Technical Localization Specialist (NTD)

Nintendo Technology Development

The worldwide pioneer in the creation of interactive entertainment, Nintendo Co., Ltd., of Kyoto, Japan, manufactures and markets hardware and software for its Nintendo Switch™ system and the Nintendo 3DS™ family of portable systems. Since 1983, when it launched the Nintendo Entertainment System™, Nintendo has sold more than 4.7 billion video games and more than 740 million hardware units globally, including Nintendo Switch and the Nintendo 3DS family of systems, as well as the Game Boy™, Game Boy Advance, Nintendo DS™ family of systems, Super NES™, Nintendo 64™, Nintendo GameCube™, Wii™ and Wii U™ systems. It has also created industry icons that have become well-known, household names, such as Mario, Donkey Kong, Metroid, Zelda and Pokémon.  A wholly owned subsidiary, Nintendo Technology Development, based in Redmond, Washington, creates future hardware/software technology and researches North American-based technologies.

Nintendo is an equal opportunity employer. We offer a welcoming and inclusive environment in service to one another, our products, the diverse consumers we represent, and the communities we call home. We do all of this with kindness, empathy and respect for each other.

SUMMARY:
Perform localization and related tasks of moderate scope and complexity to overcome the linguistic barriers between globally dispersed engineering teams working on platform development.

DESCRIPTION OF DUTIES

• Serve as a conduit for communication between Nintendo Co., Ltd. (NCL) and engineering teams within Nintendo Technology Development (NTD).
• Translate documentation between Japanese and English pertaining to general and technical subjects, with consideration for cultural differences.
• Provide interpretation in meetings between NTD and NCL.
• Drive initiatives related to translation quality and process improvements.
• Identify issues in localization processes and propose solutions.
• Contribute to localization program road maps, project plans, and overall program health.
• Train and mentor others in translation and proofing procedures.
• Coordinate workload and interpreting schedules with the localization staff, negotiating deliverables and deadlines as necessary.
• Coordinate with members of NCL, its subsidiaries, and external partners.
• May require frequent travel to Japan as well as evening work in the Pacific Time Zone.
• Up to 10% travel; domestic and international.

SUMMARY OF REQUIREMENTS

• Two to six years of translation experience.
• General knowledge of translation management systems, such as memoQ or similar.
• Familiarity with at least one popular programming language, such as Python, JavaScript, C#, or similar.
• Familiarity with the use of regular expressions in the context of localization.
• Familiarity with translation-related technologies, such as machine translation and generative AI, and the industry trends related to them.
• Familiarity with version-control systems, such as Git.
• Solid understanding of tagged file formats, such as XML and HTML.
• Ability to communicate complex and technical information fluently in Japanese and English.
• Excellent verbal and written translation skills, with acute attention to detail.
• Understanding of technical subject matter on a broad range of computing technologies.
• Excellent organizational skills.
• Must fluently read, write, and speak Japanese and English, including jargon, slang, and idioms. Native speaker of Japanese preferred.
• Understanding of cultural and linguistic issues and ability to make recommendations regarding content.
• Familiarity with engineering and software development practices (e.g., the software development life cycle and related areas of knowledge), particularly as they relate to video game and platform development.
• Familiarity with project management practices (e.g., Agile, Scrum, Kanban, sprint retrospectives).
• Experience as a liaison between international offices is a plus.
• Secondary skills in any of the following areas are highly desirable: technical writing, visual design, project management.
• Undergraduate degree in Computer Science, Engineering, Communications, English, Japanese, or a suitably related field.
• Full professional proficiency (ILR Level 4 or higher) in both Japanese and English:
  • For native speakers of English, Japanese Language Proficiency Test N1 certification or equivalent capability is preferred.
  • For native speakers of Japanese, Eiken Pre-1 certification or equivalent is preferred.
  • For native speakers of other languages, equivalent language skill assessments (such as a TOEFL iBT score of 80) are preferred.

Applicants must be legally eligible to work in the United States to be considered. Visa sponsorship is not available for this role.

This position is onsite in Redmond, WA, and not open to remote status at this time.