American Sign Language ASL (SME)

American Sign Language (ASL) Expert (SME) – Consultant Role Description

Purpose

We are seeking a highly experienced American Sign Language (ASL) professional to serve as a consultant on AI training data projects for leading AI model builders and enterprises. Your focus will be to define success criteria, review outputs, and provide targeted guidance to improve quality and speed — directly contributing to the successful delivery of domain-specific annotated datasets that meet the highest linguistic and cultural standards. You will be engaged on specific projects with clearly defined deliverables, milestones, and end dates.

Components

Linguistic Standard Setting, Quality Control, and Process Improvement

• Define domain-specific success metrics for ASL accuracy, clarity, and cultural appropriateness.
• Develop project-specific SOPs, QA rubrics, and reference materials to ensure outputs meet high linguistic and client standards.
• Review project outputs (annotations, transcriptions, glosses, metadata, video labeling) against technical standards, flagging and correcting errors before client delivery.
• Perform structured QA passes on daily/weekly deliverables; identify, track, and resolve defects to maintain delivery timelines.
• Return work to contractors with precise remediation notes.
• Provide advisory input on tools, workflows, and processes to ensure high-quality ASL data capture and annotation.
• Handle edge cases and specification changes — e.g., regional variation, non-manual markers, or ambiguous glossing — drafting acceptance criteria or workarounds.
• Curate example libraries of “gold standard” ASL annotations and video samples for calibration and reference.

Talent Vetting & Output Improvement

• Participate in vetting and assessing ASL annotators or contractor talent, including review of sample work and domain-specific knowledge checks.
• Review sample outputs and provide actionable, constructive feedback to improve linguistic accuracy and consistency.
• Create targeted training or calibration resources — e.g., proper glossing conventions, handling classifiers, facial expressions, or culturally nuanced use of ASL.

Project Delivery Support

• Advise on linguistic and cultural scoping during project setup, including reference resources and domain-specific quality thresholds.
• Provide expert guidance for edge cases, exceptions, and evolving specifications during the project lifecycle.
• Contribute to post-project reviews to capture lessons learned and improve future standards.
• Identify and summarize client model observations and insights (e.g., misinterpretation of classifiers, inaccurate glossing, or missing non-manual signals).
• Build dashboards or trackers with defect categories and recurrence to surface insights that improve project outcomes.
• Conduct post-mortems, analyze defect trends, and propose updated processes or training refreshers.

Target Profile

• Native or near-native fluency in American Sign Language (ASL), with deep knowledge of its grammar, structure, and cultural context.
• 5+ years professional experience in ASL interpretation, teaching, research, or linguistic annotation.
• Strong expertise in ASL linguistics, including glossing, classifiers, non-manual markers, and regional variations.
• Proven ability to set, enforce, and maintain high linguistic and cultural standards.
• Strong communication skills for delivering clear, actionable guidance.
• Experience producing technical documentation, annotation rubrics, or training resources.
• Ability to work within fixed project timelines and scope.
• Strong attention to detail, documentation discipline, and commitment to accuracy and cultural respect.
• Fluency in spoken and written English, with clear and concise writing skills.

We offer a pay range of $25-to- $100 per hour, with the exact rate determined after evaluating your experience, expertise, and geographic location. Final offer amounts may vary from the pay range listed above. As a contractor you’ll supply a secure computer and high‑speed internet; company‑sponsored benefits such as health insurance and PTO do not apply.

Job title: American Sign Language ASL (SME)

Employment type: Contract

Workplace type: Remote

Seniority level: Senior Level