Senior Ontologist (TS/SCI cleared)

About the role

The Threat Analytic Systems (QAI) Group at APL seeks talented staff to provide groundbreaking capabilities that bridge gaps between data, real-world events, and prediction of national importance. We are looking for individuals who can work as part of a team to develop and evaluate ontologies.

Responsibilities

• Work with software engineers and data scientists to build ontologies and capabilities for applied national security mission needs.
• Provide expert evaluation and review of ontology content.
• Engage stakeholders to determine ontology requirements.
• Craft ontology content based on subject matter expertise.
• Implement quality assurance and validation practices.

Qualifications

• Master's degree in a field relevant to Ontology (e.g., Philosophy, Computer Science, Cognitive Science, etc.).
• Proficiency with OWL, RDFs, RDF, SPARQL, Python, ontology editors, and formal representations of logical reasoning and inference.
• Experience building domain ontologies based on a top-level ontology.
• Able to weigh tradeoffs between semantic expressivity and project-specific implementation strategies.
• Experience with triple stores or graph databases, AI tools, semantic validation languages, software version management, and machine learning.
• Strong problem-solving, analytical, and organizational skills.
• Initiative and experience working independently or within a team environment.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Active TS/SCI security clearance and eligibility for a TS/SCI+poly level clearance.

Preferred Qualifications

• PhD in a field relevant to Ontology.
• Experience with BFO, CCO, SOSA/SSN, OBO Foundry, and semantic web standards.
• Experience with triple stores, graph databases, AI tools, semantic validation languages, software version management, and machine learning.
• Experience with project management and/or leading technical teams.

About Us

At APL, we bring world-class expertise to our nation's most critical defense, security, space, and science challenges. We celebrate diversity, foster creativity, and encourage bold, new ideas. Our employees enjoy generous benefits, including a robust education assistance program, unparalleled retirement contributions, and a healthy work/life balance. Learn more about our career opportunities at https://www.jhuapl.edu/careers.