Chinese Linguist

Leidos•Vienna, VA

About The Position

This is a pipeline requisition to identify and engage qualified Chinese Linguists for potential future opportunities. There may not be an immediate opening when a candidate applies, and application does not guarantee employment or placement. Position availability, hiring timelines, work locations, and language requirements may vary with customer demand and mission needs. Candidates who meet the requirements and pass the required language assessments may be added to the pipeline and considered for future openings. Selected candidates may provide professional-level linguistic support through translation, interpretation, transcription, and gisting. Work may include translating written materials between Chinese and English while preserving meaning, intent, tone, cultural nuances, and relevant geopolitical, regional, ethnic, or cultural references; consecutive and, when mission needs require, simultaneous interpretation; transcribing audio, video, and internet-based content; producing English-language reports from foreign-language sources; and summarizing key facts, themes, and operationally significant information. Candidates must hold an active TS/SCI clearance with a polygraph or be eligible for the program's stated clearance sponsorship and upgrade process. The posting says the program will sponsor and upgrade clearance to TS/SCI with a polygraph after required language tests, but work on contract cannot begin until the clearance is fully adjudicated. Candidates must pass an English assessment, achieve a Senior or Expert rating on the target-language proficiency assessment, and demonstrate professional-level interpretation skills, along with any additional customer-specific language testing that applies.

Requirements

An active TS/SCI security clearance with a polygraph is required; the clearance must be fully adjudicated before work on contract begins. The posting also states that the program will sponsor and upgrade clearance after the required language tests.
Bachelor's degree with 8–12 years of relevant experience, or a Master's degree with 6–10 years of relevant experience; additional experience may be considered in lieu of a degree.
At least 3 years of recent professional experience in translation, interpretation, transcription, or a combination of these disciplines.
Professional interpretation skills.
Ability to perform written and spoken language tasks at a professional level.
Strong written and verbal communication skills in English and the target language(s).
Proficiency with Microsoft Office applications and basic online research tools.
Pass the English language assessment.
Achieve a Senior or Expert rating on the target-language proficiency assessment.
Demonstrate professional-level interpretation skills between English and the target language.
Meet any additional customer-specific language testing requirements, as applicable.

Nice To Haves

Degree in Translation, Interpretation, Linguistics, or related Language Studies.
Experience supporting contingency operations as a deployed linguist.
Familiarity with the U.S. Intelligence Community, Department of Defense, military operations, or law enforcement environments.
Experience providing consecutive and simultaneous interpretation in professional settings.
Ability to brief customers effectively, present information clearly, and communicate findings to diverse stakeholders.
Experience with Human Language Technology (HLT) tools and applications.

Responsibilities

Translate written materials from Chinese into English and from English into Chinese, conveying meaning, intent, tone, and cultural nuances accurately.
Capture geopolitical, regional, ethnic, and cultural references and apply terminology and language usage appropriate to the subject matter and audience.
Produce clear, accurate, polished translations that remain faithful to source content.
Provide consecutive interpretation between English and Chinese and simultaneous interpretation when mission needs require it.
Interpret information in real time while preserving meaning, tone, and intent, including regional dialects, colloquialisms, and culturally specific content.
Support meetings, interviews, briefings, and operational activities requiring interpretation.
Accurately transcribe audio, video, and internet-based content.
Produce high-quality English-language reports based on foreign-language source materials.
Identify and summarize key facts, themes, and critical information.
Extract relevant intelligence and operationally significant details from large volumes of material.
Use research tools and reference materials to support high-quality deliverables.