Ontologist – Expert System Integrator - TS/SCI Clearance Required

Core-CSI LLC.; Springfield (VA); On-site; USD 150,000 - 230,000; Full time

Job summary

Core-CSI LLC in Sterling, VA seeks an experienced Ontologist–Expert System Integrator to lead ontology development and systems integration across the NSG/ASG enterprise. You will oversee lifecycle planning, requirements analysis, architecture, implementation, testing, governance, and sustainment, translating mission needs into integrated capabilities.

The role requires deep expertise in ontology frameworks, MBSE concepts, and cross‑contract collaboration with government and industry partners to

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree or higher in a STEM field, or 18+ years of relevant experience.
• 18+ years of DoD/IC acquisition, requirements, NGA production, and IC TCPED experience.
• Expert-level systems integration or systems engineering experience.
• TS/SCI clearance or ability to obtain SCI and pass a polygraph.
• Ability to work in government and multi-contractor environments.
• Strong communication, collaboration, analytical, and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to lead technical teams independently.

Responsibilities

• Provide expert advice to the Government regarding vision, strategy, plans, needs, requirements, processes, and capability development.
• Lead and oversee systems integration activities across the NSG/ASG systems-of-systems enterprise.
• Conduct solution assessments, scheduling analyses, and integration activities across IPO product lines and supporting services to enable mission functions.
• Translate mission and customer requirements into products, services, and capabilities that support optimized solutions.
• Partner with Product Managers on backlog grooming, feature prioritization, and roadmap sequencing.
• Plan, capture, analyze, and trace user requirements and architecture relationships throughout the system development life cycle.
• Identify opportunities to automate or improve existing systems, workflows, processes, and capabilities.
• Evaluate cloud service capabilities, workflows, scheduling constraints, and limitations to identify opportunities for mission and operational improvements.
• Provide subject matter expertise in interpreting and implementing customer data requirements.
• Collaborate effectively with IPOs, the Chief Data Officer (CDO), and other CIOT capability providers to advance Content Conveyance objectives.
• Support AoAs, CoAs, trade studies, engineering assessments, and other technical decision-support activities.
• Lead technical teams in the design, implementation, and governance of ontology processes and frameworks.
• Provide end-to-end support across the system development life cycle using established processes, methodologies, and tools.
• Develop technical approaches that shorten the timeline for adopting, integrating, and exposing new sources and services.
• Develop and evaluate trade-space options to support planning, budgeting, and execution cycles.
• Maintain and track Agile schedules using JIRA and Confluence.
• Work independently and as a technical leader while managing priorities and deadlines.
• Collaborate across Government and multiple contractor organizations in a complex development environment.

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher in STEM

18+ years of relevant experience

Tools

JIRA

Confluence

Job description

CORE-CSI is a small business headquartered in Sterling, VA. We provide trusted and results-oriented expertise to the Intelligence Community, the Department of Defense, and other Federal and Commercial customers across the US. Core-CSI is seeking talented Ontologist – Expert System Integrator.

Position Overview

We are seeking an experienced Ontologist – Expert System Integrator to support the Government in leading and overseeing the integrity of the NSG/ASG systems-of-systems enterprise. This position combines expert-level systems integration, systems engineering, ontology development, and mission-focused technical leadership to enable the adoption, integration, and effective use of new sources, suppliers, products, and services. The successful candidate will provide end-to-end support across the system development life cycle, including planning, requirements analysis, architecture, implementation, testing, documentation, governance, and sustainment. The role requires the ability to translate complex mission and customer needs into integrated products and capabilities while developing practical trade-space options that support efficient planning, programming, budgeting, and execution. This is an opportunity for a highly experienced technical professional to work across Government, industry, and multi-contractor environments while helping shape the ontology frameworks and integrated capabilities supporting Foundation GEOINT and related mission functions.

Key Responsibilities

• Provide expert advice to the Government regarding vision, strategy, plans, needs, requirements, processes, and capability development.
• Lead and oversee systems integration activities across the NSG/ASG systems-of-systems enterprise.
• Conduct solution assessments, scheduling analyses, and integration activities across IPO product lines and supporting services to enable mission functions.
• Translate mission and customer requirements into products, services, and capabilities that support optimized solutions.
• Partner with Product Managers on backlog grooming, feature prioritization, and roadmap sequencing.
• Plan, capture, analyze, and trace user requirements and architecture relationships throughout the system development life cycle.
• Identify opportunities to automate or improve existing systems, workflows, processes, and capabilities.
• Evaluate cloud service capabilities, workflows, scheduling constraints, and limitations to identify opportunities for mission and operational improvements.
• Provide subject matter expertise in interpreting and implementing customer data requirements.
• Collaborate effectively with IPOs, the Chief Data Officer (CDO), and other CIOT capability providers to advance Content Conveyance objectives.
• Support Analysis of Alternatives (AoAs), Courses of Action (CoAs), trade studies, engineering assessments, and other technical decision-support activities.
• Lead technical teams in the design, implementation, and governance of ontology processes and frameworks that guide the creation, management, evolution, and use of Foundation GEOINT in accordance with organizational requirements.
• Provide expert-level systems integration and systems engineering support across planning, implementation, testing, documentation, and sustainment activities.
• Assist the Government with strategic technical planning, project management, performance engineering, risk management, and interface design.
• Provide end‑to‑end support across the system development life cycle using established processes, methodologies, and tools.
• Develop technical approaches that shorten the timeline for adopting, integrating, and appropriately exposing new source and supplier products and services.
• Develop and evaluate trade‑space options to support efficient planning, programming, budgeting, and execution cycles.
• Maintain and track Agile schedules using appropriate project management and collaboration tools, such as JIRA and Confluence.
• Work effectively both independently and as a technical leader while managing competing priorities and tight deadlines.
• Collaborate across Government and multiple contractor organizations in a complex, multifaceted development environment.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree or higher in Systems Engineering or a related technical or scientific field, including engineering, physics, mathematics, operations research, engineering management, computer science, information technology, management information systems, ontologies, or a related STEM discipline; or 18+ years of relevant experience as a Systems Integrator.
• 18+ years of relevant experience in Government or industry, including experience in areas such as:
  • DoD/IC acquisition processes
  • Requirements processes
  • NGA production and dissemination
  • IC TCPED
• Expert-level systems integration or systems engineering experience in Government or industry.
• TS/SCI clearance adjudication or the ability to obtain SCI and successfully pass a polygraph.
• Demonstrated ability to work effectively in Government and multi‑contractor environments.
• Strong communication, collaboration, analytical, and problem‑solving skills.
• Ability to operate independently and lead technical teams in a deadline‑driven environment.

Desired Qualifications

• Expert-level proficiency with Basic Formal Ontology (BFO) frameworks and demonstrated experience implementing Common Core Ontologies (CCO).
• Working knowledge of Model‑Based Systems Engineering (MBSE) processes, tools, and languages.
• Working knowledge of software development frameworks and methodologies.
• Demonstrated experience working in the field of Geospatial Intelligence (GEOINT).
• Working knowledge of photogrammetry, remote sensing, image science, and information science.
• Experience with Agile development methodologies and tools, including JIRA and Confluence.
• Experience developing, governing, and maintaining ontology frameworks in complex enterprise environments.
• Experience integrating data, systems, services, and capabilities across Government mission environments.

EEO Statement

We are committed to providing equal employment opportunities to all persons regardless of race, color, ancestry, citizenship, national origin, religion, veteran status, disability, genetic characteristic or information, age, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, family status, pregnancy, or other legally protected status (collectively, "protected statuses"). We do not tolerate unlawful discrimination in any employment decisions, including recruiting, hiring, compensation, promotion, benefits, discipline, termination, job assignments or training.