Principal Architect for Semantic Knowledge Infrastructures (m/f/d), Hamburg

The Leibniz Institute for the Analysis of Biodiversity Change (LIB)

Hamburg

The Leibniz Institute for the Analysis of Biodiversity Change (LIB) is one of the large, globally connected research museums of the Leibniz Association. In addition to excellent research on biodiversity and its change, we are advancing the further development of our extensive scientific collections with an international team and state‑of‑the‑art technology. With our exhibition, knowledge transfer, and communication work at our exhibition venues Museum Koenig Bonn and Museum der Natur Hamburg, we want to spread enthusiasm for nature and contribute with our research topics to current socio‑political discussions on species loss, climate change and the protection of ecosystems. The construction of an integrated natural history museum is being planned for the Hamburg location; the research infrastructure at the Bonn location is currently being significantly expanded.

Within the LIB, the Centre for Biodiversity Knowledge Science focuses on digital biodiversity research, with the ambition of establishing the LIB Open Knowledge Space as a globally open hub for scientific objects and knowledge, including all project‑and collection‑related data and knowledge from the LIB. Acting as a driver of digital innovation in biodiversity knowledge science, it will integrate expertise in semantic modelling, knowledge graphs, ontologies, artificial intelligence, citizen science, and knowledge transfer, serving as a bridge between collections, research, and society.

Principal Architect for Semantic Knowledge Infrastructures (m/f/d), Hamburg

The successful candidate will design and oversee the semantic backend of the LIB Open Knowledge Space. They will support agile prototype development while acting as a technical gatekeeper for production systems, ensuring that emerging solutions meet high standards of quality, sustainability, and interoperability, compliant with the FAIR and CLEAR Principles.

We are offering a full‑time (39.00 hours/week) or part‑time position for initially 2 years with the possibility of a permanent contract, located in Hamburg. The remuneration is based on pay scale group EG 14 according to German public salary (TV‑L).

• Design and govern the semantic architecture of the LIB Open Knowledge Space, ensuring interoperability and sustainability
• Lead development of knowledge graphs, ontologies, and hybrid data architectures (incl. AI integration)
• Establish and enforce software engineering standards, supporting scalable API‑based systems
• Mentor interdisciplinary teams and contribute to Open Science, research infrastructures, and third‑party funding
• Technical gatekeeper between research prototypes and FAIR production systems
• Apply for third‑party funding

Your profile

• Master’s degree (or equivalent) in computer science, data science, bioinformatics, or related field; PhD desirable
• Proven experience with graph databases / triple stores
• Strong expertise in knowledge graphs and semantic technologies, including RDF, RDFS, OWL, SHACL, LinkML, SPARQL, and ontology engineering principles
• Experience with backend development, distributed and hybrid systems, combining knowledge graphs, vector embeddings, and classical database technologies
• Experience in the development and operation of modular, service‑oriented architectures
• Strong programming skills in at least one language, such as Python or Java

Desirable Qualifications

• Experience in software architecture and modular system designs for research infrastructures
• Knowledge of FAIR (meta)data principles, FAIR Digital Objects, Linked Data, and persistent identifiers
• Background in biodiversity informatics or life science data
• Scientific publications and/or contributions to open‑source software
• Experience in reviewing, refactoring, and improving code written by others
• Experience in mentoring and guiding developers in improving code quality and architecture

We offer

• An attractive position in an excellent research institution with a high degree of creative potential in a dynamic scientific and social environment
• Remuneration according to the collective agreement of the federal states (up to EG 14 TV‑L if the personal and job‑related requirements of the collective agreement are met) with all the benefits of the public sector (company pension scheme, annual special payment, capital‑forming benefits, collectively agreed vacation entitlement)
• Family friendliness certified by the “Work and Family Audit”, offer of life coaching through professional family service
• The possibility of obtaining a job ticket
• A centrally located workplace with excellent transport links

We are a diverse institution and welcome our diversity. We would particularly like to encourage women to apply in order to actively promote equal opportunities. Severely disabled people will be given preference if equally qualified.