Thermo Fisher Scientific

Enterprise Ontologist

Thermo Fisher Scientific • $110K — $130K *
Enterprise Technology
5 - 7 years of experience
Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • Bachelor's degree in Life Sciences, Chemistry, Biology, Biochemistry, Bioinformatics, Information Science, Computer Science, Data Science, or a related field; Master's preferred.
  • 5+ years of experience in developing or managing ontologies, semantic data models, or knowledge graphs, preferably in scientific or biomedical contexts.
  • Expertise in ontology engineering and knowledge representation, familiar with OWL, RDF, and SKOS standards.
  • Strong scientific literacy with knowledge of life-science terminology and experimental workflows.
  • Familiarity with graph databases (neo4j, PostgresSQL) and ontology management tools.

Responsibilities

  • Design, develop, and govern enterprise ontologies and semantic models for the EKG and AI applications.
  • Model scientific and operational concepts using taxonomies and controlled vocabularies.
  • Collaborate with SMEs and teams to translate complex requirements into semantic models.
  • Establish governance standards for ontology management, including quality assurance and lifecycle management.
  • Develop mappings across taxonomies, external ontologies, and enterprise data sources.
  • Optimize AI capabilities like semantic search and recommendation systems.
  • Evaluate ontology effectiveness and identify improvement opportunities.

Benefits

  • Collaborative work environment with cross-functional teams.
  • Opportunity to influence AI-driven digital experiences.
  • Engagement with cutting-edge semantic technologies.
  • Professional development and training opportunities.
  • Flexible work schedule with standard office hours.
Full Job Description

Work Schedule

Standard (Mon-Fri)

Environmental Conditions

Office

Job Description

Description
Join our collaborative team as an Enterprise Ontologist and design, develop, and govern the semantic models that power Thermo Fisher's Enterprise Knowledge Graph (EKG) and AI-driven digital experiences. This role translates complex scientific and business domains into scalable knowledge structures that improve search, content discovery, data interoperability, and AI performance.


Working across scientific, Content, Product, AI, Data Science, and Engineering teams, the Enterprise Ontologist will serve as a key steward of the knowledge foundation supporting thermofisher.ai and the Foundry, ensuring enterprise ontologies remain accurate, governed, scalable, and aligned with evolving scientific and business needs.

Key Responsibilities

  • Design, develop, and govern enterprise ontologies and semantic models supporting the EKG and enterprise AI applications.
  • Model scientific, product, and operational concepts and relationships using enterprise taxonomies, controlled vocabularies, and authoritative external ontologies.
  • Partner with scientific SMEs and business and technical teams to translate complex requirements into scalable semantic models.
  • Establish ontology governance, including standards, quality assurance, lifecycle management, versioning, provenance, and change management.
  • Develop mappings across taxonomies, external ontologies, enterprise data sources, and knowledge graph entities.
  • Enable and optimize AI capabilities including semantic search, content classification, RAG, knowledge grounding, and recommendation systems.
  • Evaluate ontology effectiveness and identify opportunities to improve retrieval, content quality, knowledge coverage, and AI performance.
  • Provide ontology guidance and training to scientific, content, business, and technical stakeholders.

Minimum Education & Experience

  • Bachelor's degree in Life Sciences, Chemistry, Biology, Biochemistry, Bioinformatics, Information Science, Computer Science, Data Science, or a related scientific or technical field. Master's degree preferred.
  • 5+ years of experience developing or managing ontologies, semantic data models, taxonomies, knowledge graphs, or information architecture. Experience with scientific or biomedical knowledge models and AI/search applications strongly preferred.

Required Knowledge or Experience

  • Expertise in ontology engineering, knowledge representation, semantic modeling, and knowledge graph design, including standards such as OWL, RDF, and SKOS.
  • Strong scientific literacy and knowledge of life-science terminology, concepts, techniques, applications, and experimental workflows.
  • Ability to translate complex scientific and technical information into scalable semantic models and knowledge structures.
  • Familiarity with scientific ontologies, controlled vocabularies, semantic technologies, graph databases (neo4j and PostgresSQL preferred), and ontology management tools.
  • Understanding of AI and search technologies, including semantic search, RAG, NLP, knowledge grounding, and LLM-based applications.
  • Proven ability to establish ontology governance, quality, lifecycle, and data stewardship practices.
  • Strong analytical and systems-thinking skills with the ability to navigate complex scientific and enterprise knowledge domains.
  • Excellent communication and collaboration skills, including the ability to work effectively with scientific SMEs and technical and non-technical stakeholders.
  • Travel: 10-25%

About Thermo Fisher Scientific

Thermo Fisher Scientific Careers

Join the vibrant team at Thermo Fisher Scientific, a global leader in serving science and making the world healthier, cleaner, and safer. With a workforce of over 75,000 professionals, Thermo Fisher Scientific offers unparalleled job opportunities and a culture of innovation that propels your career to new heights. Work You’ll Do At Thermo Fisher Scientific, you will be part of a team that is dedicated to enabling our customers to make the world healthier. Whether you are involved in the development of life-saving drugs or innovative environmental solutions, your work will have a profound impact on society. Our commitment to leadership in the industry is unwavering. With Thermo Fisher Scientific, you will lead projects that set standards in scientific inquiry and market leadership. You will work at the intersection of science, technology, and industry expertise, driving digital innovation in every aspect of our business. Join our diverse team of professionals and engage in roles that span across various functions and disciplines. From research and development to marketing and sales, the breadth of job opportunities available means that you can find the perfect match for your skills and passions. Innovative Work As part of our team, you will have access to cutting-edge tools and technologies that foster creativity and innovation. Thermo Fisher Scientific is home to a dynamic range of career paths, all designed to challenge you and help you grow as a professional. Our employment philosophy emphasizes diversity and inclusivity, ensuring that all team members have the opportunity to thrive. We believe in nurturing talent through robust training programs, leadership development, and opportunities for career advancement. Be Part of a Great Team Working at Thermo Fisher Scientific means being part of a global network of enthusiastic, talented, and ambitious individuals. Our culture is built on collaboration, where each member’s unique skills and perspectives are valued. You will enjoy benefits that support both your professional growth and personal well-being. Future-Proof Your Career Embark on a journey of growth and continuous learning with Thermo Fisher Scientific. We offer a variety of training and development programs that cater to your interests and career goals. From internships for budding scientists to leadership training for aspiring executives, our programs are designed to equip you with the skills needed for a successful and fulfilling career. Explore Discover how our commitment to innovation leads to advancements in health and science: [Read More] Learn about our leadership in environmental sustainability and how you can contribute: [Read More] The Thermo Fisher Scientific Difference Our global presence and commitment to innovation mean that your work extends beyond borders and makes a tangible impact worldwide. The collaboration between our teams drives our leadership in the scientific community and contributes to a culture that embraces diversity and fosters professional growth. Stay Connected Join Our Team Search open positions that match your skills and interest. We are always on the lookout for passionate, curious, and driven team players. Explore our job opportunities and find out how you can contribute to our meaningful work. SEARCH THERMO FISHER SCIENTIFIC JOBS Keep Up to Date Stay ahead with career tips, insider perspectives, and industry-leading insights you can put to use today—all from the people who work here. READ CAREERS BLOG Job Alert Emails Customize your subscription to receive job alerts, latest news, and insider tips tailored to your preferences. Discover the exciting and rewarding opportunities that await at Thermo Fisher Scientific.
Learn more about Thermo Fisher Scientific
Size
130,000 employees
Market Cap
$213.3 billion
Industry
Net Income
$6.3 billion
Founded
1956
5 Year Trend
+16.5%
Revenue
$32.2 billion
NASDAQ

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