Meet DeepL

DeepL is a global communications platform powered by Language AI. Since 2017, we’ve been on a mission to break down language barriers. Our human-sounding translations and intelligent writing suggestions are designed with enterprise security in mind. Today, they enable over 100,000 businesses to transform communications, reach new markets, and improve productivity. And, empower millions of individuals worldwide to make sense of the world and express their ideas.

Our goal is to become the global leader in Language AI, building products that drive better communication, foster connections, and make a real-life impact. To achieve this, we need talented individuals like you to join our exciting journey. If you're ready to work with a dynamic team and build your career in the fast-moving AI space, DeepL is your next destination.

What sets us apart

What sets us apart is our blend of modern technology, competitive benefits, and an open, welcoming work culture that enables our people to thrive. When we share what it's like to work at DeepL, the reactions are overwhelmingly positive. This may be because of our products that have helped countless people worldwide or our shared mission to improve communication for individuals and businesses, bringing cultures closer together. What we know for sure is this: being part of DeepL means joining a team dedicated to innovation and employee well-being. Discover what our teams have to say about life at DeepL on LinkedIn, Instagram and our Blog.

Meet the team behind this journey

We are seeking an experienced Director of Research for our Research Foundations teams. In this pivotal role, reporting directly to our Chief Scientist, you will drive the execution of the strategy and vision for foundational AI research, focusing specifically on large-scale AI language technologies. You will be instrumental in shaping DeepL’s future as a global leader in Language AI by uncovering critical insights, driving innovation, and building a world-class research function. You will lead and supervise international research teams, fostering a culture of scientific rigor, curiosity, and impact, directly influencing our product roadmap and business growth.

Your responsibilities

• Strategic Alignment & Impact: Drive the company's strategy down to the team level, ensuring clear alignment of research priorities with overall business objectives. Success will be dictated by improved, visible, and measurable impact from research initiatives.

• Accelerated Delivery: Streamline and accelerate research delivery cycles, addressing challenges related to long turnaround times and diverse stakeholder needs. You will foster a bias towards action and ownership, ensuring the research organization sets a clear path and drives delivery.

• Cross-Functional Collaboration: Enhance cross-departmental collaboration (especially with Product and Engineering) and ensure research prioritization is based on critical business needs. You will be adept at gaining buy-in from both within the research organization and across other departments.

• Organisational Leadership & Empowerment: Lead, mentor, and grow diverse international research teams. You will foster a culture of high performance, continuous learning, and intellectual curiosity, driving professional development, establishing clear goals, and ensuring team well-being and motivation. You will empower research leaders to ensure fast decision-making and delivery.

Qualities we look for

• Extensive leadership experience managing technical teams in SaaS companies, ideally with a background in building product-focused AI solutions

• Strong technical background

• Demonstrated ability to set a clear path and drive delivery in a tech organization, exhibiting department-level ownership and decision-making.

• Strong communication skills with the ability to build lasting relationships and influence stakeholders at all levels, gaining buy-in across departments.

• A proactive and analytical approach to identifying challenges, proposing creative solutions, and driving continuous improvement.

What we offer

• Diverse and internationally distributed team: joining our team means becoming part of a large, global community with people of more than 90 nationalities. We're more than just colleagues; we're a group of professionals with a shared mission to connect diverse cultures. Our global presence is growing–we've doubled in size nearly every year, with our employees based in the UK, Germany, the Netherlands, Poland, the US, and Japan, and we continue to expand our network.

• Open communication, regular feedback: as a language-focused company, we value the importance of clear, honest communication. We value smooth collaboration, direct and actionable feedback, and believe that leading with empathy and growth mindset makes us better together.

• Hybrid work, flexible hours: we offer a hybrid work schedule, allowing to work several days in the office each week. This allows you to engage directly with your team and experience the unique energy of our workspace, while still enjoying the flexibility and comfort of working from home. With flexible working hours and trust in your productivity, we are in sync with your team's general locations and time zones to foster effective and seamless collaboration.

• Regular in-person team events: we bond over vibrant events that are as unique as our team, from local team and business unit gatherings, to new-joiner onboardings, to company-wide events that bring us all together–literally.

• Monthly full-day hacking sessions: every month, we have Hack Fridays, where you can spend your time diving into a project you're passionate about and get the opportunity to work with other teams–we value your initiatives, impact, and creativity.

• 30 days of annual leave: we value your peace of mind. With 30 days off (excluding public holidays) and access to mental health resources, we make sure you're as strong mentally as you are professionally.

• Competitive benefits: just as our team spans the globe, so does our benefits package. We've crafted it to reflect the diversity of our team and tailored it to align with your unique location, to ensure you feel supported every step of the way.

If this role and our mission resonate with you, but you're hesitant because you don't check all the boxes, don't let that hold you back. At DeepL, it's all about the value you bring and the growth we can foster together. Go ahead, apply—let's discover your potential together. We can't wait to meet you!

We are an equal opportunity employer

You are welcome at DeepL for who you are—we appreciate authenticity here. Our product is for everyone, and so is our workplace. The more voices we have represented and amplified in our business, the more we will all succeed, contribute, and think forward! So bring us your personal experience, your perspectives, and your background. It’s in our diversity that we will find the power to break down language barriers in the world.