A knowledge engineer integrates knowledge into computer systems in order to solve complex problems normally requiring a high level of human expertise.
Often, knowledge engineers are employed to translate the information elicited from domain experts into terms which cannot be easily communicated by the highly technalized domain expert (ESDG 2000).
Knowledge engineers interpret and organize information on how to make systems decisions (Aylett & Doniat 2002).
The term "knowledge engineer" first appeared in the 1980s in the first wave of commercialization of AI – the purpose of the job is to work with a client who wants an expert system created for them or their business.
Knowledge engineers are involved with validation and verification.
Validation is the process of ensuring that something is correct or conforms to a certain standard. A knowledge engineer is required to carry out data collection and data entry, but they must use validation in order to ensure that the data they collect, and then enter into their systems, fall within the accepted boundaries of the application collecting the data.
It is important that a knowledge engineer incorporates validation procedures into their systems within the program code. After the knowledge-based system is constructed, it can be maintained by the domain expert (Bultman, Kuipers & van Harmelen 2000).