The interview process was very strange, and after a month's time and three interviews had passed I should have realized something oddwas going on, but, having received positive feedback at every step, I stayed on for two more interviews for a total of five. The entire process took almost two months, during which time the question of salary wasn't mentioned even once. This in particular was abnormal, but I gave them the benefit of the doubt and trusted that they were following their own company process.
The disappointing thing was that, as mentioned, I received positive feedback during every interview, and (with the exception of one gap) the next one was scheduled very soon after.
I spoke first with the technical writers' manager. Following this was a second interview with one of the technical writers and an API writing assignment. Soon after sending in the assignment, I was scheduled for a third interview, this time with a couple of the engineers. By this point the interview process had been pretty rigorous but mostly standard. However, this was followed by a fourth interview with the tech writers' manager and the other technical writer, and involved answering questions typical of a first, maybe second interview (e.g. how do you handle various stressful situations?). Following this was a fifth and final interview with one of the company VPs, which was more of a meet and greet, and in which it was communicated to me that everyone thought I was a good fit for the team. The sense I got was that they wanted to and were intending to bring me on board.
The following week, however, I received word that they were not moving forward with my application due to my not having the needed technical writing experience. This is a perfectly fine reason, but my writing experience was made very plain in the first interview, and a sample of my writing was in their hands after the second. I believe this was sufficient to determine my writing experience, and indeed, the subsequent interviews were less about that and more about fit. Given this, I cannot understand why five interviews were needed to make this determination unless this was somebody's cruel joke.
Overall, I did like the people I spoke with, but there is certainly something strange about that department and the way this process happened. If you find yourself going through a similar scenario, I would take heed.