Expert Audio Transcriber, Mesopotamian Arabic (Iraqi)

Perle Systems·Remote(Iraq)
Other

WFA Digital Insight

The demand for skilled audio transcribers has surged in recent years, with the global AI market expected to reach

90 billion by 2027. As a result, professionals with expertise in Mesopotamian Arabic are in high demand. Perle Systems, a leading AI infrastructure company, is seeking an expert audio transcriber to work on high-profile projects. With the rise of remote work, this role offers the opportunity to work with a global team and contribute to cutting-edge AI initiatives. Before applying, candidates should be aware that this role requires native fluency in Iraqi Arabic and a strong command of Modern Standard Arabic.

Job Description

About the Role

The expert audio transcriber role at Perle Systems is a unique opportunity to work on AI-powered projects that require high-quality transcription services. As a transcriber, you will be responsible for converting audio recordings of native speakers into precise, conventionally formatted written transcripts. This role is crucial in powering speech recognition, dialogue, and evaluation systems for major AI labs. Perle Systems is committed to delivering expert-driven training data, evaluation systems, and applied AI products, and this role is an integral part of that mission.

The ideal candidate will have native fluency in Iraqi Arabic and a strong command of Modern Standard Arabic. You will be working at the level of expert linguistic judgment, making decisions about orthography, code-switching, speaker attribution, disfluencies, and non-speech events. The project audio reflects everyday Iraqi speech, with Baghdad standard as a common reference point.

What You Will Do

  • Transcribe audio recordings into accurate, time-aligned written text following Perle's project-specific style guide
  • Apply correct conventions for speaker identification, overlapping speech, disfluencies, fillers, false starts, and non-speech events such as laughter, background noise, and music
  • Make principled orthographic decisions for dialectal, colloquial, and code-switched speech
  • Flag ambiguous segments, uncertain speakers, and audio quality issues using project conventions
  • Self-review every submission against Perle's quality bar before delivery
  • Engage with QA reviewers on edge cases, calibration sessions, and style guide updates
  • Work with web-based annotation platforms and variable-speed audio playback
  • Commit to defined volume per week during active project phases
  • Collaborate with Perle's linguistic leads and QA team to ensure high-quality output

What We Are Looking For

  • Native fluency in Iraqi Arabic with lifelong residence or deep immersion in Iraq
  • Strong command of Modern Standard Arabic for orthographic decisions on dialectal speech
  • Ability to distinguish Gilit and Qeltu varieties and major regional accents
  • Familiarity with Persian, Turkish, and Aramaic loanwords as they appear in speech
  • At least two years of professional transcription, captioning, court reporting, broadcast, translation, or linguistic annotation experience
  • Demonstrated accuracy at the word level under deadline pressure
  • Comfortable with web-based annotation platforms and variable-speed audio playback
  • Reliable high-speed internet, quality headphones, and a quiet workspace

Nice to Have

  • Background in Iraqi or Mesopotamian Arabic linguistics, translation, or journalism
  • Prior experience annotating Iraqi or Gulf Arabic speech data
  • Working knowledge of Kurdish or Persian for cross-lingual audio
  • Familiarity with IPA or other phonetic transcription systems
  • Experience with verbatim versus clean-verbatim transcription conventions

Benefits and Perks

  • Paid pilot task before full onboarding to ensure mutual fit
  • Per-task or per-minute compensation, with rates tied to audio complexity and turnaround
  • Flexible scheduling, with volume scaling up and down based on active client projects
  • Direct working relationship with Perle's linguistic leads and QA team
  • Eligible for invitation to additional Perle expert projects across related domains
  • Opportunities for professional growth and development in the field of AI and transcription

How to Stand Out

  • Ensure you have a strong understanding of Iraqi Arabic and Modern Standard Arabic before applying
  • Practice transcribing audio recordings to improve your accuracy and speed
  • Familiarize yourself with web-based annotation platforms and variable-speed audio playback
  • Highlight your experience working with dialectal, colloquial, and code-switched speech in your application
  • Be prepared to discuss your approach to orthographic decisions and transcription conventions during the interview
  • Ask about opportunities for professional growth and development within the company
  • Research Perle Systems and their mission to understand the company culture and values

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