Senior TTS Researcher

This Senior TTS Researcher role at Cerence involves optimizing core NN algorithms for inference and generation, integrating TTS components for multi-language support, and implementing markups for engine control. Responsibilities include designing and maintaining the embedded SDK, building automation tests, and ensuring KPIs like latency and RTF. The role also requires maintaining code from RD engineers and writing comprehensive release notes and documentation.

Must Have

• Optimize core NN algorithms to speed up inference and generation
• Integrate different TTS components into a flexible pipeline for 30+ languages
• Implement markups to control the TTS engine for different languages, features, and applications
• Design, implement, and maintain the embedded SDK for different platforms and cloud APIs
• Build up the automation test and release process to ensure KPIs such as latency and RTF
• Work as a maintainer on the codes from RD engineers
• Write well-structured release notes, SDK, and API documents
• 3+ years of hands-on experience in TTS system development with deep expertise in both frontend and backend components
• Proficiency in C/C++ and Python
• Mastery of ML frameworks (PyTorch, TensorFlow)
• Basic understanding of autoregressive / non-autoregressive acoustic models and neural vocoders
• Rich experience on software release, version control and branches maintenance
• Experience with ONNX Runtime, TensorRT, or TorchScript
• Experience with zero-shot/one-shot/few-shot voice cloning or emotional TTS systems
• Fluent English, especially written English

Good to Have

• Background in NLP techniques
• Background in speech signal processing

Job Description

Representative responsibilities/duties will include but not limited to:

• Optimize the core NN algorithms to speed up inference and generation
• Integrate different TTS components into a flexible pipeline that is suitable to “one engine for many (30+) languages”
• Implement markups to control the TTS engine is optimized for different languages, features and applications
• Design, implement and maintain the emb SDK for different platforms and cloud APIs
• Build up the automation test and release process to ensure the KPIs such as latency and RTF
• Work as a maintainer on the codes from RD engineers
• Write well structed release notes, SDK and API documents

Knowledge, skills, and qualifications

Education: Master in CS, AI, EE, Math, or related field.

Required/preferred skills:

• 3+ years of hands-on experience in TTS system development with deep expertise in both frontend and backend components
• Proficiency in C/C++ and Python, with mastery of ML frameworks (PyTorch, TensorFlow, etc)
• Some background in NLP techniques and/or speech signal processing is welcome
• Basic understanding of autoregressive / non-autoregressive acoustic models and neural vocoders
• Rich experience on software release, version control and branches maintenance
• Experience with ONNX Runtime, TensorRT, or TorchScript, etc
• Experience with zero-shot/one-shot/few-shot voice cloning or emotional TTS systems
• Fluent English is a must-have, especially on written English

Cerence Inc. (Nasdaq: CRNC and www.cerence.com) is the global industry leader in creating unique, moving experiences for the automotive world. Spun out from Nuance in October 2019, Cerence is a new, independent company that has quickly gained traction as a leader in the automotive voice assistant space, working with all of the world’s leading automakers – from Ford and Fiat Chrysler to Daimler, Audi and BMW to Geely and SAIC – to transform how a car feels, responds and learns. Its track record is built on more than 20 years of industry experience and leadership and more than 500 million cars on the road today across more than 70 languages.

As Cerence looks to the future and continues an ambitious growth agenda, we need someone to join the team and help build the future of voice and AI in cars. This is an exciting opportunity to join Cerence’s passionate, dedicated, global team and be a part of meaningful innovation in a rapidly growing industry.

EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER

Cerence is firmly committed to Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) and to compliance with all federal, state and local laws that prohibit employment discrimination on the basis of age, race, color, gender, gender identity, gender expression, sex, sex stereotyping, pregnancy, national origin, ancestry, religion, physical or mental disability, medical condition, marital status, citizenship status, sexual orientation, protected military or veteran status, genetic information and other protected classifications. Cerence Equal Employment Opportunity Policy Statement.

All prospective and current Employees need to remain vigilant when it comes to executing security policies in the workplace. This includes:

• Following workplace security protocols and training programs to familiarize with the ways to maintain a safe workplace.
• Following security procedures to report any suspicious activity.
• Having respect for corporate security procedures to allow those procedures to be effective.
• Adhering to company's compliance and regulations.
• Encouraging to follow a zero tolerance for workplace violence.
• Basic knowledge of information security and data privacy requirements (e.g., how to protect data & how to be handling this data).
• Demonstrative knowledge of information security through internal training programs.

About Us

At Cerence AI, we help the world's leading automotive and technology brands leverage AI to create safer, more productive and more joy-filled brand and user experiences. We're looking for motivated, collaborative individuals who come alive with big challenges and are excited about AI's potential to shape the future of how people experience the world.