AI Research Manager | Translation Quality

MEET DEEPL DeepL is a global AI product and research company focused on building secure, intelligent solutions to complex business problems. Over 200,000 business customers and millions of individuals across 228 global markets today trust DeepL's Language AI platform for human-like translation, improved writing and real-time voice translation. Founded in 2017 by CEO Jaroslaw “Jarek” Kutylowski, DeepL now has over 1,000 passionate employees and is supported by world-renowned investors including Benchmark, IVP, and Index Ventures. Our goal is to become the global leader in trusted, intelligent AI technology, building products that drive better communication, foster connections, and create a meaningful impact. To achieve this, we need talented people like you to join our journey. If you’re ready to shape the future of AI and grow your career in a fast-moving, purpose-driven environment, DeepL is your next destination. WHAT SETS US APART What sets us apart is our blend of cutting-edge AI technology, meaningful work, and a culture where people truly thrive. We’re a team of innovators, researchers, and creators driven by a shared purpose to unlock human potential by making work simpler, smarter, and more connected. When we share what it’s like to work at DeepL, the reactions are overwhelmingly positive. This might be because of our technology that helps millions of people and businesses communicate and work better every day, or because of the trust, curiosity, and care that shape our culture. What we know for sure is this: being part of DeepL means joining a team dedicated to innovation, growth, and well-being. Discover more about life at DeepL onLinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/company/deepl/,Instagram https://www.instagram.com/deepl_official/, and our Blog https://www.deepl.com/en/blog. MEET THE TEAM BEHIND THIS JOURNEY You will lead the Translation Quality Research team, focusing entirely on advancing and defending our core translation models. We sit at the intersection of cutting-edge research and product delivery, transforming promising ideas into reliable, scalable features customers use every day. Our emphasis is on measurable quality and real-world production impact. This team’s work directly drives our commercial success and B2B strategy. You will be responsible for keeping DeepL’s baseline translation quality ahead of massive, top-tier general-purpose models in the market , driving strategic enterprise initiatives, and ensuring we consistently deliver the highest standard of translation quality to our B2B customers. YOUR RESPONSIBILITIES As a Research Manager at DeepL, you will own both people leadership and technical direction for a team of research scientists , currently consisting of highly skilled ICs). While this is not a hands-on coding role , you will be deeply involved in technical discussions to unblock the team and validate approaches. You will: - Drive the achievement and rigorous evaluation of DeepL's baseline translation quality to ensure market dominance. - Shape and prioritize the research agenda, balancing clear product outcomes with bold, longer-term bets. - Define and communicate your team's strategic goals, roadmap, and success metrics in collaboration with key stakeholders across tech, product, sales enablement, and customer success. - Own the "estimation" aspect of our product pipeline, building models that determine when a translation requires human review. - Inspire, develop, recruit, and motivate a high-performing team ; build strong 1:1 relationships, set development plans, and foster a candid, non-retaliatory feedback culture. - Act autonomously to make decisions, push for results, and define the team's path forward without waiting for product or customers to guide the way. QUALITIES WE LOOK FOR - You hold a (preferable PhD) degree in Computer Science, Mathematics, Physics, or a comparable subject , or possess a strong Machine Learning background with a PhD focused on a heavy research topic. - You have a strong research background—ideally with specific experience in Language Research—enabling you to deeply understand complex tech challenges, participate in technical discussions, and grasp the team's constraints. - You have hands-on experience in the following areas: - Software development, ideally in the context of data science, ML engineering, systems engineering, or distributed services. - Technical and people leadership. - Deep Learning. - You have a proven track record of successfully leading Research teams, ideally in a global, high-growth scale-up, and research-intensive environment. (Note: We are also highly open to newer leaders with just a few years of management experience, provided you are deeply motivated by people leadership). - You have a solution-oriented mindset and are able to navigate through ambiguity and change effectively. - You have excellent communication skills and the ability to closely collaborate with other teams across the organization. - High level of English proficiency (knowledge of German and other languages is an advantage). 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, with team members coming into the office twice a 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. - Virtual Shares - An ownership mindset in every role. We believe everyone should share in our success, and that’s why every employee receives Virtual Shares, linking your contribution directly to DeepL’s growth and rewarding you with a stake in our future. - 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.