Linguist & Localization Architect

ABOUT HUGO

Hugo is a next-generation BPO built for today’s work. With a global team of over 4,500 people, we focus on high-complexity, judgment-led workflows where nuance matters and traditional outsourcing models fall short. Our teams support demanding digital operations, including AI and model evaluation, trust and safety, crisis and escalation workflows, and advanced customer experience programs.

Our workforce is designed to operate in ambiguity. University-trained teams work within AI-enabled workflows, combining analytical rigor with a strong culture of accuracy and ownership. Since 2023, we’ve scaled rapidly while maintaining strong retention and consistent execution quality.

We are enterprise-ready, but operate differently. Hugo meets the compliance, security, and operational standards of large global BPOs while maintaining the speed and adaptability of a modern, analytics-driven organization. Our teams think like consultants—pairing structured execution with thoughtful problem-solving—delivering enterprise-grade reliability to large organizations and sophisticated operational capability to smaller, underserved companies.

Our mission drives everything we do. Outsourcing creates significant global value, yet little of it reaches African communities. Hugo is changing that by channeling opportunity into Africa, building meaningful careers, and proving that African talent can help power the future of the digital economy.

THE ROLE

We’re looking for a Principal AI Alignment Linguist to lead multilingual evaluation, localization quality, and transcreation strategy across our global language workflows. This person will help ensure that model outputs are assessed with cultural nuance, linguistic precision, and strong alignment to market-specific expectations. The role sits at the intersection of linguistics, training design, and AI evaluation, and is critical to scaling high-quality multilingual work across complex international markets.

WHAT YOU’LL BE DOING

Multilingual Evaluation & Localization Quality

• Lead the linguistic quality framework for multilingual evaluation and transcription workflows.

• Ensure model outputs are assessed for meaning, nuance, tone, and cultural appropriateness, not just literal translation.

• Support high-quality transcreation across EMEA and other priority markets.

• Maintain consistency in how multilingual content is reviewed, scored, and calibrated.

Training Architecture & Enablement

• Design multilingual training playbooks that turn entry-level contributors into highly calibrated evaluators.

• Build learning materials, guidance documents, and example sets for localization, content verification, and transcreation workflows.

• Help standardize how linguistic quality is taught, reviewed, and improved over time.

• Partner with internal teams to keep training aligned with evolving client and model requirements.

Rubric Design & Calibration

• Develop and refine multi-score evaluation frameworks that support reliable multilingual assessment.

• Calibrate scoring logic so reviewers can apply standards consistently across languages and use cases.

• Monitor drift in evaluation quality and update rubrics as needed.

• Help establish stable linguistic assumptions when requirements are incomplete or ambiguous.

Ambiguity Resolution & Workflow Support

• Review vague or incomplete client requests and define clear semantic guardrails for execution.

• Make practical, risk-aware judgments that keep production moving without compromising quality.

• Translate shifting client policy or product requirements into usable operational guidance.

• Support smooth decision-making in fast-moving, high-ambiguity environments.

Cross-Functional Collaboration

• Work closely with research, product, operations, and language teams to shape evaluation standards.

• Provide expert linguistic input on localization, transcreation, and multilingual alignment issues.

• Help connect client needs with internal delivery processes and training frameworks.

• Strengthen institutional knowledge, so calibration remains stable over time.

KEY REQUIREMENTS

• Master’s or Ph.D. in Linguistics, Translation Studies, Computational Linguistics, or a related field.

• 5+ years of experience in localization, multilingual operations, language quality, or AI evaluation.

• Strong experience building training systems, playbooks, or quality frameworks for language work.

• Deep understanding of regional language variation, idioms, cultural nuance, and market-specific communication styles.

• Experience designing or applying evaluation rubrics and quality scoring systems.

• Strong ability to resolve ambiguity and make sound operational judgments.

• Excellent written communication and instructional design skills.

• Comfort working across multiple languages, regions, and stakeholder groups.

• Experience in AI localization, data annotation, model evaluation, or related workflows is a strong advantage.

• Highly organized, collaborative, and able to work with precision in fast-moving environments.
  

WHAT SUCCESS LOOKS LIKE: FIRST 120 DAYS

• A clear multilingual quality framework is in place and being used consistently.

• Training materials and playbooks are improved and aligned to current workflows.

• Reviewers and contributors are better calibrated across key languages and markets.

• Ambiguous requests are being resolved more quickly and with stronger consistency.

• Baseline drift in scoring or linguistic quality is reduced.

• The team has a more stable, scalable system for multilingual evaluation and transcreation.

EQUAL OPPORTUNITY STATEMENT

Diversity, equity and inclusion are part of our DNA. Promoting and, where possible, improving diversity, equity and inclusion are a value-based and commercial necessity. We are an equal opportunity employer and welcome applications from all qualified individuals, regardless of race, sex, gender identify, sexual orientation, neurodiversity, disability, or any other legally protected status