Computational Linguistics and Data Analyst

Company Overview
Nuance, a Microsoft company, is the leading provider of machine learning based speech and natural language understanding (NLU) systems. These systems have been deployed across various industries such as telecommunications, finance, airlines, video games, mobile devices, and in-car navigation. As part of Nuance, Enterprise Professional Services (PS) creates and optimizes speech and text-based conversational virtual agent solutions that leverage NLU technology.
Job Summary
This position in PS consists of two roles that help support the development of these NLU systems: Computational Linguistics and Data Management.
In the Computational Linguistics role, the Analyst reviews user-typed phrases or transcriptions of spoken phrases to develop an understanding of users' intentions. Based on this knowledge, the employee creates a series of rules that are used to tag, or annotate, the meaning behind the users' intentions. These linguistic rules are codified in a Tagging Guide. The Analyst is responsible for creating the Tagging Guide, as well as presenting to clients for review, and then updating it based on feedback. The resulting tagged corpus is used by NLU experts to create NLU models. This role is technical in scope and requires a high degree of communication with both internal project teams and clients.
In the Data Management role, the Analyst assists with managing client data that are used for analysis and model building. The Analyst helps with the transfer, unpacking, massaging, and storing of the data in the dedicated infrastructure, the Secure Tuning Environment (STE). In addition, the Analyst assists the Data Management team with managing the overall storage in the STE.
Responsibilities

• Computational Linguistics role:
  
  • Responsible for developing the linguistic rules used to create NLU models, and the creation of the Tagging Guide.
  • Supports project team members to ensure that the linguistic data is suitable for NLU development, application design, and quality assurance activities.
  • Meets with client domain experts to communicate the Tagging Guide design, clarify any ambiguity, and ensure that the design satisfies project requirements.
  • During tuning phases, identifies new caller intentions, which can result in application and NLU changes.
  • Attend project status calls on a regular basis.
  • Ensure clear communication of issues with internal project teams.
• Data Management role:
  
  • Sets up method to transfer data into our STE, including managing encryption keys.
  • Creates directories for storing data, and organizes and processes data.
  • Manages overall disk space on the storage servers in the STE.
  • Archives and backup data, and securely delete data when appropriate.
  • Develop methodologies, scripts, procedures that streamline and automate processes to improve efficiency and quality.
  • Updating documentation on Confluence pages related to data management practices.

Education

• Bachelor's degree required, preferably a degree in linguistics, computer science, data science, or a related field. Other degrees will be considered if accompanied by related work experience.

Required Skills

• Native English speaker or near native English capabilities
• Strong Spanish language skills
• Strong written and verbal communications
• Ability to work as part of a project team
• Attention to detail
• Ability to see the big picture
• Highly independent and capable of handling multiple projects concurrently
• Motivated to learn and acquire new technical skills

Beneficial Skills

• Preferred background in Linguistics (formal coursework)
• Experience in linguistics, human computer interaction, usability studies, statistics, Data Science, or related fields, or speech recognition knowledge, understanding of speech recognition algorithms
• Experience with Python, Linux systems, bash
• Experience with troubleshooting
• Familiarity with IVR and ASR platforms

Nuance offers a compelling and rewarding work environment. We offer market competitive salaries, bonus, equity, benefits, meaningful growth and development opportunities and a casual yet technically challenging work environment. Join our dynamic, entrepreneurial team and become part of our continuing success.
Nuance celebrates diversity and is proud to be an equal employment opportunity and affirmative action workplace. We consider all qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy), sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, military and veteran status, disability, genetics, or any other category protected by law or Nuance policy. If you need an accommodation because of a disability for any part of the employment process, please call 781-565-5086 and let us know.