VP R&D

A PE-backed global leader in Risk Intelligence, Detection, and Web-Scale Intelligence is seeking a high-caliber VP R&D to lead its primary engineering and data hub (~40–50 headcount) alongside satellite global teams.

This executive will hold full operational and technical ownership over the architectural transformation, legacy system deprecation, and the integration of cutting-edge AI/LLMs and automation into live production workflows.

This position requires a Data Science and R&D leader with deep, foundational roots in Machine Learning and Algorithmic Research who can technically mentor data scientists while driving full-scale software engineering execution.

Key Responsibilities

• Direct and indirect leadership over a multidisciplinary global organization, including Directors, Team Leads, Software Engineers, Data Scientists, and Analysts in Israel, as well as offshore teams.
• Drive the architectural transformation into a single, scalable platform; lead the phased deprecation of legacy infrastructure, and automate core operational workflows using advanced AI/ML.
• Bridge Software Engineering & Data Science: Align deep algorithmic research with high-throughput distributed software systems and web-scale crawling pipelines natively integrated on AWS Cloud.
• Work as a core peer to the US-based CTO and local CPO. Provide a strong executive backbone to challenge product requests constructively while ensuring high-velocity delivery.
• Successfully navigate the cultural and operational intersection of a PE-backed global corporate entity and an agile, high-energy Israeli R&D center.

Requirements

• Data Science & ML Origin (Must-Have): Proven technical roots and background in Data Science, Machine Learning, or Advanced Algorithmic Research, paired with full-scope leadership over software engineering and cloud infrastructure.
• Management of Managers: Demonstrated experience managing Directors and Team Leads across multidisciplinary engineering and data teams (40+ headcount).
• Technical Mastery: Hands-on architectural grasp of High-Throughput Distributed Systems, Big Data pipelines, Real-Time Data processing, and deploying AI/ML models into live Production environments on AWS.
• Scale-Up + Corporate Hybrid: Proven track record in navigating PE-backed or merged corporate environments while maintaining a dynamic, agile startup execution mindset.
• Executive Backbone: Resilient leadership presence with the ability to manage complex cross-border organizational dynamics.

Key Advantages

• Direct experience in post-merger tech consolidation or modernizing legacy enterprise systems.
• Domain expertise in RegTech, FinTech, Fraud Detection, Cyber Intelligence, or Web Intelligence / Scraping.