Ontology Engineer

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Ontology Engineer (Mid/Senior/Expert) : Ontology Implementation
Herndon, VA,
$180,000-$250,000
TS/SCI clearance with CI polygraph


Full-Time, W-2 Employment
Competitive depending on relevant professional skills and experience. Total compensation includes a competitive salary, cash and strategic incentives, professional development and comprehensive benefits. Expected salary range is $180,000-$250,000 depending on experience and qualifications.

8+ years of relevant professional experience for Mid
12+ years of relevant professional experience for Senior 15+ years of relevant professional experience for Expert
Bachelor's degree in Software Engineering or related discipline. Current / active TS/SCI clearance with CI polygraph or willingness to take one.
Background investigation required, including a minimum of a criminal and credit check as well as at least three professional references.
Client is seeking a Ontology Engineer to is seeking an Ontology Lead to join our team. In this position you will design, develop, and maintain domain-specific ontologies and knowledge models in support of Object Based Intelligence (OBI) mission requirements.

The Lead Ontologist serves as the technical authority for the design, development, and maintenance of domain-specific ontologies and knowledge models that support Object-Based Intelligence (OBI) mission requirements. This position applies semantic technologies and knowledge representation methodologies to enable data interoperability, advanced analytics, and knowledge integration across diverse data sources and object-management systems. Leveraging Semantic Web standards, including RDF, OWL, and SPARQL, the Lead Ontologist develops scalable knowledge frameworks that enhance data discoverability, support AI/ML applications, and facilitate effective knowledge transfer to Government stakeholders.
As an Ontology Engineer at, you will be a vital part of our team, contributing to the design and implementation of advanced software solutions. You will work under the guidance of senior engineers to develop your skills and gain hands-on experience in various aspects of software development. This team is building innovative software using mathematical solutions to support users inthe defense and intelligence communities. These positions are ideal for both entry level candidates and experienced individuals in the software engineering field, they offer a chance to grow and explore different technologies within a dynamic AI-driven environment.

Principal Responsibilities:
In coordination with domain experts, design, develop, and maintain domain-specific ontologies, taxonomies, and knowledge graphs that support Object-Based Intelligence mission objectives.
Apply Semantic Web standards and technologies, including RDF, OWL, SHACL, and SPARQL, to model, represent, and query complex data relationships.
Establish and maintain semantic data integration frameworks that enable interoperability across internal and external object-management systems.
Collaborate with analysts, data scientists, engineers, and Government stakeholders to capture requirements and translate mission needs into formal knowledge models.
Develop and maintain ontology governance processes, standards, documentation, and version control practices to ensure consistency and scalability.
Support AI/ML initiatives by providing structured knowledge representations that enhance model explain ability, interpretability, and contextual reasoning.
Conduct ontology validation, testing, and quality assurance activities to ensure accuracy, completeness, and alignment with mission requirements.
Provide technical leadership, mentoring, and knowledge transfer activities to Government personnel and project team members on ontology development methodologies and semantic
technologies.

Minimum Requirements:

12 years of experience and an advanced degree or 15+ years of experience with a bachelor's
degree.
Demonstrated experience designing and implementing ontologies, taxonomies, or knowledge
graphs in operational or research environments.
Experience applying Semantic Web technologies, including RDF, OWL, and SPARQL.
Knowledge of ontology engineering methodologies, data modeling principles, and semantic
interoperability frameworks.
Ability to communicate complex technical concepts effectively to both technical and non-technical
stakeholders.

An Excellent Candidate for this position will meet most of the following experience requirements:
Experience developing and maintaining enterprise knowledge graphs and integrating heterogeneous data sources.
Familiarity with AI/ML workflows and the use of ontologies to improve model explainability, reasoning, and decision support.
Experience providing technical leadership, mentoring, and formal knowledge transfer to Government personnel or large multidisciplinary teams.
Certified Data Management Professional (CDMP) or equivalent data architecture certification.
Certified Knowledge Manager (CKM) or comparable knowledge management credential.
Formal training or certification in Semantic Web technologies, knowledge graphs, ontology
engineering, RDF, OWL, or SPARQL.

General personal traits we know will connect well with the team:
Superior communication skills
A positive, willing attitude
An ability to think on your feet and solve problems quickly
Adaptability to learn new methodologies and technologies
Comfortable working in an agile team environment
Technology and methodology agnostic, but accepts using tools needed for the requirement
Enjoys coaching and teaching