We are seeking a highly qualified Phonetic Linguist to join our team working on cutting-edge AI voice synthesis technology. This role involves precise annotation of professional singing recordings to create training data for advanced voice synthesis models.The position requires segmenting singing audio into individual phonemes with millisecond-level accuracy using spectrogram analysis. You will work with recordings across multiple languages, identifying and labeling vocal techniques including breathing patterns, glottal stops, vocal fry, and silence markers.This is a remote contract position offering the opportunity to work with proprietary annotation technology while contributing to breakthrough developments in AI-powered vocal synthesis. The role involves collaboration with an international team and handling confidential voice synthesis research.Key responsibilities include:Segmenting singing recordings into 5-30 second phrases with precise timingCorrecting automated phoneme predictions using visual and auditory analysisLabeling special vocal elements (breathing, silences, glottal stops)Handling cross-linguistic pronunciation variations in musical contextsMaintaining consistent quality standards across large datasetsWorking with proprietary web-based annotation platformsTechnical requirements:Reliable high-speed internet connectionProfessional audio equipment for precise listeningQuiet workspace suitable for detailed audio analysisAvailability for 20-30 hours per weekComfortable with NDA and confidentiality requirementsEssential qualifications:Master's or PhD in Linguistics, Phonetics, or related fieldExpert knowledge of International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA)Proven experience with acoustic analysis software (Praat, ELAN)Strong background in phonetic transcription and spectrogram interpretationExperience with time-aligned annotation workflowsNative or near-native English proficiencyAdditional language skills (Japanese, Mandarin, Korean, Spanish preferred)Preferred qualifications:Experience with speech synthesis or voice technology projectsUnderstanding of vocal techniques and singing stylesBackground in computational linguistics or audio signal processingPrevious work with AI training data annotationResearch experience in acoustic phonetics or speech science
