What is a 'localisation engineer'?

limbovski

I seen a rely vague job description for this postion and might apply, was wondering does anyone have any information on what someone in this role does?????

mountainyman

Probably just looking for a programmer with localisation experience.

RicardoSmith

Some places this is a tester, sometimes its a programmer. Varies a lot really.

yoman

Localisation is the concept of translating software from one language to another so you will probably be responsible for applying the translations to the software and re-building it(Software Localisation engineer), or testing the translated software for layout and functional issues (Test localisation engineer)

AARRRGH

Localisation Engineer is a nice way of saying -

We want you to sit in front of a computer and test every part of a piece of software which has recently been translated. This testing is basically looking for truncated text, missing text and text which has not been translated. Also, please make sure the translators haven't broken any of the softwares functionality.

It is a very very easy job and is a nice way to break into IT. No computer skills are necessary (assuming you are comfortable with computers.) Attention to detail and not minding doing monotonous work is the key.

QualderWahl

dublindude wrote:

Localisation Engineer is a nice way of saying -

We want you to sit in front of a computer and test every part of a piece of software which has recently been translated. This testing is basically looking for truncated text, missing text and text which has not been translated. Also, please make sure the translators haven't broken any of the softwares functionality.

It is a very very easy job and is a nice way to break into IT. No computer skills are necessary (assuming you are comfortable with computers.) Attention to detail and not minding doing monotonous work is the key.

Hey,

I agree to a certain extent that localisation testing is somewhat limiting in that you primarily search for untranslated strings, concatenations, l10n issues and verify primary product functionality. However, I do feel that your synopsis does the job a disservice.

Lead localisation engineers are responsible for budgeting, scheduling, liaising with development / tech support / in-country offices. It also involves resource allocation, production of statisical analysis related to defect trends and auditing. All of these elements provide valuable project management experience whilst the hands on testing ensures that you are familiar with product functionality and provides you with the opportunity to develope cross-platform technical knowledge.

Personally, I enjoy writing test plans and devising the appropriate strategy to test a product. I come from a languages and computing background and I feel that the localisation industry facilitates a happy marriage of both interests. Admittedly it can become somewhat monotonous at times but what job doesn't after a given length of time has elapsed !

AARRRGH

OK, but we are talking about Localisation Engineers, not "Lead" Localisation Engineers (i.e. borderline management.)

It also involves resource allocation, production of statisical analysis related to defect trends and auditing.

That's just silly management speak!

QualderWahl

dublindude wrote:

OK, but we are talking about Localisation Engineers, not "Lead" Localisation Engineers (i.e. borderline management.)

I'm not border line management at all. I am a lead software test engineer and am expected to execute all of the tasks outlined in my previous post. As indeed are many of my collegaues, both senior and junior. It really depends on the organisation for whom you work. We operate a very flat structure and everyone is expected to be involved in testing, engineering and project management aspects of the effort e.g. If my PM is sick, I will cover her obligations and report into the US project manager in her absence. Conversely, I am aware that in some companies, the role of localisation engineer is just as monotonous as you described. My point is that it very much dependent on the individual organisation and you should not forward your experience as the template for all localisation engineering roles.

That's just silly management speak!

Incorrect. We are require to collate statistics and capture defect trends. It forms the basis of post-mortem discussions. Similarly, auditing is critical if the project is outsourced to a remote vendor team.

Apologies if I sound like a "jobsworth" but I think that you are presenting an overly negative critique of the role.

Cheers.

AARRRGH

Well, Localisation Engineer is at the bottom of the IT food chain. Nothing I have said about the role is false...

QualderWahl

dublindude wrote:

Well, Localisation Engineer is at the bottom of the IT food chain. Nothing I have said about the role is false...

Fair enough. However, at least we have provided the OP with information from two perspectives rather than just the typical "it's crap" response. Negativity is just laziness.

AARRRGH

QualderWahl wrote:

Negativity is just laziness.

Sure... :rolleyes:

QualderWahl

dublindude wrote:

Sure... :rolleyes:

Good contribution. Well done ! You'll go a long way...

Bogger77

QualderWahl wrote:

Good contribution. Well done ! You'll go a long way...

If I remember correctly, Dublin dude works, or worked for, a Recruitment agency. More, I do not need to say, apart from if Localization Engineer is the lowest of the low, where does that place recruitment consultants?

Ph3n0m

I have worked as a Localisation Engineer and believe me you are at the bottom of the IT food chain - entry level - the money really blows - and there is no job satisfaction because (here's a suprise) the money blows

madramor

localisation engineer is either
1:
localisation engineer (Testing)
2:
localisation engineer (Programming)

Both are a good route into the development side of IT.

Testing can range from:
Manual testing ie(pressing button on a finished application)
Designing Test plans ie(using maths and flow tools to work out all the
test that have to be performed inorder to fully test application)
Writing test code ie(writing code that test components of the applciation)

Programming can range from:
Cracking open an application and changing the langauge from one to another.
Localisation planning, in at the design statge of a project to creat code
that is easy to localise.

You also can go very high up in these types of roles.
These roles can be very challenging and successful.

QualderWahl

Ph3n0m wrote:

I have worked as a Localisation Engineer and believe me you are at the bottom of the IT food chain - entry level - the money really blows - and there is no job satisfaction because (here's a suprise) the money blows

The money doesn't really blow everywhere. If you have skills that are in any way marketable e.g. languages degree + certifications and experience, you can negotiate yourself a pretty good deal. A colleague of mine has just started a new position as a "localisation engineer" in one of the multi-nationals and trust me, the money is very, very respectable.

If we are speaking purely in financial terms, everyone with whom I work also owns their homes, drives decent cars and can afford a holiday or two a year. This isn't too bad for people who allegedly at the bottom of the food chain.

I respect that we all have had difference experiences of the industry. However, it's not fair to the OP to suggest that your experience is the template for all others. There are decent l10n positions out there.

Bogger77

Ph3n0m wrote:

I have worked as a Localisation Engineer and believe me you are at the bottom of the IT food chain - entry level - the money really blows - and there is no job satisfaction because (here's a suprise) the money blows

depends.
If you work for one of the outsource companies, lionbridge or IT Alliance, yes it can suck rather badly.

Depending on the company, if you are working as a internal perm employee, conditions and money can be quite good. Again, it depends on what product types you are working on. Any one could engineer MS Office for example, and you will often end up with people who have trouble switching on their pc working on projects like that. Those kinda engineer's got hit hard when the bubble went pop.

All entry level positions suck, and the money's cr@p, it's how you progress from that position. If you look at current job market, from what I've seen, good quality localization engineer's are impossible to hire, I know of one company having to reject 95% of cv's received for localization engineer, before even calling people for interviews. The offered salary for the role, was higher than any developer role.

To the OP: if you want to get a job, pay some bills, then get the hell out, yes Localization engineer might suit. If you're looking for a long term job, then it's unlikely to be. If you want to be a developer/programmer, then while it's useful to get experience of the industry, dont plan on staying long as you'll get pigeonholed.

Bogger77

Having worked in the following
* as a tester in an localization outsourcing vendor company,
* inhouse test department
* Localization engineer (inhouse)
* Core Test department of a multi-national company (global market leader)
* Member of an R&D department

I can say the following.
In both core and L10n/i18n departments, you will have brillant engineer's whose can design+code applications which work better than the specs, you will also meet engineers/developers whose work is so bad, that you wonder how they made it through the interview.

You'll meet people in management positions who would make good managers in any industry, you'll also meet some of the worse managers.

Lowest of the low, in IT terms? Well, that's gotta be telephone technical support. Minimum wage rate, crap conditions and an almost impossible to climb promotion ladder. coupled with a lot of team leads/managers who shouldn't be let manage their breakfast let alone people.

I'm currently in Localisation, doing the following depending on the day
* Testing several fairly technical and complicated products
* Creating content for customer facing websites
* Training teams around the world on various tasks we do here
* Organising resources for testing/engineering
* Working out build schedules with l10n engineering/core eng and qa.
* Dealing with Tech Support to see if we're missing areas
* Verifying the CD's before they go to be manufactured, all languages, inc English
* Making new content available on websites, all languages.
* Dealing with vendors, both translation and testing.

Not really what'd come under the general tasks of a tester, yet the wages are equal too, and the hours less than a developer in the last company I worked in.

AARRRGH

Bogger77 wrote:

If I remember correctly, Dublin dude works, or worked for, a Recruitment agency. More, I do not need to say, apart from if Localization Engineer is the lowest of the low, where does that place recruitment consultants?

No, your memory is incorrect. I worked as a Localisation Engineer for 1 year, I worked as a Linux Programmer for 5 years, and now I'm a project manager for an online recruitment website.

I have two degrees, and I'm also a qualified accountant.

So no, I'm not some sleazy sales guy who has no idea what he's talking about...

limbovski

That sure sparked a debate.... Thanks for all the varying viewpoints.

To be honest, I do think it may be a good way of getting a foothold into the industry, but I really dont intend to dedicate my life on becoming the worlds greatest localisation engineer...

Signed

The OP

RicardoSmith

Sometimes you have to start at the bottom and work your way up. Localisation is a big area/industry and theres all types of skill levels and job roles in it. Obviously the're all not bottom rung positions.

QualderWahl

limbovski wrote:

That sure sparked a debate.... Thanks for all the varying viewpoints.

To be honest, I do think it may be a good way of getting a foothold into the industry, but I really dont intend to dedicate my life on becoming the worlds greatest localisation engineer...

Signed

The OP

I'm glad that you got something from the thread. It is definitely worth your while using a localisation role as a gateway to the wider IT industry. It is infinitely better than telephone tech support or similar roles which many graduates use as a stepping stone.

It would be advisable though for you to focus your search on the publishers (MS, Oracle, Symantec, Novell etc...) rather than the vendor companies to which the lower grade work is outsourced. It's good that you have assimilated the piece of advise about avoiding being categorised as a localisation person. It can be difficult to shake it off it you become type cast (for want of a better word!).

Good luck with the job search. Who knows, you may enjoy localisation and decide that straight coding work isn't the holy grail !

RicardoSmith

Its also a good way to meet other people in IT. You might pick up good info and tips from your co workers, other jobs, etc.