Research Manager | FMTA

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 a team of specialist researchers responsible for post-training the models powering DeepL's next-generation translation products. We focus on developing algorithms and systems that align pre-trained models with tasks and performance goals through techniques like reinforcement learning. As a research-driven team, we stay up to date with current literature to integrate cutting-edge ideas into our core stack. As part of this team, you will shape the future of how our models learn beyond pre-training - enabling new capabilities, better controllability, and safer, more effective user experiences.

This is not a general-purpose AI lab. We are building models with a specific and defensible purpose: keeping DeepL's language AI capabilities measurably ahead of general-purpose frontier models in the domains that matter to our customers.

YOUR RESPONSIBILITIES

As Research Manager for the Foundation Model Task Adaption Team you will own both people leadership and technical direction for a team of research scientists. While this is not a hands-on coding role, you will be deeply involved in technical discussions, experimental reviews, and architectural decisions that shape how the team operates and what it ships.

You will:

- Drive and develop a high-performing team of research scientists, building strong individual development plans, fostering a candid and constructive feedback culture, and maintaining high standards of research rigour and delivery.

- Own the team's research roadmap in Reinforcement Learning in close collaboration with senior ICs and cross-functional stakeholders, balancing near-term product commitments with longer-horizon research bets.

- Define and communicate your team's strategic goals, roadmap, and success metrics in collaboration with key stakeholders across the research department

- Act as the primary technical interface between the Task Adaptation team and adjacent functions including product-aligned research teams and infrastructure, ensuring research output is well-scoped, well-communicated, and delivered at pace.

- Play an active role in identifying, assessing, and recruiting research talent as the team grows.

- Operate with a high degree of autonomy, defining the team's direction and pushing for results in an environment where requirements from product or customers can be ambiguous or evolving.

QUALITIES WE LOOK FOR

- You hold a PhD in Computer Science, Mathematics, Physics, or a comparable quantitative discipline, or possess a strong machine learning background with equivalent research depth. Publication experience at top-tier venues is a meaningful signal, though not a hard requirement.

- You have a strong foundation in deep learning and large-scale model training, preferably with experience in post-training of large language models.

- You have proven experience leading a team of researchers or ML engineers, with a track record of developing talent, maintaining delivery rigour, and holding the balance between academic quality and commercial timelines. We are open to earlier-stage managers provided they bring genuine conviction around people leadership.

- You are comfortable operating across the full model development lifecycle, including understanding infrastructure and compute constraints, without needing to own them directly.

- You have excellent communication skills and the ability to translate complex research direction into clear goals for both technical and non-technical stakeholders.

- You are solution-oriented and decisive, able to navigate ambiguity and drive outcomes without waiting for direction.

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.