Head of Security

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. Building on a history of innovation, quality and security, DeepL continues to expand its offerings beyond the field of Language, including DeepL Agent - an autonomous AI assistant designed to transform the way businesses and knowledge workers get work done. Founded in 2017 by CEO 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. YOUR RESPONSIBILITIES Strategic Ownership & Leadership Own the overall Information and IT Security strategy, leading teams responsible for infrastructure security, application security, organisational security, and information governance. Develop, implement, and maintain robust security frameworks that ensure the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of systems and data across the organization. Act as the central authority for all security-related initiatives, ensuring alignment with business goals and compliance requirements while being mindful regarding company efficiency. Governance, Risk & Compliance Own compliance programs (e.g., SOC 2, ISO 27001, BSI C5). Shape our approach to risk assessment, third-party risk management, and internal security audits. Support customer security reviews, RFPs, and due-diligence engagements. Operational Security & Technology Oversight Oversee the design, implementation, and continuous improvement of security architecture across IT infrastructure, cloud environments, user devices and SaaS systems. Ensure secure operations through proactive threat monitoring, vulnerability management, hardening, and incident response training. Collaborate with engineering teams to integrate security-by-design principles into infrastructure and product development lifecycle. Collaboration & Stakeholder Management Partner with Infrastructure, Product teams, People department, Legal, Sales, and other Business leaders to ensure that security and data protection are embedded into all company processes. Foster a strong security culture through awareness training, communication, and transparent reporting of security metrics and incidents. Represent the company in security discussions with customers, partners, auditors, and regulators and support sales and customer success teams in high-stakes enterprise deals requiring executive security leadership. Contribute to board-level reporting on security posture, risk, and investment. About you - Proven experience in Security Engineering or Information Security and in leadership roles, ideally as Head of Security, CISO, or equivalent. - 5+ years in information security - Experience in senior leadership roles - Experience with IPO readiness, including SOX compliance, and board-level reporting - Background in SaaS, AI, or technology sectors - Experience building security teams from the ground up and scaling them alongside business growth - Strong understanding of technical security domains (network, cloud, endpoint, identity management, incident response) and information security governance. - Solid knowledge of international and EU compliance frameworks such as ISO 27001, GDPR and SOC2 / BSI C5 - Strategic mindset combined with a hands-on approach to execution. - Fluent in English, with professional proficiency in German preferred. - Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills with the ability to bridge technical and business perspectives. - Strong organisational and leadership skills with a focus on driving measurable outcomes and continuous improvement. NICE TO HAVE - Experience with AWS Cloud and OnPremise Data Centres - First touch with AI / LLM / Agentic security - Experience with security tooling and automation platforms (SIEM, SOAR, IAM, etc.). - Background in rapid growth environments 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.