Exotic Language Linguists

Founded in 1989 and headquartered in Reston, Virginia, SOSi is a private defense and government solutions business specializing in advanced technology systems and mission support. Its capabilities include data science, software development, network engineering, intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR), and logistics.

Job Description

Overview

SOSi is seeking Exotic Language Linguists in a number of languages to join our team supporting all duties assigned to communicate and translate within our customer's requirements. If you are fluent in Baloch / Balochi, Ibo, Miskito, Twi, Yoruba or Plantdietsch, and more, we are interested in speaking with you for a critical mission. 

Languages can also include Afrikaans, Akan, Amharic, Baloch/Balochi, Basque, Berber, Chamorro, Chimora, Chin, Edo, Ewe, Fulani, Ga, Galego, Guinea, Bissau, Creole, Hausa, Ibo, Kikongo/Kingiona, Lapp/Sami, Latin, Mandingo/Mandinka, Miskito, Moshi-Dagomba, Ping, Plantdietsch, Sesotho, Sinhala, Somali, SrananTongo/Taki, Swahili, Sze Yup, Taishanese, Tetum, Tigrinya, Twi, Wu (Shanghainese), Yoruba, and Zulu.

Essential Job Duties

• All Linguists will be capable of satisfactorily performing various linguistic functions and duties throughout a shift as described below for monitoring, organizing, categorizing, translating, transcribing, interpreting, performing quality control, and validating services. Linguists will be responsible for monitoring varying numbers of communication intercepts during any given shift.
• The Linguist will listen to oral and/or electronic communication intercepts or other digital media in English and in foreign languages and provide an immediate oral summary in English, followed by a hand-written or typed (as instructed by the Linguistic Supervisor) summary in English in a format specified by our government customer. The Linguist shall review the summary for accuracy.
• The Linguist will operate equipment such directed by US Government customer personnel, to include recording and playback equipment, televisions, computers, digital T2S2 systems and/or other equipment as required.
• The Linguist will prepare a summary of each intercept to include, but not limited to, a hand written or typed synopsis (gist) in English that is grammatically correct; date and time of recording; and other relevant information as instructed by the Linguistic Supervisor.
• The Linguist will correctly identify the conversant(s) through use of a voice library and/or from the context of the conversation.
• The Linguist will enter the summary into a digital medium when required.
• The Linguist will sign all gists, summary logs, or documents that are prepared as may be required.
• The Linguist will digitally initial all files, transcripts, translations or other work products, which is to be witnessed by another person as may be required.
• The Linguist will maintain a list of slang words and codes used by the conversants for the duration of the communications intercept.
• The Linguist will prepare digital copies for storage, as directed by the COR for all intercepted communication.
• The Linguist will perform administrative duties related to the above duties, such as arranging log sheets, gists, and/or summaries into binders and/or file folders; copying and assembling related paperwork and reporting.
• Linguists will have the ability to understand the specific tasks being processed and produced.
• Linguists will understand and comply with all Court regulations concerning minimization procedures.
• The Translator/Transcriber shall prepare an English translation and/or transcription from a variety of English or foreign language source exhibits including, but not limited to, audio and video cassette; recorded conversations; facsimile documents; handwritten and/or typed materials such as legal documents, diaries, computerized printouts; computer disks; personal paper; maps; charts; ledgers; and notes. Material to be translated and/or transcribed shall be determined by the COR and assigned to the linguist through the Linguistic Supervisor.
• The Translator/Transcriber shall correctly identify the conversant(s) through use of a voice library and/or from the context of the conversation.
• The Translator/Transcriber shall type all transcripts unless instructed to hand write a transcript.
• The Translator/Transcriber shall type in the foreign language, in English or both verbatim, free of typographical errors, and without the omission of a word or words (the words spoken on the source recording, or the words written on the source document). The transcript shall be in a format specified by the customer. A source document may be a map, chart, or other type of written information.
• The Translator/Transcriber shall utilize a format closely resembling the original document if the original document is a source document such as a map, chart or other type of written information.
• The Translator/Transcriber shall utilize correct grammar and punctuation in all English transcripts.
• The Translator/Transcriber’s Linguistic Supervisor shall provide the COR with a printed typed copy of the transcript and the computer media in a time frame established by the COR.
• The Translator/Transcriber shall enter a file title that is a combination of the intercept identification number, the call number, and any other unique identifier prescribed by the customer onto the printed transcript.
• The Translator/Transcriber shall perform administrative duties related to the tasking, such as arranging gists and/or summaries into binders and/or file folders; copying and assembling related paperwork.
• The Translator/Transcriber shall have the ability to understand the specific tasks being processed and /or produced.

Interpreter Duties

• The Interpreter shall orally and consecutively interpret a foreign into English and English into a foreign language.
• The Interpreter shall make notes of the interpretation and provide notes to the Linguistic Supervisor or COR, as requested.

Validation Duties

• A Linguist, other than the Linguist performing the original work, shall validate a transcript by comparing the completed transcript and/or translation to the source media (such as cassette recording, compact disks, MO Disk, or documents) to ensure that the final work is verbatim, and that the translation presents a true rendering in English.
• The Linguist who conducted the validation shall sign a statement on the final document attesting to the accuracy of the final work.

Qualifications

Minimum Requirements

• Must be able to obtain and maintain a Secret level security clearance.
• Bachelor’s Degree or a minimum of 4 years of combined work and educational experience.
• Candidate must successfully undergo and pass a language assessment in the four main categories: speaking, listening, reading, and writing in both native tongue and English.
• Additional Linguist requirements are as follows:
• Excellent command of the English language and have the ability to provide clear, concise, oral and written communications.
• Skills necessary to listen to and comprehend a foreign language with native or near-native ability, and to follow accurately the basic elements of conversation, whether written or verbal.
• Skills necessary to read and comprehend a foreign language with a native or near-native ability, and to read and understand various text-types.
• Ability to comprehend slang and colloquial expressions in a foreign language and translate them into their English equivalent.
• A sufficiently broad vocabulary in English that paraphrasing or explaining is unnecessary.
• Ability to work well under pressure to meet specific deadlines.
• A minimum of 40 wpm typing/word processing skills. The Government may waive the basic typing skill proficiency level under extenuating circumstances. The COR will evaluate the circumstances on a case-by-case basis.
• Ability to understand the specific tasks being processed and produced.
• Ability to effectively understand face-to-face speech with sufficiently broad vocabulary that paraphrasing, or explanations are unnecessary.
• Language fluency is required with verification of language skills.

Preferred

Qualifications

• Major or study in the appropriate foreign language preferred.

Additional Information

Work Environment

• Fast-paced, deadline-driven environment.
• Part-time to Full Time shift-based work as required to fulfill required deadlines.
• Work can include Monday - Sunday coverage.
• Flexibility to support during site's shift hours of 8:00am - 4:30pm and 3:30pm - 12:00am, as long as deadline(s) are met. 
• Not eligible for remote work unless required and approved by the customer.

Working at SOSi

All interested individuals will receive consideration and will not be discriminated against for any reason.