Principal Data and Ontology Architect - AI Enablement

What Makes a Honda, is Who makes a Honda
Honda has a clear vision for the future, and it's a joyful one. We are looking for individuals with the skills, courage, persistence, and dreams that will help us reach our future-focused goals. At our core is innovation. Honda is constantly innovating and developing solutions to drive our business with record success. We strive to be a company that serves as a source of "power" that supports people around the world who are trying to do things based on their own initiative and that helps people expand their own potential. To this end, Honda strives to realize "the joy and freedom of mobility" by developing new technologies and an innovative approach to achieve a "zero environmental footprint."

We are looking for qualified individuals with diverse backgrounds, experiences, continuous improvement values, and a strong work ethic to join our team.

If your goals and values align with Honda's, we want you to join our team to Bring the Future!

Job Purpose

• The AI Data & Ontology Enablement Lead will support the implementation and adoption of data and ontology enablement practices and standards within Control Tower Operations to support scalable, governed, and business-aligned AI initiatives.
• Will serve as the primary bridge between Business Units, Global IT, and Control Tower Operations
• This role ensures shared understanding of data practices, workflows, and requirements by helping to translate established Global IT standards and operating models into repeatable guidance for Business Units and data stewards, while representing business domain needs back to IT.
• Through data steward education, workflow establishment, and close alignment with Control Tower governance processes, this role prevents fragmented, one-off data requests and ensures AI initiatives are supported by trusted data, shared meaning, and sustainable enterprise operations.

Key Accountabilities

• Enterprise Ontology Strategy & Enablement:
  • Support the implementation and ongoing maintenance of ontology enablement practices and operating model strategy to support AI, analytics, and digital initiatives across multiple Business Units
  • Apply established standards for semantic modeling, domain alignment, concept reuse, and ontology lifecycle management.
  • Serve as the enterprise subject-matter authority for ontology-related topics, providing recommendations and guidance to governance and leadership forums.
  • Collaborate with Global IT and enterprise data architecture, to help ensure ontology practices align with enterprise data platforms and Control Tower operational processes.
• Business Unit Data & Ontology Enablement:
  • Partner with Business Units to understand domain concepts, terminology, operational data, and AI use cases, translating them into ontology-aligned data structures
  • Guide Business Units in contributing domain models, metadata, and data assets into the enterprise ontology using defined governance and intake processes.
  • Enable repeatable onboarding of Business Unit data into AI initiatives, reducing reliance on ad-hoc IT engagement and minimizing duplicated effort.
  • Provide input on prioritization of ontology enhancements based on organizational goals, AI roadmap needs, and enterprise value.
• Global IT Bridge & Translation:
  • Serve as a liaison between Business Units and Global IT for AI data and ontology-related matters.
  • Engage with Global IT teams to understand enterprise data platforms, workflows, standards, and operational constraints.
  • Translate Global IT practices, requirements, and workflows into clear, actionable guidance for Business Unit data stewards.
  • Represent Business Unit data and ontology needs back to Global IT to inform platform evolution, tooling, and process improvements.
  • Prevent fragmented, one-by-one data requests by establishing shared understanding and standardized engagement models.
• Data Enablement & Workflow Establishment:
  • Educate, guide, and support Business Unit data stewards on their roles in data governance, ontology contribution, and AI data enablement.
  • Support the development and documentation of workflows, expectations, and operating models for how BU data stewards engage with the Control Tower and Global IT.
  • Ensure Business Unit Data Stewards understand how to prepare, govern, and submit data assets for ontology integration and AI use.
  • Promote consistent adoption of governance, quality, and semantic standards across Business Units.

Key Accountabilities (Contd.)

• Control Tower Operations Alignment:
  • Support integration of data and ontology enablement into Control Tower workflows.
  • Provide operational insight into data readiness, semantic risks, and governance gaps to inform Control Tower decision-making.
  • Identify systemic issues and contribute recommendations to drive continuous improvement of data enablement processes.
  • Assist teams in improving understanding and utilization of data in AI processes.
• Semantic Integrity, Data Quality & Risk Management:
  • Ensure semantic integrity, data quality, lineage, and consistency are maintained as data assets flow into AI solutions.
  • Identify systemic issues and recommend continuous improvement opportunities to Control Tower Operations leadership.
  • Influence corrective actions, tooling investments, or governance updates to mitigate long-term risk.

Qualifications, Experience, and Skills

• Minimum Educational Qualifications:
  • A Bachelor's level degree / diploma in Computer Science, Data Science / Engineering, Applied Mathematics / Statistics, Electronics / Electrical, Information Technology / Information Sciences or a related field of study.
• Minimum relvenat work experience:
  • At least 10 or more years based on education, of combined experience in data architecture, data governance, ontology development, semantic modeling, or related disciplines, supporting cross-functional initiatives spanning multiple business units and IT organizations.
• Other Job-Specific Skills:
  • In-depth expertise in ontology design, semantic modeling, and domain-driven data architecture.
  • Experience contributing to the development and implementation of data and ontology strategies.
  • Demonstrated experience serving as a bridge between business stakeholders and IT organizations
  • Strong ability to translate technical platforms, workflows, and constraints into business-understandable guidance
  • Experience enabling and educating data stewards and establishing sustainable governance workflows
  • Ability to influence senior technical and business stakeholders without direct authority
  • Sound judgment in balancing short-term delivery needs with long-term semantic and architectural sustainability
  • Systems-thinking mindset with understanding of AI, analytics, and enterprise data platforms
  • Comfortable operating in ambiguous, evolving environments with enterprise-level impact
• HIghly desirables:
  • Languages:
    • OWL (Web Ontology Language)
    • RDF / RDFS - graph-based data model
  • Storage:
    • Graph databases: Neo4j; Amazon Neptune.
    • Palantir Ontology
  • Querying: SPARQL for RDF-based ontologies

Workstyle

• This is an onsite job based at our Honda, Marysville, OH office. One telecommuting workday per week may be possible with prior departmental approval.

What differentiates Honda and make us an employer of choice?

Total Rewards:

• Competitive Base Salary (pay will be based on several variables that include, but not limited to geographic location, work experience, etc.)
• Paid Overtime
• Regional Bonus (when applicable)
• Industry-leading Benefit Plans (Medical, Dental, Vision, Rx)
• Paid time off, including vacation, holidays, shutdown
• Company Paid Short-Term and Long-Term Disability
• 401K Plan with company match + additional contribution
• Relocation assistance (if eligible)

Career Growth:

• Advancement Opportunities
• Career Mobility
• Education Reimbursement for Continued Learning
• Training and Development programs

Additional Offerings:

• Tuition Assistance & Student Loan Repayment
• Lifestyle Account
• Childcare Reimbursement Account
• Elder Care Support
• Wellbeing Program
• Community Service and Engagement Programs
• Product Programs

Honda is an equal opportunity employer and considers qualified applicants for employment without regard to race, color, creed, religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, age, disability, veteran status, or any other protected factor.