Journalist in Residence Fellowship
Instrumental
Palo Alto, CA, USA
USD 25-25 / hour
Posted on Oct 10, 2025
Journalist in Residence Fellowship
Palo Alto, CA
Marketing
Hybrid
Contract
Instrumental technology is utilized by the world’s most admired electronics brands, including NVIDIA, Meta, Bose, and Cisco, to significantly reduce waste in manufacturing. Our AI technology leverages data from the factory floor to automate failure identification and resolution – improving yield, quality, and time to market.
We believe AI will transform manufacturing—the question is when and who. Instrumental’s Build Better brand (handbook, print magazine, newsletter, webinars, live events) has already established itself as the go-to knowledge hub for leaders in electronics manufacturing. To scale these efforts, we plan to introduce the Build Better News Desk. We are seeking an inaugural team member to found, execute, and shape the vision of our news desk. To find the right candidate, we are launching the Instrumental Journalist in Residence Fellowship.
This program is a paid, contract-to-hire opportunity that selects 3 to 4 early-career writers, journalists, or professionals with relevant backgrounds to join us for an immersive 8-week residency at Instrumental HQ in Palo Alto, CA. At the end of the program, there may be an opportunity to join Instrumental as a full-time Journalist in Residence, leading the Build Better News Desk.
What You’ll Do:
- Skill up on the electronics manufacturing industry, Instrumental’s technology, and the Build Better editorial approach.
- Research and pitch timely, relevant content ideas in electronics manufacturing, operations, and supply chain – focused on consumer electronics, AI compute, and defense.
- Identify and reach out to potential sources, successfully interview them to get relevant details or quotes for inclusion in your stories.
- Collaborate directly with Instrumental’s C-Suite, including our CEO, who is an industry thought leader, in-house subject matter experts, and marketing leadership. These individuals will give perspective on pitches, advice on direction, and review/edit articles.
Fellowship Deliverables:
- Pitch 5+ potential stories aligned with our news beats by the end of Week 1 – receive feedback and advice to select 2-3 to move forward with.
- Deliver two high-quality, researched journalism-style articles that have met editorial standards in Week 3.
- Those who progress beyond Week 3 will continue to pitch stories and deliver articles, starting at one/week and ramping to two/week by Week 7.
- In the latter stage of the Fellowship, Fellows will have the opportunity to write one or more leadership profile pieces on an electronics manufacturing thought leader – either proposed and sourced by you or suggested by Instrumental.
- All articles that meet editorial standards will be published with your byline as part of the Build Better Newsletter, News Desk, and Instrumental social channels.
- This Fellowship requires 30-40 hours per week, working out of Instrumental’s Palo Alto HQ or out in the field reporting. This is not a remote role.
This is a Great Opportunity for Someone Who:
- Is a strong, clear writer with a direct, journalistic style and minimal fluff. This is not a content marketing role.
- Is curious, resourceful, and scrappy. When faced with challenges, you find a way through. You prepare well and ask good questions to dig for unique insights you cannot find in mainstream media.
- Can successfully identify and connect with your own sources, including executives – doesn’t just rely on desk research
- Has an interest in electronics, engineering, or manufacturing (a background in these areas is a plus, but not required for quick or dogged learners) – remains up to date on the current mainstream news and can identify relevant stories Build Better should cover to resonate with our technical audience.
- We are open to recent graduates or more experienced professionals. You may have a background in journalism, writing, sales, marketing, or even engineering. We will be reading applications closely – so share how you think your background makes you a great fit to be our Journalist-in-Residence.
This is a contract-to-hire position. The contract stage will be compensated at $25.00/hour. Fellow(s) who are selected to be hired at the end of the Fellowship will be eligible for a full-time role at Instrumental, with annual compensation opportunity between $75,000 - 88,000, commensurate with experience and Fellowship performance.
Application Questions:
Please attach your responses to these questions in the "Cover Letter" section below.
1. In order to be a successful journalist, you need to be able to work your way into circles you are not a member of (manufacturing executives, supply chain experts, etc). Describe a time you have successfully been able to work your way into a group you were not a member of. Be specific about the actions you took and how this example demonstrates you’ll be able to do the same in our role. (180-300 words)
2. As you have probably heard, tariffs have been disrupting supply chains and increasing costs. One of our beats is AI Compute, so you are working on a story that goes deeper: “What is the cost of importing NVIDIA compute trays to the US from Mexico – financial and otherwise”
Frame the story, and tell us how you would approach researching and writing it. (180-300 words)
- Why does this matter, and who might it matter to?
- What is an initial thesis you’d investigate?
- Who would you reach out to as sources and what do you hope they might tell you? (identify at least 2 specific people, including LinkedIn links – please don’t reach out at this time)
3. Describe a time you were working on an important project or mission and you ran into a significant roadblock. What was the roadblock, and how did you overcome it? (150-200 words)
4. What genuinely fascinates you and puts wind in your sails? (150-300 words)
5. What is most motivating to you: working towards success, avoidance of failure, or proving a point/vengeance? Successful Instrumentalists have provided answers in each of the three categories; there is no “right answer.” Think about your actual life and provide both your philosophical perspective and at least one specific example. (180-300 words)
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Req ID: R29