Data Scientist

Peraton is a next-generation national security company that drives missions of consequence spanning the globe. They are seeking an Ontologically Aware Data Scientist to design, build, and operationalize knowledge-centric AI/ML systems that integrate ontology engineering, semantic data modeling, and advanced analytics.

Responsibilities:

• Develop and maintain logical, semantically rich, extensible ontologies (RDF/OWL/SKOS) aligned to foundational/top-level ontologies (BFO, DOLCE, CCO, OBO Foundry)
• Build and evolve canonical vocabularies that unify heterogeneous datasets across organizational boundaries
• Design, implement, and maintain knowledge graphs and semantic data models using AnzoGraph including modeling tradeoffs, query optimization, and production operations
• Create SHACL validation layers; run regular quality checks to ensure consistency, backward compatibility, and schema integrity
• Write performant SPARQL queries; develop mapping views, CONSTRUCT transformations, and federated semantic integrations
• Develop hybrid ontology-GenAI capabilities, including natural-language-to-SPARQL pipelines with context engineering frameworks (e.g., DSPy) to reduce hallucination and improve schema grounding
• Apply machine learning techniques-classification, embedding-based retrieval, entity resolution, and model fine-tuning-to support ontology evolution, reification, and inference
• Partner with cross-functional teams (Data Engineering, Developers, content owners) to understand information needs and deliver semantic/analytical solutions
• Produce clear, accessible technical documentation; deliver onboarding and training for both technical and non-technical users
• Apply strong software engineering discipline to semantic assets: version control, code review, automated SHACL/dbt tests, CI/CD pipeline alignment
• Support both new development and ongoing operations/maintenance across unclassified and classified environments