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Data Annotation Services Jobs in Silver Spring, MD

Innodata Inc.

AI Solutions Engineer

Washington, DC · On-site

$75 - $80/hr

Over an intensive 20-week phase, you'll help stand up a data services storefront, a DataCard ... You'll partner with the Solution Architect and Data/Annotation Engineer to turn raw corpora into ...

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Data Annotation Services information

How hard is it to get hired by data annotation?

Getting hired for data annotation services typically requires basic computer skills, attention to detail, and the ability to follow instructions. Many positions are entry-level and may not require prior experience, but familiarity with annotation tools and good accuracy can improve chances of employment.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive in Data Annotation Services, and why are they important?

To excel in Data Annotation Services, strong attention to detail, data literacy, and a foundational understanding of data labeling processes are essential, often requiring a high school diploma or equivalent. Familiarity with annotation platforms, labeling tools, and sometimes basic knowledge of scripting or data management systems is typically expected. Strong work ethic, consistency, and effective communication skills help individuals stand out in collaborative, deadline-driven environments. These capabilities ensure high-quality, accurate labeled data, which is critical for training reliable machine learning models.

Does data annotation actually pay you?

Data annotation services typically pay workers for labeling data used in machine learning models. Payment rates vary depending on the platform, task complexity, and experience, with many jobs offering hourly or per-task compensation. Reliable platforms often require basic skills in data handling and attention to detail.

Is data annotation real or fake?

Data annotation is a legitimate job that involves labeling data such as images, text, or videos to train machine learning models. It requires attention to detail and familiarity with annotation tools, and it is widely used in AI development. The work is real and essential for creating accurate AI systems.

What is the difference between Data Annotation Services vs Data Labeling Specialists?

AspectData Annotation ServicesData Labeling Specialists
CredentialsTypically no formal credentials required; focus on trainingOften have training in specific tools or industry standards
Work EnvironmentCollaborative, often remote or in-office teamsSimilar, working in teams or independently on labeling tasks
Industry UsageUsed by AI/ML companies for training datasetsEmployed in similar settings, focusing on labeling data for AI models
Search & Comparison IntentUnderstanding services offered for data preparationLooking for roles or tasks related to data labeling

Data Annotation Services encompass the broader process of preparing and annotating data for AI and machine learning projects, often provided by specialized companies. Data Labeling Specialists are individual professionals or team members who perform the actual labeling tasks within these services. While both are closely related, services refer to the overall offering, whereas specialists are the personnel executing the work.

What are some common challenges faced when working in data annotation services, and how can I address them?

In data annotation services, one common challenge is maintaining consistency and accuracy, especially when handling large datasets or ambiguous data points. Clear annotation guidelines and regular communication with team leads help ensure that everyone interprets the data similarly. Additionally, repetitive tasks can lead to fatigue, so it's important to take scheduled breaks and leverage available annotation tools to streamline workflows. Collaborating with peers to discuss edge cases also helps improve overall data quality and fosters a supportive team environment.

What does a data annotation job do?

A data annotation job involves labeling or tagging data such as images, text, or videos to help train machine learning models. Workers use tools to add metadata, which improves the accuracy of AI systems, often working remotely with flexible schedules and requiring attention to detail. Knowledge of annotation tools and data quality standards is beneficial.

What are data annotation services?

Data annotation services involve labeling or tagging data—such as images, text, audio, or video—to make it understandable for machine learning models. These services are essential in training artificial intelligence systems to recognize patterns, objects, or other relevant information in raw data. Companies use data annotation to improve the accuracy and effectiveness of AI applications, such as self-driving cars, chatbots, and image recognition. Professional annotators or specialized platforms often perform these tasks to ensure high-quality, consistent results.
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Data Annotation Services jobs near you
Infographic showing various Data Annotation Services job openings in Silver Spring, MD as of July 2026, with employment types broken down into 75% Full Time, and 25% Part Time. Highlights an 100% In-person job distribution.
Data & Annotation Engineer

Data & Annotation Engineer

Innodata Inc.

Washington, DC

$55 - $60/hr

Other

Posted 12 days ago

Innodata rating

7.3

Company rating: 7.3 out of 10

Based on 5 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

156th of 215 rated software companies

Job description

About the Program: 

Innodata's Federal Practice builds the trusted data layer for critical infrastructure Trust & Safety work. Partnering with a leading systems integrator, we're delivering a modern, governed data services platform in a secure federal (IL4) environment. Over an intensive 20-week phase, you'll help stand up a data services storefront, a DataCard governance framework, synthetic data integration, and Databricks write-back capabilities.

About the Role: 

As the Data/Annotation Engineer, you'll be hands-on with the data itself. You'll administer the annotation toolchain, manage annotation workflows across the corpus, and produce the per-dataset documentation that feeds our governance framework. You'll work with the AI Solutions Engineer to ensure the data going into our models is accurate, well-labeled, and fully traceable. This role is for someone detail-obsessed who understands that great AI starts with disciplined, well-governed data.

Key Responsibilities:

  • Receive, validate, ingest, and ontology-map the ODIN mission-aligned corpus from AFS delivery
  • Produce the ODIN load report: corpus description, ontology mapping, readiness state
  • Configure CVAT annotation pipeline against the Phase 1 starter kit rule pack
  • Operate both self-service and lightweight white-glove annotation paths during Phase D corpus production
  • Produce 50-100 label demonstration corpus across synthetic and mission-aligned content
  • Support QA/Evaluation Lead on QC execution and corpus annotation dry-runs
  • Associate DataCard provenance records with annotated and synthetic outputs in coordination with the Solution Architect

Must-Have Qualifications:

  • Bachelor's degree in Data Science, Computer Science, or related field preferred. Equivalent experience may substitute for degree on a 2-for-1 basis.
  • 5+ years total professional experience, 3+ years in data engineering or annotation operations
  • CVAT - deployment and day-to-day operation required; this is not a nice-to-have
  • Annotated dataset ingest pipelines: schema mapping, format validation, ontology alignment
  • Full-motion video (FMV) annotation concepts and tooling
  • Python scripting for data wrangling, validation, and format conversion
  • Active Secret clearance with TS/SCI eligibility

Nice-to-Have Qualifications:

  • Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Machine Learning, Data Science, or related field required; Master's degree preferred. Equivalent experience may substitute for degree on a 2-for-1 basis
  • CVAT annotation platform - AI feature configuration and operation
  • DoD or IC data program experience: CUI, distribution statements, federal data governance
  • Evaluation design for AI/ML training data: IAA methodology, drift detection, model performance measurement
  • Video understanding or FMV annotation experience
  • DataCard or ML data provenance framework familiarity

The expected hourly salary range for this position is $55 to $60 p/hour, based on experience, skills, and qualifications.

Note to Candidates: 

Phase D corpus production (Weeks 17-19) is the core demonstration deliverable. Candidates must be genuinely comfortable operating CVAT at production quality against a mission dataset under a milestone deadline

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