Sr. Principal TTS Researcher at Cerence

Ulm, Baden-Wurttemberg, Germany

Cerence Logo
Not SpecifiedCompensation
Senior (5 to 8 years), Expert & Leadership (9+ years)Experience Level
Full TimeJob Type
UnknownVisa
Automotive, AIIndustries

Requirements

  • 8+ 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)
  • Strong background in NLP techniques and/or speech signal processing
  • Experience with linguistic tools (e.g., Festival) and phonetic knowledge
  • Familiarity with transformer-based language models for prosody prediction
  • Deep understanding of autoregressive / non-autoregressive acoustic models and neural vocoders
  • Experience optimizing models via quantization, pruning, or knowledge distillation
  • Knowledge of speech codecs (e.g., Opus, MELP) and real-time streaming protocols
  • Production experience with ONNX Runtime, TensorRT, or TorchScript, etc
  • Experience with zero-shot/one-shot/few-shot voice cloning or emotional TTS systems
  • Skilled GPU/TPU cluster and grid user
  • Fluent English (must-have)
  • Preferred
  • Track record of publications/papers in INTERSPEECH, ICASSP, or NeurIPS etc
  • Track working experience or tenure in world-level TTS/AI company or research institute
  • Proven ability to lead cross-functional groups and deliver competitive TTS solutions or applications

Responsibilities

  • (Not explicitly listed in the job description)

Skills

Key technologies and capabilities for this role

C/C++PythonPyTorchTensorFlowNLPspeech signal processingFestivaltransformer-based language modelsautoregressive acoustic modelsneural vocodersmodel quantizationmodel pruningknowledge distillationOpusMELPONNX RuntimeTensorRTTorchScriptvoice cloningemotional TTSGPU clusterTPU cluster

Questions & Answers

Common questions about this position

What are the key required skills for the Sr. Principal TTS Researcher role?

The role requires 8+ years of hands-on experience in TTS system development, proficiency in C/C++ and Python with mastery of ML frameworks like PyTorch and TensorFlow, strong background in NLP or speech signal processing, experience with linguistic tools and phonetic knowledge, and familiarity with transformer-based models, acoustic models, neural vocoders, model optimization, speech codecs, production runtimes, and voice cloning systems.

What is the salary or compensation for this position?

This information is not specified in the job description.

Is this a remote position, or what is the location policy?

This information is not specified in the job description.

What is the company culture like at Cerence?

Cerence offers an exciting opportunity to join a passionate, dedicated, global team focused on meaningful innovation in voice and AI for the automotive industry, with a track record built on over 20 years of experience.

What makes a strong candidate for this Sr. Principal TTS Researcher role?

Strong candidates will have 8+ years in TTS development, deep technical expertise across the listed skills, plus preferred qualifications like publications in top conferences, experience at world-level TTS/AI companies, and proven leadership in delivering TTS solutions.

Cerence

AI solutions for automotive in-car experiences

About Cerence

Cerence develops AI-powered solutions specifically for the automotive industry, focusing on improving the in-car experience for drivers and passengers. Their products include voice recognition systems and AI-driven assistants that enhance entertainment, connectivity, and safety while driving. Cerence collaborates with major automotive manufacturers to integrate these technologies into vehicles, such as the Mercedes Benz User Experience. Unlike many competitors, Cerence emphasizes a comprehensive approach that includes ongoing support and upgrades, ensuring their technology adapts to trends like smart cities and electric vehicles. The company's goal is to transform transportation and shape the future of mobility through innovative and user-friendly solutions.

Burlington, MassachusettsHeadquarters
2019Year Founded
$190MTotal Funding
IPOCompany Stage
Automotive & Transportation, AI & Machine LearningIndustries
1,001-5,000Employees

Risks

Increased competition from SoundHound threatens Cerence's market share.
Voice AI payments trend pressures Cerence to expand beyond automotive.
CEO Brian Krzanich's appointment may lead to disruptive strategic shifts.

Differentiation

Cerence specializes in AI-powered solutions for the automotive industry.
The company collaborates with industry leaders like Nuance and Daimler.
Cerence's solutions include voice recognition and AI-driven assistants.

Upsides

Cerence's partnership with Mapbox enhances voice-powered navigation for cars.
The introduction of CaLLM Edge positions Cerence as a leader in automotive AI.
Growing two-wheeler market offers expansion opportunities for Cerence Ride.

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