Sr. TTS Research Engineer

Cerence Inc.

Job Overview

Location

Remote - Japan

Job Type

Full-time

Full Job Description

📋 Description

• As a Sr. TTS Research Engineer at Cerence Inc., you will play a critical role in advancing text-to-speech technology that powers voice experiences in over 70 languages across hundreds of millions of vehicles worldwide. Your work directly contributes to creating intuitive, natural, and emotionally resonant voice interactions between drivers and their vehicles, enhancing safety, accessibility, and user satisfaction in the automotive AI landscape.
• Day to day, you will optimize core neural network algorithms for faster inference and generation, integrate diverse TTS components into a scalable multilingual pipeline supporting 30+ languages, implement linguistic markups for language- and application-specific control, design and maintain SDKs for multiple platforms and cloud APIs, build automated testing and release processes to meet KPIs like latency and real-time factor (RTF), maintain and review code from R&D engineers, and produce clear, well-structured release notes, SDK, and API documentation.
• You will join Cerence’s global TTS research team, a passionate and innovative group spun out from Nuance in 2019, now a leader in automotive voice AI. Cerence partners with the world’s top automakers — including Ford, BMW, Daimler, Audi, Geely, and SAIC — to deliver voice assistants that understand, respond, and learn from users. With over 500 million vehicles on the road using Cerence technology, you’ll be part of a mission-driven team shaping the future of in-car AI.
• In this role, you will deepen your expertise in cutting-edge TTS systems, gain hands-on experience optimizing production-grade ML pipelines for real-time automotive applications, contribute to multilingual and multimodal voice technologies, and grow as a technical leader in speech AI — all while working remotely from Japan with a global, collaborative team at the forefront of automotive innovation.

🎯 Requirements

• 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)
• Native or close to native Japanese language proficiency, plus fluent English as the working language
• Experience with software release, version control, and branch maintenance
• Experience with ONNX Runtime, TensorRT, or TorchScript for model optimization and deployment
• Background in NLP techniques and/or speech signal processing is welcome

🏖️ Benefits

• Opportunity to work with a global leader in automotive voice AI powering over 500 million vehicles worldwide
• Remote work flexibility based in Japan with collaboration across a global engineering team
• Exposure to cutting-edge TTS technologies including zero-shot/one-shot/few-shot voice cloning and emotional TTS systems
• Chance to contribute to multilingual (30+ languages) speech solutions used by top global automakers
• Professional growth in optimizing neural networks for real-time inference in production environments
• Engagement with a mission-driven company committed to innovation, inclusion, and equal opportunity employment

Skills & Technologies

Python

TensorFlow

PyTorch

Senior

Remote

Degree Required

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Cerence Inc.

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About Cerence Inc.

Cerence Inc. develops AI-powered mobility assistant technologies, including voice, natural language understanding, and human-machine interaction software. The company supplies automakers and mobility OEMs with embedded and cloud solutions that enable conversational in-car experiences, voice biometrics, navigation, and content access. Cerence serves global car manufacturers, tier-one suppliers, and mobility service providers, offering scalable platforms that integrate with vehicle infotainment systems and digital cockpits. Its portfolio spans speech recognition, edge AI, and cloud services designed to enhance driver safety and user experience across passenger vehicles, two-wheelers, and commercial fleets.

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