Data Annotation Specialist

Location and language requirements:

• Job location: Reno, Nevada USA (on-site only)
• Native speaker or equivalent experience of English, United States

Microsoft Business Process Outsourcing and AI Operations (BPO & AIO) is responsible for the contracting, performance management, and continuous improvement execution activities for all outsourced global service providers supporting a wide range of business units within Microsoft. Our Mission is to be trusted advisors who anticipate and operationally execute on Business Process and opportunities delivering value to both Microsoft and our Customers.
If you love the pursuit of excellence and are inspired by the challenges that come through driving innovations that impact how the world lives, works and plays, then we invite you to learn more about Microsoft Operations - and the value we deliver across Microsoft and to our customers and partners. We offer unique opportunities to work on interesting global projects in an environment that appreciates diversity, focuses on talent development and recognizes and rewards great work.
We make doing business with Microsoft easy.ResponsibilitiesWant to use your language skills to help make better Microsoft products?
The Data Annotation Specialist is a key component in building the next generations of speech recognition by producing high quality transcriptions which train and improve Microsoft products and services. The Data Annotation Specialist will use native language skills and cultural knowledge to capture linguistic nuances with high fidelity. In this role you will be the foundation of the Microsoft teams responsible for driving machine learning and high AI technology, such as, AI assistance for people's daily life, meeting captioning, and more. Join our team and use your background and expertise to continue delivering value to Microsoft.
Data Annotation Specialist's:

• Use in house tools to transcribe and annotate data for various projects. A few examples may be providing transcription (text) for audio clips or annotating text or images to verify certain types of data.
• Go through content (online and offline), extract information, provide needed information through tools with high accuracy and consistency.
• Perform quality evaluation of transcription and annotation results produced by different sources.
• Collaborate with team members on day-to-day problem solving and projects assigned by managers.
• Data Annotation Specialists will come across offensive, sensitive, or objectionable material and may be required to work with this type of content to help train our AI models for the protection of Microsoft's customers.

Data Annotation Specialists are comfortable understanding data as it relates to :

• Sentiment: The emotional intonation and other subjective implications behind keywords and phrases.
• Intent: The human intent, or the user's end goal, behind different statements.
• Semantic: Understanding exactly what the meaning is behind what users are seeking.

Qualifications Basic Qualifications:

• High School diploma/ GED or equivalent work experience
• Native in English, United States - both written and spoken
• 2+ years of troubleshooting experience, customer service or equivalent experience
• Passionate and curious about technology

Preferred Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree or equivalent work experience
• In depth knowledge of required language pitch, tones, rhythm, intent, etc.
• Ability to have fun at work while bringing your authentic self
• Linguistics or computational linguistic background
• Experience in language technology including speech
• Proficient in multiple required languages
• Great attention to detail
• Good computer skills
• Quick learner
• Relevant certifications

This job requires individuals to work at the office location in Reno, NV.
The typical base pay range for this role across the U.S. is USD $24.86 - $46.49 per hour.
Microsoft has different base pay ranges for different work locations within the United States, which allows us to pay employees competitively and consistently in different geographic markets (see below). The range above reflects the potential base pay across the U.S. for this role (except as noted below); the applicable base pay range will depend on what ultimately is determined to be the candidate's primary work location. Individual base pay depends on various factors, in addition to primary work location, such as complexity and responsibility of role, job duties/requirements, and relevant experience and skills. Base pay ranges are reviewed and typically updated each year. Offers are made within the base pay range applicable at the time.
At Microsoft certain roles are eligible for additional rewards, including merit increases, annual bonus and stock. These awards are allocated based on individual performance. In addition, certain roles also have the opportunity to earn sales incentives based on revenue or utilization, depending on the terms of the plan and the employee's role. Benefits/perks listed here may vary depending on the nature of employment with Microsoft and the country work location. U.S.-based employees have access to healthcare benefits, a 401(k) plan and company match, short-term and long-term disability coverage, basic life insurance, and wellbeing benefits, among others.
There is a different range applicable to specific work locations, within the San Francisco Bay area and New York City metropolitan area, and the base pay range for this role in those locations is USD $35.34 - $52.98 per hour.
Microsoft is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to age, ancestry, color, family or medical care leave, gender identity or expression, genetic information, marital status, medical condition, national origin, physical or mental disability, political affiliation, protected veteran status, race, religion, sex (including pregnancy), sexual orientation, or any other characteristic protected by applicable laws, regulations and ordinances. We also consider qualified applicants regardless of criminal histories, consistent with legal requirements. If you need assistance and/or a reasonable accommodation due to a disability during the application or the recruiting process, please send a request via the Accommodation request form .
Benefits/perks listed below may vary depending on the nature of your employment with Microsoft and the country where you work.