LINGUIST List 12.46

Wed Jan 10 2001

Jobs: Text Processing, Test Engineer at Conversay

Editor for this issue: Michael Appleby <michaellinguistlist.org>

Directory

1. Paul Bunda, Comp Ling/Text Processing at Conversay, WA USA
2. Paul Bunda, Ling Test Engineer at Conversay, WA, USA

Rank of Job: 
Areas Required: Text Processing
Other Desired Areas: 
University or Organization: Conversay
Department: Core Engineering
State or Province: WA
Country: USA
Final Date of Application: ongoing
Contact: Paul Bunda pbundaconversay.com

Address for Applications:
15375 NE 90th Street
Redmond
WA 98052
USA

Conversay
Speech for a World in Motion

Conversay is fundamentally changing the way people worldwide access
their online data. We help them talk to it. No mouse. No keyboard.

We're a Redmond-based company dedicated to enabling interactive voice
access to Internet-based information, using natural spoken language:
anywhere, anytime, on any device, from any network. Today. It's a
tech revolution waiting to happen. Come be a part of it.

We are team-oriented, resourceful, reliable, and believe in taking
risks. We offer excellent benefits, including pre-IPO stock options,
fully paid health insurance for all employees, and a casual work
environment where successes both great and small are celebrated.


Computational Linguist - Text Processing

Job Description:

The successful candidate will assist in the creation, maintenance and
extension of a text/language processing component for multiple
languages used by Conversay's proprietary text-to-speech and automatic
speech recognition engines.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities (including education):

- Thorough understanding of phonology and morphology.
- Basic C programming skills and/or experience with scripting
languages such as Perl.
- Advanced degree in linguistics or computer science (Ph.D. a strong
plus).
- Knowledge of other areas of linguistics and natural language
processing a strong plus.
- Familiarity with text normalization/tokenization issues a strong
plus.
- Knowledge of multiple languages a strong plus (especially
Portuguese, Dutch, Swedish, Finnish, German, Korean, Japanese,
Mandarin or Cantonese Chinese).
- Previous experience with speech applications a plus.

Principal Duties and Responsibilities:

- Extend current text/language processing component to adapt it to
different languages, focusing on the following areas: character
processing, written word and sentence boundary detection, text
normalization, tokenization, text-to-pronunciation, phonology,
morphology, lexical access.
- Create, extend and maintain new text/language processing modules in
the same areas listed above.
- Perform any other duties which may be assigned or necessary.

Supervision:

- Position does not involve supervision duties.

Decision Making:

- Must be able to work with limited supervision.
- Must be independent, self-motivated and responsible.

Interaction:

- Must be able to interact with linguists, programmers and speech
scientists.

Equipment:

- Position does not require knowledge of any specific equipment.

Physical Requirements:

- Sustain movements of the fingers, wrists, hands or arms (keyboard
work).
- Must have the ability to receive, express, and exchange detailed
information through oral and written communication.

Additional Information:

- Must be willing to relocate to the Seattle/Bellevue/Redmond (WA)
area.


Help the world kick its keyboard dependence habit!

Email us at: SpeechTechnologistsCareersconversay.com 
Please be sure to specify the job title of interest. 

Visit us on the web at: http://www.conversay.com/careers

Rank of Job: 
Areas Required: Linguistic Test Engineer
Other Desired Areas: 
University or Organization: Conversay
Department: Core Engineering
State or Province: WA
Country: USA
Final Date of Application: ongoing
Contact: Paul Bunda pbundaconversay.com

Address for Applications:
15375 NE 90th Street
Redmond
WA 98052
USA

Conversay
Speech for a World in Motion

Conversay is fundamentally changing the way people worldwide access
their online data. We help them talk to it. No mouse. No keyboard.

We're a Redmond-based company dedicated to enabling interactive voice
access to Internet-based information, using natural spoken language:
anywhere, anytime, on any device, from any network. Today. It's a
tech revolution waiting to happen. Come be a part of it.

We are team-oriented, resourceful, reliable, and believe in taking
risks. We offer excellent benefits, including pre-IPO stock options,
fully paid health insurance for all employees, and a casual work
environment where successes both great and small are celebrated.


Linguistic Tester

Job Description:

The successful candidate will design, implement, and run suites of
automated linguistic tests for Conversay's proprietary
text-to-speech and speech recognition systems for multiple languages.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities (including education):

- Previous industry experience in speech technology / language
processing, OR advanced degree in linguistics or a closely related
field.
- Experience in using scripting or programming languages, especially
C, C++, Perl, Visual Basic or Visual Test.
- Experience with design & use of automated test tools a plus.
- Previous experience with speech applications a strong plus.
- Native or near-native knowledge of one of the following languages a
strong plus: Portuguese, Dutch, Swedish, Finnish, German, Korean,
Japanese, Mandarin or Cantonese Chinese.

Principal Duties and Responsibilities:

- Design and implement automated tools and scripts to evaluate the
accuracy and functionality of core language components of Conversay
software. For example, write tools, scripts, and expected-behavior
frames for testing the text-normalization component.
- Work with the Quality Assurance team to design regression tests for
core language components. Evaluate bugs reported by QA and direct
those bugs to the appropriate members of the Core Engineering team.
- Work with the Usability and Quality Assurance team to evaluate user
interactions with the language engines, e.g. intelligibility of speech
synthesis.
- Perform any other duties which may be assigned or necessary.

Supervision:

- Position does not involve supervision duties.

Decision Making:

- Must be able to work with limited supervision.
- Must be independent, self-motivated and responsible.

Interaction:

- Must be able to interact with linguists, programmers and speech
scientists.
- See Principal Duties and Responsibilities above for work with QA and
Usability teams.

Equipment:

- Position does not require knowledge of any specific equipment.

Physical Requirements:

- Sustain movements of the fingers, wrists, hands or arms (keyboard
work).
- Must have the ability to receive, express, and exchange detailed
information through oral and written communication.

Additional Information:

- Must be willing to relocate to the Seattle/Bellevue/Redmond (WA)
area.


Help the world kick its keyboard dependence habit!

Email us at: SpeechTechnologistsCareersconversay.com 
Please be sure to specify the job title of interest. 

Visit us on the web at: http://www.conversay.com/careers