Information about becoming a localization engineer

Question

Hello all, 
 I am working as a technical writer (8+ years) and taking a Master in Technical Communication in the evening. One of my favourite courses is GUI Localization, mostly with Passolo. 
 I would not want to work in GUI localization, but I am collecting information about what it takes to become a localization engineer. 
 If there are localization engineers (LEs) on this forum, can you take the time to answer questions like: 
 - What are some common tasks that you do in your work? - What is the preferred background for a LE? - What programming languages do you use? - What tools and specifications do you need to know? - Can you sketch your career until now? - Do you work as a freelance or as an employee? 
 Thank you for any information you might want to share. 
 Best regards, 
 Diego Schiavon

Ádám Biczó · Accepted Answer

Hi Diego, 
 
 Diego Schiavon said: - What are some common tasks that you do in your work? 
 The tasks differ from supporting Project Managers to implementing new workflows, testing, bug fixing, writing scripts, defining filetypes and finding workarounds for special problems. It all depends on the environment and CAT-Tool and/or TMS you are working with. 
 
 Diego Schiavon said: - What is the preferred background for a LE? 
 Well, that's hard to say. If you have a talent for IT, you can come from any kind of field and learn it on the way. Ideally you have an IT-background with good linguistic and soft skills. 
 
 Diego Schiavon said: - What programming languages do you use? 
 This again depends on the environment you are working on, mostly it should be enough to know a scripting language like Python or Javascript. Now I've started with Visual Basic.NET, because it is useful for the latest SDL products if you combine it with Visual Studio 2019 and the templates provided by SDL. 
 https://marketplace.visualstudio.com/items?itemName=sdl.TradosStudiotemplatesforVisualStudio 
 
 Diego Schiavon said: - What tools and specifications do you need to know? 
 I'm gonna be annoying, but this again depends on the environment and CAT Tool/TMS you are working with. What you definitely need to know is XML, XLIFF, TMX and TBX. These are the main filetypes within localization industry. Of course, there are others, but these are the basics. Regular expressions are also necessary. 
 
 Diego Schiavon said: - Can you sketch your career until now? 
 Sure, I've done Translation and interpreting MA on the University of Szeged, Hungary, and Webdesign and webprogramming in a private school. Firstly I did some freelance translation and webprogramming, but I realized that I'm not the guy who can sit 8 hours day by day alone. I was so lucky, that a bigger LSP, which was a department of a huge US company, was looking for a localization engineer and they hired me. There I met Greta in the comments below, still she is one of the best (ex)colleagues ever. Unfortunately they closed this department and I was again very lucky to become a Language Technology Expert at tsd Technik-Sprachendiest GmbH in Cologne, Germany. This last sentence also answered your last question, I'm an employee. 
 
 I hope that I could give you some useful information on becoming a localization engineer. 
 If you are interested in IT and you like languages, I can tell you that this is your job. 
 I wish you good luck on your journey. 
 
 Best regards, 
 Adam

Jesús Prieto · Answer

Hi Diego Schiavon , 
 This recent podcast may give you some more ideas: 
 Becoming a localization engineer 
 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Npc9-eyzr0g&list=PLbLEqr5KQOXPX2bemmZMpVzUeAtyKs6_k&index=4

Trados Studio > 1. Trados Studio

Information about becoming a localization engineer

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