About the role
This position will operate on a remote, freelance basis. Applicants must be located in the US or Canada.
Is your desk covered in Raspberry Pis, half-finished ESP32 builds and test prints? Do you run a 3D printer, tinker with single-board computers and keep a home lab going, and actually enjoy explaining what worked, what didn’t and why? Can you take a weekend project and turn it into a story readers can’t stop reading?
Valnet's Tech brands (XDA and How-to Geek) are looking for a Features Writer who lives at the crossroads of maker tech and computing. You’ll write first-person, hands-on features based on real projects you build, break, fix and improve.
We’re looking for a sharp, practical voice to cover these verticals:
* Raspberry Pi & SBCs: Pi 5, Pi Zero, Pico and other single-board computers. Projects, setups, edge AI, value comparisons (SBC vs. mini PC) and community builds worth showing off. * Microcontrollers & DIY Electronics: Arduino, ESP32, GPIO projects, sensors and practical gadgets for the home and desk. * 3D Printing: Filaments (PLA, PETG, ABS, TPU and others), slicer settings, printer upgrades and monitoring, model management, and useful prints that solve real problems around the house, office and home lab. * Home Lab & Self-Hosting: NAS builds, TrueNAS, Proxmox, Docker, Jellyfin/Plex, and running local services on low-power hardware. * Mini PCs & Alternative OSes: Small-form-factor builds, Linux distros, and the odd niche OS that’s fun to explore.
Job Responsibilities
* Contribute reliably and consistently under tight deadlines. Work includes hands-on features, project write-ups, tutorials, listicles and opinion pieces, plus timely news on Raspberry Pi and 3D printing launches. * Pitch original story ideas drawn from your own builds, experiments and failures. * Take original photos of your projects, prints and setups, and find and format images according to our guidelines. * Enter your work into our in-house CMS. * Stay current with maker, SBC, 3D printing and self-hosting news, including product releases, price changes, software updates and standout community projects. * Coordinate with the editorial team on assignments and feedback.
Application Requirements
* CV * Cover Letter (tell us why you want to write for us, and what’s on your workbench right now!) * 2–3 tech articles you’ve written that best show your writing. Hands-on or project-based pieces are strongly preferred.
Applicants must have a self-starter attitude and meet the following requirements:
* Relevant experience writing and editing in English. * Ownership of, and regular hands-on experience with, at least one 3D printer and one or more Raspberry Pis or other SBCs. * Working knowledge of Linux, the command line, and setting up and troubleshooting self-hosted services (Docker experience is a plus). * Comfort with slicers (e.g., Bambu Studio, OrcaSlicer, PrusaSlicer, Cura) and with diagnosing print-quality problems. * The ability to explain technical projects clearly and with personality, for beginners and experienced tinkerers alike.
Nice to Have
* CAD experience (Fusion, OpenSCAD, Onshape, Tinkercad or similar) for designing your own prints. * Experience with Arduino, ESP32 or Pico projects, including basic wiring or soldering. * A home lab or NAS setup you actively maintain. * A background in IT, sysadmin or networking.
The hiring team will get back to you as soon as possible if we think you’d be a solid addition to the team. We only consider applications that include relevant writing samples.