Semantic / Ontology Lead

Biorce; Austin (TX); Hybrid; USD 140,000 - 190,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

MacBook provided

Hybrid work model

Benefits package

Medical, dental, and vision insurance

Job summary

Biorce in Austin seeks a Semantic/Ontology Lead to drive the Data function from our Austin hub, owning how Aika represents and connects clinical and scientific knowledge. You will build the semantic backbone enabling cross-terminology reasoning across clinical data.

Collaborate with Data Architecture, Engineering, and AI teams to embed semantic structure into schemas, knowledge graphs, and metadata. Govern ontology evolution and align external sources to our semantic layer.

Qualifications

• Advanced degree or equivalent hands-on experience in biomedical informatics, computer science, linguistics, or related field.
• Real experience building or maintaining ontologies/taxonomies in healthcare, life sciences, or clinical research.
• Strong working knowledge of clinical vocabularies (SNOMED CT, MedDRA, LOINC, RxNorm) and 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.

Responsibilities

• Design and maintain ontologies, taxonomies, and controlled vocabularies for clinical and scientific concepts.
• Ensure semantic interoperability across clinical data standards.
• Embed semantic structure into the platform: schemas, knowledge graphs, metadata layers.
• Work with AI/ML teams to provide structured knowledge representations.
• Map external data sources to Biorce's semantic layer as new integrations come online.
• Own documentation and governance for ontology evolution.

Skills

English communication

Ontology/knowledge-graph tooling

Education

MS/PhD in biomedical informatics or related field

Tools

OWL

RDF

SPARQL

Protégé

Job description

About the company

Biorce is a pioneering Healthtech company dedicated to revolutionizing drug development through the power of AI. We are passionate about accelerating medical advancements and improving patient outcomes.

Our team comprises seasoned clinical research professionals, data scientists, and AI experts, working collaboratively to bridge the gap between cutting-edge technology and real-world clinical needs.

With an unwavering commitment to revolutionize healthcare, we envision a world where all patients benefit from accelerated and cost-effective access to treatments. Biorce is poised to redefine the landscape of healthcare, shaping a future where innovation and accessibility converge for the betterment of humanity.

About the role

Following 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

Requirements

• 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.