Ontology Engineer, Natural and Engineering Sciences

We seek two motivated and flexible ontology engineers to join the Thematic DCC-NES team to deliver a new service helping researchers across the Dutch science and engineering domain. 

Job description

We are looking for two ontology engineers, who have an affinity for collaborative work and open sharing of knowledge, and can lead and stimulate ontology developments across the Netherlands. You have interest and experience in working with people from different disciplines to collaboratively build suitable ontologies, and to help implement them in research workflows. You will be expected to share your knowledge, and to present your work to different audiences, so as to encourage the use of ontologies and to demonstrate the value of the work.

Work within a leading organisation & supportive environment:
You will be employed in the Thematic Digital Competence Centre for the Natural & Engineering Sciences (TDCC-NES), hosted in the 4TU.ResearchData team at TU Delft, and will work collaboratively with research groups from across the Netherlands. The TDCC-NES is one of three innovative network organisations set up to coordinate, develop and promote the adoption of FAIR data, software and open research practices, alongside the development of the necessary expertise, across the relevant domain.
 

You will propose solutions to partners and co-design projects, whilst the coordination of the work will be overseen by the TDCC-NES governance, representing stakeholder institutions across the country, who will also facilitate connections with relevant staff within their own institutions. You will also be supported by the Community Coordinator, who will help to create opportunities for connection and engagement.

Professional growth:

Although based at TU Delft, you will be expected to work on location at different institutions across the country. There is support for visiting other countries and attending relevant international conferences to exchange knowledge with peers.
 
If you are lacking some of the appropriate skills, but we believe you are the right candidate, then we can discuss training options.
 
Impact on scientific research & open science:

AI and the availability of new computational methods make reliable and structured research data a pressing issue so interest in the use of ontologies is widespread and comes at a critical moment for research.
 

As part of your work, you will bring innovative solutions to Dutch research and will have the opportunity to attend events of a broader nature, to showcase and demonstrate the impact of this work to diverse audiences so as to have wider influence.

We expect some flexibility and creativity whilst setting up this new service, but expect the following main tasks:

• Develop a format for delivering the ontology service and evaluate its success with input from the TDCC-NES staff and governance.
• Working directly with researchers, develop or implement suitable ontologies for research outputs and lead discussions to agree on the outcomes of such collaborations.
• Ensure support for ontology implementation in technical infrastructures, in collaboration with national and international partners, such as SURF and 4TU.ResearchData.
• Maintain up-to-date knowledge of how ontologies contribute to making data AI-ready, supporting machine actionability, automated reasoning, and seamless semantic interoperability.
• Encourage understanding, adoption and support for ontologies by presenting your work to technical and non-technical audiences, adapting the message as appropriate.
  Identify opportunities for new directions. 

Collaboration:

We expect you to be able to work both independently and as a team member, with researchers, and with the other TDCC and support staff. You will:

• Respond to the agenda and priorities agreed by the Governing Board;
• Coordinate and be a sparring partner with the other ontology engineer and with the other stakeholders to ensure efficient and effective outcomes;
• Look for opportunities in related international developments for alignment and engagement;
• Contribute to the success of the TDCC-NES by participating in planning and reporting.     
   

Job requirements

• Expertise in ontology engineering, including proficiency in ontology languages (e.g., OWL, RDF/RDFS), semantic web standards (e.g., SPARQL, SKOS), and ontology development methodologies (e.g., METHONTOLOGY, NeOn) applicable across natural and engineering sciences disciplines (level: intermediate to advanced).
• Experience developing and implementing ontologies, including selecting or designing ontologies for specific research needs, using tools like Protégé, TopBraid Composer, or OntoStudio, and integrating them into research data management systems or semantic catalogues (level: intermediate).
• A clear and open communicator, you can effectively and persuasively communicate with people from different (academic) backgrounds; confidently, you can approach and engage others in discussion, but also listen and respond to their needs and wishes.
• Excellent organisation skills, ensuring clients and partners receive information, service, or training before agreed deadlines.
• Collaborative by nature, you can build bridges and reduce conflict to work towards a common goal and complete work to an agreed standard.
• Excellent command of English (and for non-Dutch speakers, a willingness to learn Dutch).

Recommended (experience in these would be an advantage):

• Experience defining and agreeing time-boxed projects with project team members.
• Affinity to work with researchers from one or more of the natural and engineering sciences disciplines.
• Experience presenting ontologies to diverse audiences and through different media.

TU Delft (Delft University of Technology)

Delft University of Technology is built on strong foundations. As creators of the world-famous Dutch waterworks and pioneers in biotech, TU Delft is a top international university combining science, engineering and design. It delivers world class results in education, research and innovation to address challenges in the areas of energy, climate, mobility, health and digital society. For generations, our engineers have proven to be entrepreneurial problem-solvers, both in business and in a social context.

At TU Delft we embrace diversity as one of our core values and we actively engage to be a university where you feel at home and can flourish. We value different perspectives and qualities. We believe this makes our work more innovative, the TU Delft community more vibrant and the world more just. Together, we imagine, invent and create solutions using technology to have a positive impact on a global scale. That is why we invite you to apply. Your application will receive fair consideration.

Challenge. Change. Impact!

University Corporate Office – TU Delft Library

TU Delft Library is the largest technical-scientific library in the Netherlands, a physical and virtual meeting place. The Library helps to find valuable knowledge needed for education and research, and to publish and store the knowledge generated at TU Delft. We believe it is important that knowledge is easily accessible and freely available to everyone. In this way, knowledge can flow freely and TU Delft's knowledge can become valuable to others. The Library is also a place where everyone can study in peace and quiet. This fits in with our inclusive organisation.

The Library has chosen three strategic themes to guide its daily activities. 1) Open Science. We make an important contribution to TU Delft's broad strategic programme "Open Science - Research and Education in the Open Era". 2) Visibility and impact. With our expertise and tools in the field of research data management, research intelligence and publishing, we increase the findability, visibility and impact of TU Delft knowledge. 3) Inspiring learning and working environment. Through stimulating programming, we show how freely available and reliable knowledge makes life richer. This makes the Library a place where you can find new ideas and insights. 

https://www.tudelft.nl/en/library/

Conditions of employment 

• As part of a four-year project, your contract will be granted for 1 year with the prospect of extension up to 4 years in total. 
• A job of 26-40 hours per week. 
• A salary based on Schaal 12 of the CAO for Dutch Universities with a salary between €5495- €7056 gross per month based on a fulltime contract (38 hours), plus 8% holiday allowance and an end-of-year bonus of 8.3%.  
• An excellent pension scheme via the ABP. 
• The possibility to compile an individual employment package every year. 
• Discount with health insurers on supplemental packages. 
• Flexible working week. 
• Every year, 232 leave hours (at 38 hours). You can also sell or buy additional leave hours via the individual choice budget. 
• Plenty of opportunities for education, training and courses. 
• Partially paid parental leave 
• Attention for working healthy and energetically with the vitality program. 

Additional information

For more information about this vacancy, please contact Joanne Yeomans, Network Manager of the TDCC-NES (j.yeomans@tudelft.nl).

Application procedure

Are you interested in this vacancy? Please apply no later than 07 July 2025 via the application button and upload the following documents in English:

• Curriculum vitae including list of relevant publications (maximum 5 pages).
• Motivation letter (maximum 2 pages) highlighting your relevant skills and experience.

You can address your application to Joanne Yeomans.

Please note:

• You can apply online. We will not process applications sent by email and/or post. 
• A pre-employment screening can be part of the selection procedure.
• For the final candidates, a knowledge security check will be part of the application procedure. For more information on this check, please consult Chapter 8 of the National Knowledge Security Guidelines. We carry out this check on the basis of legitimate interest.
• Please do not contact us for unsolicited services.