Head of Data Science - Generative AI

About the opportunity

We are seeking an inspirational and strategic Head of Data Science to lead our Generative AI team. This is a critical leadership role where you will define and drive the strategy for developing production-ready generative AI applications, transforming how N26 operates and serves its millions of customers across Europe. Your team develops cutting-edge generative AI workflows, agents, and agentic systems for internal automation and to enable innovative, high-impact customer-facing product features. Are you ready to lead a high-performing team and accelerate the application of generative AI and machine learning to projects that affect millions of users all over Europe? Would you like to set the technical direction and investigate new generative AI capabilities to implement novel, strategic use cases? Come join us! 🤗

In this role, you will:

• Architect and drive the end-to-end AI transformation across N26. This technical leadership role involves designing the MLOps infrastructure for scalable Generative AI solutions, establishing robust enterprise-wide technical standards for responsible AI governance, and championing the organizational and cultural change necessary to integrate and scale innovative GenAI solutions across all business units.
• Strategy and Leadership: Define, communicate, and execute the overall Data Science roadmap and vision for the Generative AI function, ensuring alignment with N26’s product and business goals.
• Team Management: Lead, mentor, and grow a diverse team of experienced AI experts, fostering a culture of technical excellence, continuous learning, and impact.
• Technical Oversight: Provide strategic and architectural guidance on the delivery of robust and compliant generative AI (both language and vision) solutions, including workflows, agentic systems, advanced prompt engineering, model selection, and the implementation of strong guardrails.
• Execution Excellence: Oversee cutting-edge AI projects end-to-end, driving best practices from applied research and initial experimentation (discoveries and MVPs) through advanced validation strategies to scalable production deployment.
• Stakeholder Collaboration: Partner closely with Product Managers, Backend Engineering, Compliance, and Executive Leadership to identify high-leverage opportunities, deliver measurable value, and maximize the impact of the team’s solutions.

What you need to be successful:

Background:

• An advanced degree (Master’s or PhD) in a quantitative discipline such as Computer Science, Data Science, or Mathematics/Statistics is highly preferred.
• Significant professional experience (8+ years) in the development, production, and scaling of ML/AI solutions.
• Proven leadership experience (5+ years) managing, mentoring, and scaling Data Science or AI/ML teams.

Skills:

• Exceptional strategic thinking and a track record of defining and executing ambitious technical roadmaps.
• Mastery of common machine learning algorithms, deep learning principles, and generative AI architectures.
• Strong programming proficiency in Python and experience with generative AI frameworks, such as LangChain and LangGraph.
• Demonstrated ability to drive a team to write production-ready, high-quality code.
• Excellent communication skills with the ability to articulate complex technical concepts to non-technical stakeholders and executive leadership.
• Proven ability to continuously learn, challenge the status quo, and drive proactive applied research around the latest advances in generative AI and machine learning.
• Language skills: English full professional proficiency; Proficient knowledge of German, French, Italian or Spanish will be appreciated.