Image Search Developer

Contract

This is a P-3 contract. This kind of contract is known as Professional and Director staff. It is normally internationally recruited only. It's a staff contract. It usually requires 5 years of experience, depending on education.

Salary

The salary for this job should be between 137,951 USD and 180,636 USD.

Please keep in mind that the salary displayed here is an estimation by UN Talent based on the location and the type of contract. It may vary depending on the organization. The recruiter should be able to inform you about the exact salary range. In case the job description contains another salary information, please refer to this one.

This vacancy announcement has been extended until May 2, 2021.

IMPORTANT NOTICE REGARDING APPLICATION DEADLINE: Please note that the deadline for applications is indicated in local time as per the time zone of the applicant’s location.

1. Organizational Context

1. Organizational Setting

The position is located in the Advanced Technology Applications Center (ATAC) of the Global Databases Division, Infrastructure and Platforms Sector. The Section is responsible for providing support in machine learning applications to other database sections and to other WIPO divisions (to some extends, to other external entities). The Section has developed its own machine learning automatic translation tool (WIPO Translate) to WIPO and to other international organizations. ATAC has developed competencies in other machine learning applications (including speech and images) and wishes to continue exploring the applicability of Machine Learning to other activities. ATAC works closely with the Brand and Design Database Section who is responsible for providing access to international and national collections of brands and designs. Brands and designs search include image classification and similarity. The main objective of this collaboration is to use latest machine learning technologies in order to provide the best suited tools for users to search for similar brands and/or industrial designs.

2. Purpose Statement

The position is responsible for improving the search by similarity functionality for trademarks available in WIPO’s Global Brand Database and continue to develop a similar functionality for the Global Designs Database.

3. Reporting Lines

The incumbent works under the supervision of the Senior Machine Learning Specialist of ATAC.

4. Work Relations

The incumbent works in close collaboration with the Head of the Brand and Design Database Section.

2. Duties and Responsibilities

The incumbent will perform the following principal duties:

a. Design and develop further existing WIPO’s image search systems. Using state of the art technology, design machine learning algorithms, define data training sets by performing quantitative and qualitative analysis, image analysis and cleaning, studying options to clean the current classifications of images, and identify areas of application for WIPO products and services.

b. Design and develop further existing WIPO’s industrial design search systems. Using state of the art technology, design machine learning algorithms, define data training sets by performing quantitative and qualitative analysis, image analysis and cleaning, studying options to clean the current classifications of images, and identify areas of application for WIPO products and services.

c. Offer Application Programming Interfaces (APIs) for: (a) automatic Vienna classification of a trademark image (b) automatic Locarno classification of one or more industrial design image(s) (b) provide plugins that can be used in a search engine (c) search by image similarities.

d. Research new technologies in image classification (using machine learning), evaluate their potential, and advise the Brand and Design Database section on possible new application ideas for WIPO?s Global Database Division.

e. Develop proof of concept prototypes for identified technologies, demonstrating the applicability and pertinence of new machine learning algorithms for image analysis.

f. Evaluate, plan and oversee the required IT developments (possibly outsourced), testing, deployments for successful proof of concepts and transfer knowledge to implement the targeted technology into IT components usable and maintainable by the Division.

g. Advise on ways to enrich image and data resources for machine learning. Explore the usage of external resources that could be used to improve the machine learning models.

h. Perform other related tasks as required

3. Requirements

Education (Essential)

First-level university degree in Information Technology or in an equally relevant technical or scientific discipline.

Experience (Essential)

At least six years of relevant experience, including experience in Information Technology development or research fields. An advanced university degree in one of the aforementioned disciplines may be accepted in lieu of two years of experience.

Experience in either image processing, image classification, machine learning, neural networks. image/data processing, or software development.

Experience (Desirable)

Experience with Unix environment, including console tools and script languages (bash). Experience with large scale image data (ability to process millions of images, applying agile technologies to parse different formats coming from different sources). Experience with software development and deployment (version control systems: SVN, GIT), usage of containerization (Docker, openshift) and cloud servers.

Language (Essential)

Excellent knowledge of written and spoken English.

Language (Desirable)

Knowledge of other UN languages, particularly French.

Job Related Competencies (Essential)

Knowledge of machine learning techniques. Strong software development skills, preferably in Python and/or Java. Excellent communication and interpersonal skills and ability to maintain effective partnerships and working relations in a multicultural environment with sensitivity and respect for diversity.

Job Related Competencies (Desirable)

Good knowledge of image processing techniques (smoothing, edge detection, etc.) using open source processing tools (e.g. openCV) and neural networks frameworks: (Pytorch, TensorFlow, FastAI). Ability to write user guide, administration documentation and reports in English. Excellent decision-making and problem-solving skills. Ability to work on innovative projects, creative, autonomous but team player. Knowledge of internet technologies including Lucene (Solr / ElasticSearch), LIRE, JQuery, Angular.js, JavaScript, JAVA, JSF, Tomcat as well as UI design CSS, HTML, HTML 5 and related technologies. Knowledge of IP information tools, products and standards.

4. Organizational Competencies

1. Communicating effectively.
2. Showing team spirit.
3. Demonstrating integrity.
4. Valuing diversity.
5. Producing results.
6. Showing service orientation.
7. Seeing the big picture.
8. Seeking change and innovation.
9. Developing yourself and others.

5. Information

Annual salary****:

Total annual salary consists of a net annual salary (net of taxes and before medical insurance and pension fund deductions) in US dollars and a post adjustment. Please note that this estimate is for information only. The post adjustment multiplier (cost of living allowance) is variable and subject to change (increase or decrease) without notice. The figures quoted below are based on the April 15, 2021 rate of 79.3%

P3

Annual salary

$62,120

Post adjustment

$49,261

Total Salary

$111,381

Currency USD

Salaries and allowances are paid in Swiss francs at the official rate of exchange of the United Nations.

Please refer to WIPO’s Staff Regulation and Rules for detailed information concerning salaries, benefits and allowances.

Additional Information

Temporary appointments are renewable, subject to continuing needs, availability of budget and satisfactory performance with a maximum cumulative length of two years.

Applications from qualified women as well as from qualified nationals of unrepresented Member States of WIPO and underrepresented geographical regions are encouraged. Please click on the following links for the list of unrepresented Member States and the list of underrepresented regions and the WIPO Member States in these regions.

The Organization reserves the right to make an appointment at a grade lower than that advertised.

By completing an application, candidates understand that any willful misrepresentation made on this web site, or on any other documents submitted to WIPO during the application, may result in disqualification from the recruitment process, or termination of employment with WIPO at a later date, if that employment resulted from such willful misrepresentations.

In the event that your candidature is shortlisted, you will be required to provide, in advance, a scanned copy of an identification and of the degree(s)/diploma(s)/certificate(s) required for this position. WIPO only considers higher educational qualifications obtained from an institution accredited/recognized in the World Higher Education Database (WHED), a list updated by the International Association of Universities (IAU) / United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). The list can be accessed through the link: http://www.whed.net/. Some professional certificates may not appear in the WHED and these will be reviewed individually.

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Additional testing/interviewing may be used as a form of screening. Initial appointment is subject to satisfactory professional references.

Additional background checks may be required.