Senior Ontologist (TS/SCI cleared)

Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory•Laurel, MD

3h•Onsite

About The Position

The Threat Analytic Systems (QAI) Group at APL is seeking talented staff, including ontologists, to join their team. The role involves working on a team with software engineers and data scientists to build ontologies and capabilities for applied national security mission needs. The position requires providing expert evaluation and review of ontology content, engaging stakeholders to determine ontology requirements, working with subject matter experts to craft ontology content, and contributing to and implementing quality assurance and validation practices. This role is for individuals passionate about building solutions for national security challenges, seeking engaging work with an employer that prioritizes impact, innovation, and personal development, and who value working in a creative and collaborative environment.

Requirements

Master's degree in a field relevant to Ontology (e.g., Philosophy, Computer Science, Cognitive Science, Public / Social Policy, Mathematics, Logic, or Linguistics).
Proficient with Ontology Web Language (OWL), Resource Description Framework Schema (RDFs), and Resource Description Framework (RDF).
Proficient with SPARQL.
Experience building domain ontologies based on a top-level ontology.
Ability to weigh tradeoffs between semantic expressivity and project-specific implementation strategies.
Experience with Python.
Familiarity with ontology editors (e.g., TopBraid Composer, Protégé, ROBOT) or ontology editing software packages (e.g. rdflib, Apache Jena, Sesame, RDF4J).
Experience with formal representations of logical reasoning and inference.
Ability to work with loosely defined or high-level requirements.
Ability to work on multiple dynamic projects to support evolving national security requirements.
Strong problem solving, analytical, and organizational skills.
Demonstrated initiative.
Experience working successfully independently or within a team environment.
Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
Hold an active TS/SCI security clearance and can ultimately obtain a TS/SCI+poly level clearance.
U.S. citizenship.

Nice To Haves

PhD in a field relevant to Ontology (e.g., Philosophy, Computer Science, Cognitive Science, Public / Social Policy, Mathematics, Logic, or Linguistics).
Experience working with a software engineering team to deliver ontology-driven software features.
Experience with Basic Formal Ontology (BFO); The Common Core Ontologies (CCO); W3C standards such as SOSA/SSN and the Time Ontology; ontologies in the Open Biological and Biomedical (OBO) Foundry; as well as other semantic web standards, such as Dublin Core, SKOS, QUDT, and GeoSPARQL.
Experience with triple stores or graph databases (e.g., GraphDB, Stardog, Jena Fuseki).
Experience using AI tools to generate high quality ontology content.
Experience developing AI tools that use ontologies or knowledge graphs.
Experience with semantic validation languages (e.g. SHACL, SPIN).
Experience with software version management using GIT.
Experience with machine learning, natural language processing, or in the normalization/integration of heterogeneous data sources.
Coursework in data structures, databases, metaphysics, knowledge representation, algorithms, mathematical logic, mereotopology, or software programming.
Experience with project management and/or leading technical teams.

Responsibilities

Work on a team 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.
Work with subject matter experts to craft ontology content.
Contribute to and implement quality assurance and validation practices.