Planning to take your business global? You’ll need the expertise of a localization engineer. These professionals are crucial at every stage of the localization process, ensuring everything runs smoothly. A localization engineer’s primary role is to ensure that software code can accommodate multiple markets and that software actually works once the process is complete. Localization engineers excel in collaborating with cross-functional teams, acting as liaisons among vendors, translators, and developers.
Still on the fence about hiring a localization engineer? Let’s dive into the specifics of this role, the essential skills required, and the common challenges they face daily.
No two localization projects are ever the same, with each one offering unique challenges. However, the role of a localization engineer remains much the same across any project. Key duties include isolating content that needs to be translated, integrating translation workflows with existing ones, and laying down plans for future updates. However, this is just the tip of the iceberg. Below, we’ll take a closer look at what exactly makes up a localization engineer’s remit.
The first task for any localization engineer is to ensure that the software itself is ready for localization. If a piece of software has been properly internationalized, it should be easy to extract all localizable elements.
The next step in preparing content for localization is extraction. Any file with translatable text, including images, is pulled out and earmarked for localization. Once this is done, these assets are compiled alongside a toolkit and clear instructions for translators. This removes all of the guesswork from the translation process. Translators are fully versed on desired character counts, as well as what kind of text they’re actually translating.
A typical localization project calls for many different localization tools and technologies. These include translation management systems, content management systems, and machine-assisted translation tools. Localization engineers need to be familiar with all of them, understand how to integrate them into localization processes, and oversee daily use of them. What’s more, insight into such tools means that solutions can be actioned quickly should localization teams encounter any obstacles.
Cross-functional teams are a staple of any localization process and a localization engineer needs to be able to communicate with them on a daily basis. Whether it’s a localization project manager or a team of translators and linguistic experts, collaboration is key to success as a localization engineer. What’s more, most localization teams will include multiple remote roles. As such, localization engineers need to be prepared to liaise with developers and translations working across different time zones.
Quality assurance is a key part of the localization process. In most cases, localization engineers play an integral role in quality assurance, ensuring products are fully tested and ready for the end consumer. Testing should be rigorous, ensuring localized versions of products resonate across all target environments. Testing not only ensures that localized products are linguistically accurate, but they resonate with target cultures, all the while remaining true to the original product.
Localization engineers ensure that your localization team has the right tools and processes in place to deliver projects successfully. Additionally, they install best practices that need to be adhered to, ensuring localized content is culturally relevant and resonates with target audiences. With all of this in place, the cost of localization can be managed and there’s rarely any need for re-translation.
The role of a software engineer is a multifaceted one, with an average engineer having to possess a broad skill set. Engineers ensure that a piece of software is fully internationalized before localization can begin, and analyze code so it can accommodate different languages. This paves the way for the later integration of translated text.
Successful localization hinges on being able to deliver accurately translated content that fully resonates with a target audience on time. Localization engineers help facilitate this, increasing speed to market and ensuring software is competitive in crowded markets.
No matter how experienced a software localization engineer is, they will invariably encounter challenges along the way. From fixing bugs and errors to working with geographically dispersed teams, the average software localization engineer needs to be prepared for all manner of daily obstacles. Below, we’ll take a look at some of the most common problems a localization engineer is likely to encounter.
Because of the nature of localization, software localization engineers should be comfortable in managing multiple languages. While this doesn’t necessarily call for a native level of fluency, some familiarity with both the source and target language is desirable. Additionally, localization engineers will need to be able to work with many different file formats. After data extraction is complete, assets spanning a wide range of file formats remain. A localization engineer needs to be able to understand how to handle all of them.
A particularly challenging aspect of localization is balancing technical requirements with linguistic ones. Non-technical aspects such as linguistic nuance and cultural sensitivity are often challenged by technical limitations, and it’s down to the localization engineer to reconcile them. Localization engineers serve as the go-between for developers and translators, with each side having its own unique requirements. These can often clash, calling on localization engineers to mitigate and manage the conflict.
One of the biggest challenges of any localization project is delivering a fully localized product on time. Tight deadlines are a standard of the process, and it’s not uncommon for them to be brought forward in order to outdo the competition, especially when dealing in saturated markets. Localization projects need to be prepared for this and be able to make time-saving decisions as and when required.
The remit for a localization engineer calls for a broad skill set. Along with advanced technical proficiency, a successful software localization engineer also needs to have strong project management skills. What’s more, some familiarity with target languages and a handle on cultural sensitivity and awareness is desirable. However, some skills are more important than others. Below, we’ll shine a spotlight on some of the most essential.
The role of a localization manager is tech-heavy. A huge array of tools are typically employed during a localization project, including computer-assisted translation tools, content management systems, and more. Localization engineers will also need to work with translation management systems, translation memories, and QA tools on any given day. Naturally, an effective localization engineer should be fully adept at using all of them.
What’s more, localization engineers should be familiar with code. While it’s unlikely that an engineer will have to write code from scratch, knowing how to write and read code across a variety of programming languages is a preferred skill.
While a localization project will typically employ a dedicated project manager, localization engineers also need to possess strong project management skills themselves. Localization engineers not only need to be able to oversee their own workflows, but they also need to be able to manage developers and translators across cross-functional teams.
Market research should have already nailed down cultural nuances that need to be adhered to during localization. However, localization engineers should have a keen understanding of them in order to be able to do their job effectively. This ensures the right content is being earmarked for localization and specific cultural requirements are delivered, avoiding any misunderstandings and embarrassing faux pas.
Localization engineers are central to the success of any localization project. As well as preparing content for localization, a localization engineer takes charge of many different tools and technologies required to complete the process. Furthermore, localization engineers need to be comfortable communicating with cross-functional teams, while playing a key role during the QA testing phase of a localization project.
As well as having to fulfill a broad remit, localization engineers need to be able to overcome a host of daily challenges. This includes managing multiple file formats and languages, balancing technical and linguistic requirements, and meeting tight deadlines. Localization engineers need to possess a wide range of skills, including technical proficiency with translation and localization tools and technologies, project management skills, and an awareness of cultural requirements of target markets.
Looking to grow globally? If you need help with localization engineering, why not speak to BLEND to see how we can assist you. Our localization experts are fully versed in the latest technology and tools, helping streamline your localization workflows and deliver fully localized products on time and within budget.
Eager to learn more? Get in touch with the team today.
Localization engineers typically start out as QA professionals. After progressing to a software engineering role, engineers may then pursue more senior positions, such as localization project managers.
Localization is crucial if you want to take a product and make it resonate with users in new territories. However, localization can only begin if a product has been properly internationalized. Localization engineers are a necessary part of the process, dealing with everything from file handling to testing.
With over 10 years of experience in the localization industry, Adria is an expert in designing localization and translation solutions for global businesses in every industry. Adria is BLEND’s Solutions Architect and the Chapter Manager of Women in Localization Romania.
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