Honeywell

Sr Director Software Engineering, Ontology & AI

Honeywell$150K — $200K *
Information Technology
11 - 15 years of experience
Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • Bachelor's or Master's degree in Computer Science, Engineering, AI, or Data Science
  • 12+ years of progressive software engineering experience with leadership roles
  • Hands-on experience delivering AI/ML-powered production systems at scale
  • Deep knowledge of ontology design and semantic modeling
  • Strong background in cloud-native architectures and distributed systems
  • Proven ability to lead senior technical talent and influence across teams

Responsibilities

  • Define and manage software architecture for AI/ML platforms
  • Lead the design of scalable AI/ML systems, including data pipelines
  • Drive development of enterprise ontologies to enable data interoperability
  • Ensure architectural consistency across cloud and on-premise solutions
  • Establish engineering best practices for model governance and explainable AI
  • Partner with leaders to identify and execute AI/ML use cases
  • Mentor and develop senior architects to foster technical excellence

Benefits

  • Employer-subsidized Medical, Dental, Vision, and Life Insurance
  • Short-Term and Long-Term Disability
  • 401(k) match
  • Flexible Spending Accounts and Health Savings Accounts
  • Paid Time Off for vacation, personal business, and sick time
  • Parental Leave and 12 Paid Holidays
  • Educational Assistance programs
Full Job Description
Job Description

We are seeking a Senior Director of Software Engineering with deep expertise in Artificial Intelligence (AI), Machine Learning (ML), and Ontology-driven systems responsible for designing and scaling next-generation intelligent platforms.

This role sits at the intersection of advanced engineering, data/AI strategy, and enterprise architecture, translating complex business and customer challenges into robust, scalable, and explainable AI-enabled solutions. The Senior Director will be both strategic and hands-on, setting technical direction while mentoring senior architects and influencing executive stakeholders.

Responsibilities

Key Responsibilities

Technical & Architectural Leadership
  • Define and own the end-to-end software architecture for AI/ML-enabled platforms, emphasizing ontologies, semantic models, and knowledge representation.
  • Lead the design and implementation of scalable, production-grade AI/ML systems, including data pipelines, model lifecycle management, and inference services.
  • Drive the development and adoption of enterprise ontologies and domain models to enable interoperability, reasoning, explainability, and data reuse across platforms.
  • Ensure architectural alignment across cloud, edge, and on-prem deployments.
  • Establish engineering best practices around model governance, explainable AI (XAI), data quality, security, and compliance.

AI/ML Strategy & Execution
  • Partner with product, data science, and business leaders to identify high-value AI/ML use cases and translate them into executable engineering roadmaps.
  • Guide teams on model selection, training strategies, feature engineering, and MLOps, ensuring solutions are robust, ethical, and scalable.
  • Evaluate and integrate emerging AI technologies, frameworks, and tools with a pragmatic, value-driven mindset.

People Leadership & Team Development
  • Lead and develop a small, elite team of senior architects, fostering a culture of technical excellence, accountability, and continuous learning.
  • Act as a mentor and technical coach, raising the bar for architectural thinking, engineering rigor, and AI fluency.

Stakeholder & Enterprise Influence
  • Serve as a trusted technical advisor to senior leaders, clearly communicating complex architectural and AI concepts to both technical and non-technical audiences.
  • Influence enterprise standards and long-term technology strategy related to AI, data, and software engineering.
  • Collaborate closely with global engineering, security, legal, and compliance teams to ensure responsible AI deployment.


Qualifications

Required Qualifications
  • Bachelor's or Master's degree in Computer Science, Engineering, AI, Data Science, or related field.
  • 12 plus years of progressive software engineering experience, including senior leadership roles.
  • Demonstrated, hands-on experience delivering AI/ML-powered production systems at scale.
  • Deep expertise in ontology design, semantic modeling, knowledge graphs, or domain-driven data models.
  • Strong background in cloud-native architectures, distributed systems, and modern software engineering practices.
  • Proven ability to lead senior technical talent and influence across organizational boundaries.


Preferred Qualifications
  • PhD or advanced research background in AI, ML, or knowledge representation.
  • Experience with MLOps platforms, model governance, and AI lifecycle management.
  • Familiarity with explainable AI, ethical AI, and regulatory considerations in enterprise environments.
  • Prior experience in industrial, enterprise, or highly regulated domains.


What Success Looks Like
  • AI/ML platforms are scalable, explainable, and grounded in strong ontological foundations.
  • Architects are aligned, empowered, and operating as trusted technical leaders across the organization.
  • Complex data and AI challenges are translated into clear, actionable architectures that deliver real business value.
  • The organization's AI capabilities mature in a responsible, sustainable, and enterprise-ready way.

US PERSON REQUIREMENTS

Due to compliance with U.S. export control laws and regulations, candidate must be a U.S. Person, which is defined as, a U.S. citizen, a U.S. permanent resident, or have protected status in the U.S. under asylum or refugee status or have the ability to obtain an export authorization.

#Li-Hybrid

In addition to a competitive salary, leading-edge work, and developing solutions side-by-side with dedicated experts in their fields, Honeywell employees are eligible for a comprehensive benefits package. This package includes employer subsidized Medical, Dental, Vision, and Life Insurance; Short-Term and Long-Term Disability; 401(k) match, Flexible Spending Accounts, Health Savings Accounts, EAP, and Educational Assistance; Parental Leave, Paid Time Off (for vacation, personal business, sick time, and parental leave), and 12 Paid Holidays. For more information visit: Benefits at Honeywell

The application period for the job is estimated to be 40 days from the job posting date; however, this may be shortened or extended depending on business needs and the availability of qualified candidates.

About Honeywell

Honeywell Aerospace is an American company that manufactures aircraft engines, avionics, auxiliary power units (APUs), and other aviation products. The company’s product portfolio includes space equipment, turbine engines, auxiliary power units, brakes, wheels, synthetic vision, runway safety systems and other avionics. President Barack Obama awarded a Honeywell employee the National Medal of Technology for his contributions to air flight safety technology. The company also owns a number of patents related to NextGen technology, aircraft windshields, turbochargers, and more. Honeywell Aerospace was founded in 1936 and is headquartered in Phoenix, Arizona.

Honeywell Careers

Joining Honeywell offers more than just job opportunities; it's a chance to grow with a company known for leadership in innovation and diversity. As a global leader, Honeywell is where your professional journey can reach new heights through a commitment to excellence and continuous improvement.

Work You'll Do

At Honeywell, you'll be part of a team that drives digital transformation across industries. With a focus on sustainability and advanced technologies, Honeywell is not just preparing for the future; we're creating it. Our diverse and inclusive culture fuels our innovation and connects us closer to our customers and the communities in which we operate.

Innovate and Lead

Embrace the opportunity to lead in the marketplace with Honeywell's cutting-edge solutions. Our leadership in areas such as aerospace, building technologies, and performance materials allows you to engage in work that makes a difference. Honeywell is at the forefront of tackling global challenges with innovative technology that improves quality of life.

Career Growth and Opportunities

Whether you're looking for an internship, a graduate role, or a leadership position, Honeywell offers a path to career success. Honeywell's commitment to professional growth is evident in our extensive training and development programs, aimed at expanding your skills and advancing your career.

Join a Dynamic Team

Honeywell's team culture is built on collaboration and respect. With a global team of professionals, you'll network with some of the brightest minds, working together to solve complex challenges. Our commitment to diversity and inclusive growth makes Honeywell not just a great place to work, but a place where your career can thrive.

Benefits and Culture

Honeywell is dedicated to providing employees with a life-work harmony through substantial benefits, including health, education, and retirement plans, ensuring peace of mind for you and your family. Our culture promotes quick learning, flexibility, and adaptation, which are critical in our fast-evolving industries.

Explore Job Opportunities

Discover the range of career opportunities at Honeywell, from engineering to sales, and contribute to our mission of shaping the future. Our hiring process is designed to find not just the right skills but also the right fit for Honeywell's culture.

Stay Connected

Join the Honeywell team to stay ahead with career tips, insider perspectives, and industry-leading insights you can put to use today—all from the people who work here.

Apply Now

Ready to apply? Check out the open positions on the Honeywell Careers page. Tailor your resume, prepare for your interview, and take the first step towards a rewarding career at Honeywell.

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Join Honeywell and be part of a team that is dedicated to building a smarter, safer, and more sustainable world.
Learn more about Honeywell
Size
99,000 employees
Market Cap
$143.4 billion
Industry
Net Income
$4.7 billion
Founded
1906
5 Year Trend
-2.6%
Revenue
$32.6 billion
NASDAQ

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