About the roleFollowing our successful expansion into the U.S. and continued growth across Europe, we are seeking a Semantic/Ontology Lead to help drive our Data function from our Austin hub. This person will play a critical role in owning how Aika represents and connects clinical and scientific knowledge.
Rather than treating clinical data as isolated fields and tables, this person builds the semantic backbone that lets Aika reason consistently across terminologies, standards, and data structures - turning fragmented, messy clinical data into something the platform can genuinely understand and connect.
Who We're Looking For:Someone with real experience building or maintaining ontologies and taxonomies in a healthcare or life sciences context. This person should be able to translate semantic design into something data engineers and AI teams can actually build against.
Key Responsibilities:- Design and maintain ontologies, taxonomies, and controlled vocabularies for clinical and scientific concepts, grounded in established standards (SNOMED CT, MedDRA, LOINC, RxNorm)
- Ensure semantic interoperability across clinical data standards (CDISC SDTM/ADaM, HL7 FHIR, OMOP CDM)
- Partner with Data Architecture and Engineering to embed semantic structure directly into the platform - schemas, knowledge graphs, metadata layers
- Work with AI/ML teams to ensure models have access to structured, well-defined knowledge representations
- Map and align external data sources and terminologies to Biorce's semantic layer as new integrations come online
- Own documentation and governance for how the ontology evolves over time
RequirementsMust-haves
- Advanced degree (MS/PhD) in biomedical informatics, computer science, linguistics, or a related field - or equivalent hands-on experience
- Real experience building or maintaining ontologies/taxonomies in a healthcare, life sciences, or clinical research context
- Strong working knowledge of clinical/biomedical vocabularies (SNOMED CT, MedDRA, LOINC, RxNorm) and clinical data standards (CDISC, HL7 FHIR, OMOP)
- Hands-on experience with ontology/knowledge-graph tooling (OWL, RDF, SPARQL, Protégé, or equivalent)
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills in English
Nice-to-Haves
- Experience supporting large-scale enterprise data integration efforts
- Familiarity with how structured knowledge/knowledge graphs improve LLM grounding and reasoning
- Background in regulatory-facing clinical data (FDA/EMA submissions)
Why Join Us?- A dynamic work environment with an international team, where collaboration and diversity thrive.
- Work alongside top talent, united by a shared purpose and committed to making a real impact.
- Get equipped with a MacBook to enhance your productivity and work experience.
- Benefits package designed to support you and your family's overall well-being.
- Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision insurance options, effective from your start date or shortly thereafter depending on location.
- Hybrid work model offering flexibility to balance your professional and personal life.
- Company events to celebrate achievements and enjoy time together.
- Our office is pet-friendly! You'll likely be greeted by a few wagging tails upon arrival.
