product team.
API documentation roles we can help you fill
We recruit for permanent and contract positions including:
- API Documentation Writer
- API Technical Writer
- Developer Documentation Writer
- Developer Experience Technical Writer
- Software Technical Writer
- Senior or Lead API Writer
- SDK Documentation Writer
- Developer Portal Content Specialist
- Documentation Engineer
- Docs-as-Code Technical Writer
- Technical Content Developer
- Developer Education or DevRel Writer
- API Documentation Manager
The job titles in this field are inconsistent, and they might not be a good indicator of a candidate’s capabilities and experience.
Tell us what the person needs to achieve, and we can help you define the role and choose an appropriate job title.
Finding API writers in the age of AI-assisted development
API documentation is now consumed by AI coding assistants as well as by people.
That does not remove the need for skilled writers. It increases the importance of accurate, explicit and consistently structured source content – the Human in the Loop.
You might need a writer who can:
- Review and correct AI-generated documentation
- Develop agents and skills files.
- Use AI tools without weakening technical accuracy
- Create content that can be reliably retrieved and reused
- Maintain consistency between specifications, examples, and explanatory content
- Design documentation workflows that include appropriate human review
- Assess whether content is suitable for AI-assisted development
- Help define governance for generated and manually written material
We can help you identify which AI-related capabilities are relevant to the role and avoid vague requirements that do not help you assess candidates.
What should you look for in an API documentation writer?
The right profile depends on your product, users and documentation workflow.
Understanding of APIs
The writer should be able to understand how developers access and use your API. Depending on the position, this might include endpoints, methods, parameters, schemas, authentication, rate limits, errors, webhooks, and multi-step workflows.
It’s also appreciating the importance of the fundamentals:
- How do I get authentication keys and a first response?
- What does the API do, and in what situation would I use it?
Not every API writer needs to be a software developer. However, they should be technically confident enough to investigate how an integration works, ask useful questions, and recognise when information is missing.
Experience writing for developers
Developer documentation is not simply product documentation with more technical terminology.
A capable API writer understands that developers often need several types of content:
- A clear explanation of what the API enables
- Prerequisites and account setup information
- Authentication guidance
- A quick path to the first successful request
- Tutorials for common integration goals
- Accurate API reference information
- Working code examples
- Error and troubleshooting guidance
- Information about testing, sandboxes, and production use
The writer should be able to connect these elements into a coherent developer journey.
Ability to work with technical teams
Much of the information needed for API documentation exists in source code, specifications, issue trackers, conversations, and the knowledge of busy engineers.
The writer must be able to extract that information efficiently, resolve conflicting explanations and obtain technically accurate reviews, without creating unnecessary demands on the development team.
Appropriate tools and workflow experience
Your role might require experience with:
- OpenAPI or Swagger
- Postman
- Git and GitHub or GitLab
- GitHub Workflows
- Markdown or AsciiDoc
- Static-site generators
- Documentation platforms and developer portals
- Continuous integration and publishing workflows
- Command-line tools
- JSON, YAML or XML
- One or more programming languages
A long list of mandatory tools can unnecessarily narrow the candidate pool. We can help you distinguish the capabilities someone genuinely needs on their first day from tools they could learn quickly.
Information design and usability
Automatically generated reference material is rarely the complete answer.
An experienced API writer can decide what should be generated, what needs to be written by hand and how developers should move between conceptual, procedural, and reference content.
They can structure the documentation around the tasks developers are trying to complete rather than around the internal organisation of the API.
Permanent or contract API documentation writer?
When hiring a contractor is a good choice
When you need to:
- Prepare documentation for an API launch
- Clear a documentation backlog
- Rewrite or consolidate an existing developer portal
- Cover a temporary gap in your documentation team
- Introduce a docs-as-code workflow
- Support a major product release
- Add specialist API experience to an existing writing team
- Complete a defined documentation migration or improvement project
A contractor can provide focused expertise for an agreed period while you manage the work and priorities internally.
When a permanent hire is a good choice
When you need:
- Ongoing ownership of API and developer documentation
- A writer embedded within the product or engineering team
- Documentation that evolves continuously with the API
- Long-term knowledge of your products and users
- Someone to improve documentation processes and tooling
- A foundation for a larger developer documentation function
We focus on permanent opportunities with realistic responsibilities and competitive salaries. This helps organisations attract experienced candidates and retain them.
Recruitment or a managed API documentation project?
Recruitment is usually the right approach when you know what documentation work needs to be done and have someone internally who can manage priorities, provide access to subject-matter experts, and review the writer’s work.
A managed documentation service might be more suitable when you need an organisation to define the approach, manage the work, and take responsibility for agreed deliverables.
Cherryleaf provides both options.
Because we understand recruitment and documentation delivery, we can help you choose the model that best fits your situation, rather than automatically recommending a hire.
How our recruitment process works
1. Clarify the requirement
We discuss your API, developer audience, documentation gaps, team structure, tooling, budget, location and timescales.
We also establish what the successful candidate needs to accomplish during their first few months.
2. Refine the role
We help separate essential experience from preferred skills.
This might include deciding whether the person needs coding experience, a particular industry background, experience with a specific API type, or familiarity with your current toolchain.
3. Identify the candidates
We draw on our specialist technical communication network and knowledge of the UK market. We look beyond job titles to find candidates who have carried out comparable work.
4. Screen for suitability
Every CV is reviewed by a person.
We consider:
- The APIs and products the candidate has documented
- The audiences they have written for
- The types of content they have produced
- Their level of technical independence
- Their experience working with developers
- Their documentation tools and workflow
- Their approach to research, testing and review
We also speak to suitable candidates before presenting their details.
5. Focused shortlist
You receive a small, credible shortlist: not a large volume of loosely matched CVs to filter through.
6. Support the appointment
We help keep things moving through interviews, offers, and the agreed engagement arrangements.
Why use Cherryleaf?
We understand the work
API documentation is part of our day-to-day writing, consulting, and training work. We know what good looks like.
We know the technical communication market
Cherryleaf has specialised in technical communication since 2002. We maintain relationships with technical writers, documentation managers, contractors and other specialists.
We understand that job titles are unreliable
A candidate might list OpenAPI, Git, and Markdown, without having created effective developer documentation. Another might have highly relevant experience but use a less familiar job title. We assess the substance of the candidate’s work, rather than relying solely on keyword matching.
We can help shape the role
Some vacancies combine API reference writing, tutorials, product documentation, DevRel content, tooling administration, and documentation management.
We can help you decide whether that is a realistic position for one person and which responsibilities should take priority.
Every candidate is reviewed by a person
Every CV is reviewed by a person with knowledge of technical communication. We don’t use keyword-matching software to filter out candidates. We also speak to candidates before they reach your desk.
Frequently asked questions
Can you help us write the job description?
Yes. We can help clarify the outcomes, responsibilities, essential experience, and terminology needed to attract the right candidates.
Can you recruit API writers for both permanent and contract roles?
Yes. We can help you define the outcomes, responsibilities, essential experience, and selection criteria. We can also identify requirements that might make the vacancy unnecessarily difficult to fill.
Can you find candidates with specialist industry experience?
We can search for candidates with relevant product, subject, audience, and regulatory experience. Availability will depend on how narrow the requirements are, the budget, location, and timescale.
Does an API writer need to be a developer?
No, but it can help.
Some roles require a writer who can produce and test substantial code examples. Others need someone who can understand requests, responses ,and integration workflows, but can rely on developers for more advanced programming.
We will help you establish the appropriate level of technical capability for your position.
Do you recruit remote and hybrid roles?
Yes, subject to the employment or contract arrangements you specify.
Remote roles can provide access to a wider specialist talent pool. Hybrid or office-based working might be appropriate when the writer needs close access to hardware, secure environments, or on-site teams.
Can you find someone with experience in our industry?
We can search for candidates with relevant industry, product or regulatory experience.
However, combining a rare industry specialism with a narrow technical toolset and a specific location can significantly reduce the available candidate pool. We will give you a realistic view of the market and suggest where requirements could be flexible.
Can you assess a candidate’s portfolio?
We can consider the relevance of available work samples and discuss suitable interview or writing-test approaches.
API documentation is often confidential, so strong candidates might not be able to provide published examples from previous employers. In those cases, a structured discussion of their methods and experience can be more informative than requesting a public portfolio.
How quickly can you supply a shortlist?
This depends on the role, the market, location, budget, and candidate availability. After an initial discussion, we can give you a realistic view of the likely search timeline. For contract roles, we aim to have a first shortlist within five to ten working days.
What are your fees?
For permanent placements we charge a percentage of the starting salary, in line with standard UK specialist recruitment practices. For contract placements we add a margin to the candidate’s agreed day rate. We are happy to discuss fees during an initial conversation. Please get in touch.
Can you help if this is our first API documentation hire?
Yes. We can help you determine what the writer should own, where they should sit within the organisation, what support they will need and how to make the role attractive to experienced candidates.
Tell us about your API documentation vacancy
Send us your existing job description or tell us:
- What API or developer product the person will document
- What documentation already exists
- What needs to be created or improved
- Who will use the documentation
- Which technical skills are essential
- Whether you need a permanent employee or contractor
- Where and how the person will work
- Your salary range or contract budget
- When you need the person to start
We will help you clarify the requirement and recommend the most suitable next step.
Email: info@cherryleaf.com
Telephone: 0207 100 4513