General Dynamics

Ontology Systems Engineer

General Dynamics • $157K — $174K *
US-AnywhereRemote in United States
Enterprise Technology
5 - 7 years of experience
Today
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Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • Bachelor's degree in Systems Engineering, Computer Science, or related fields plus 8 years of relevant experience; or Master's degree plus 6 years of relevant experience.
  • Experience in designing enterprise-level data architectures or information taxonomies across multiple business domains.
  • Strong understanding of ontology and semantic modeling concepts for effective collaboration with knowledge graph engineers and data modelers.
  • Systems engineering mindset focusing on integration points and interactions within interconnected systems.
  • Experience in building consensus on shared standards across diverse teams and organization boundaries.
  • Excellent communication skills to bridge the gap between technical and business stakeholders.
  • U.S. citizenship and Department of Defense Secret security clearance required at hire.

Responsibilities

  • Define and maintain the enterprise knowledge architecture that integrates domain-specific ontologies.
  • Ensure cross-domain consistency by managing naming conflicts and definitional inconsistencies.
  • Establish enterprise-wide standards for metadata, tagging, and data classification.
  • Own and govern the enterprise business glossary as the authoritative source of terms.
  • Design the structures for knowledge repositories such as knowledge graphs and semantic catalogs.

Benefits

  • Remote work with 100% telework capability.
  • Flexible 9/80 work schedule.
  • No defense industry experience required.
Full Job Description
Basic Qualifications
Bachelor's degree in Systems Engineering, or a related Science, Engineering or Mathematics field, plus a minimum of 8 years of relevant experience; or Master's degree, plus a minimum of 6 years of relevant experience. Responsibilities for this Position
What You'll Own
  • Enterprise knowledge architecture. Define and maintain the overarching structure that connects domain-specific ontologies across pods. Manage the relationships between business vocabularies, taxonomies, and data models at the enterprise level.
  • Cross-domain consistency. Ensure that business concepts defined in one pod are compatible with concepts in other pods. Resolve naming conflicts, semantic overlaps, and definitional inconsistencies before they become integration problems.
  • Metadata and tagging standards. Establish enterprise-wide standards for metadata, tagging, classification, and search structures. Build the knowledge infrastructure that makes enterprise data findable, reusable, and machine-readable.
  • Business glossary governance. Own the enterprise business glossary — the authoritative source for what terms mean across the organization. Work with data owners and business stewards to maintain accuracy.
  • Knowledge repository architecture. Design the structures that store and expose enterprise knowledge — knowledge graphs, semantic catalogs, taxonomy services. Ensure AI agents can discover and traverse enterprise knowledge programmatically.
What You Won't Own
  • Pod-specific data modeling — that's the Data/Ontology Engineer's role within each pod
  • AI application development or engineering
  • Enterprise system administration or data engineering pipelines
What Makes This Role Different
  • You are building the connective tissue between multiple AI modernization efforts. Without your work, each pod builds an island. With it, they build a continent.
  • Your knowledge architecture directly enables cross-domain AI reasoning. An agent that can connect HR data to manufacturing data to supply chain data — that capability starts with your architecture.
  • This role requires both systems thinking and business fluency. You need to understand how manufacturing processes, HR workflows, and CRM systems relate at a business level, not just a data level.
Required Qualifications
  • Bachelor’s degree in Systems Engineering, Computer Science, Information Science, or a related field, plus 8 years of experience; or Master’s degree plus 6 years of experience
  • Experience designing enterprise-level data architectures, knowledge models, or information taxonomies that span multiple business domains
  • Strong understanding of ontology and semantic modeling concepts — you can work fluently with knowledge graph engineers and data modelers
  • Systems engineering mindset — you think about interfaces, dependencies, integration points, and emergent behavior across interconnected systems
  • Experience working across organizational boundaries — you have built consensus on shared standards across teams that had their own ways of doing things
  • Strong communication skills — you can explain data relationships to business stakeholders and architectural constraints to engineers
  • S. citizenship required. Department of Defense Secret security clearance is required at time of hire.
Preferred Qualifications
  • Experience with knowledge graphs, semantic web technologies, or enterprise taxonomy management
  • Experience with enterprise data platforms (Palantir Foundry, Snowflake, or similar) and their ontology or semantic layer capabilities
  • Background in manufacturing, defense, or complex enterprise environments with multiple interacting business systems
  • Experience defining metadata standards, business glossaries, or data governance frameworks at an enterprise level
  • Familiarity with how AI/LLM systems consume structured knowledge — RAG architectures, knowledge-grounded reasoning, semantic search
What Sets You Apart
  • You see the enterprise as a system of systems. You instinctively look for the connections between domains, not just the domains themselves.
  • You have resolved vocabulary conflicts across organizations and made the shared definition stick.
  • You can hold the big picture and the details at the same time — enterprise architecture in the morning, specific field mappings in the afternoon.
  • You build for reuse. Your architectures are designed to accommodate domains that don't exist yet, not just the ones in front of you today.
  • You are known as the person who can explain how everything connects. People come to you when they need to understand the whole.
Details
  • Remote — 100% telework
  • 9/80 schedule
  • Defense industry experience is not required
Salary NoteThis estimate represents the typical salary range for this position based on experience and other factors (geographic location, etc.). Actual pay may vary. This job posting will remain open until the position is filled. Combined Salary RangeUSD $157,487.00 - USD $174,713.00 /Yr.

About General Dynamics

General Dynamics is involved in business aviation; land and expeditionary combat vehicles and systems, armaments, and munitions; shipbuilding and marine systems; and mission-critical information systems and technologies. General Dynamics has four main business segments. Aerospace designs, develops, manufacturers and services a comprehensive offering of advanced business-jet aircraft. Combat Systems specializes in producing, supporting and sustaining land and expeditionary combat systems for the U.S. military and its allies. Marine Systems designs, builds and supports submarines and a variety of surface ships for the U.S. Navy and commercial customers. The Information Systems and Technology group offers a breadth and depth of technology and service capabilities that support a wide range of government and commercial needs, including systems integration expertise; hardware and software products; and engineering, management and support services.

General Dynamics Careers

Join the dynamic team at General Dynamics, a leader in global defense, aerospace, and technology services. As a pivotal player in innovation and security, General Dynamics offers unparalleled job opportunities for professionals eager to advance their careers in a cutting-edge environment.

Work You’ll Do

At General Dynamics, we empower our employees to drive innovation and lead with integrity and excellence. With a commitment to professional growth and diversity, our team is at the forefront of developing solutions that make a difference in the world. Whether in engineering, cybersecurity, or project management, your work at General Dynamics will contribute to missions that matter.

Explore Career Paths

General Dynamics is not just a company; it's a community where you can build a career that aligns with your passion and skills. From internships to leadership positions, the breadth of opportunities supports your professional journey at every stage.

Innovate and Lead

Join a team where innovation is the status quo. At General Dynamics, you’ll work alongside industry experts to solve complex challenges with cutting-edge technology. Our leadership is committed to fostering a culture of growth and learning, where you can lead projects that explore new frontiers.

Professional Development

Invest in your future with General Dynamics’ robust professional development programs. Enhance your skills through targeted training, workshops, and seminars that propel your expertise and leadership capabilities forward.

Diversity and Inclusion

At General Dynamics, we believe diversity drives innovation. Our inclusive culture welcomes diverse perspectives and ideas, fostering an environment where all employees can thrive. Through diversity training and networking opportunities, we ensure every team member can contribute uniquely and significantly.

Benefits and Culture

Experience a culture that prioritizes the well-being and satisfaction of its employees. General Dynamics offers competitive benefits, including health care, retirement plans, and flexible working arrangements, to ensure a healthy work-life balance. Our team-oriented culture encourages collaboration and mutual respect, making General Dynamics a great place to work.

Join Our Team

Ready to advance your career at General Dynamics? Explore our current job opportunities and find a position that matches your skills and ambitions. We are continuously hiring talented individuals who are passionate about making a difference.

Prepare for Your Interview

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Explore General Dynamics Jobs

Discover the impact you can make at General Dynamics by joining our team. Search open positions, apply online, and take the first step towards a rewarding career filled with opportunities for growth and innovation.

SEARCH GENERAL DYNAMICS JOBS

Join General Dynamics today and be part of a team that values leadership, innovation, and diversity. See what exciting and rewarding opportunities await you in a career at General Dynamics.
Learn more about General Dynamics
Size
103,100 employees
Market Cap
$67.9 billion
Industry
Aerospace & Defense
Net Income
$3.1 billion
Founded
1952
5 Year Trend
+4.7%
Revenue
$37.9 billion
NASDAQ
GD
* Ladders Estimates

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