Head of Data Platform

Novafos A/S; Hørsholm; On-site; DKK 1,200,000 - 1,800,000; Full time

Job summary

Gubra in Denmark is seeking a Head of Data Platform to own and build a new enterprise data platform connecting scientific, operational, and business data. You will lead the platform design, governance, and a growing data engineering team, reporting to the CTO’s leadership group.

You will shape architecture, drive technical decisions, and ensure data products meet the needs of researchers, ML teams, and business users across the organisation.

Qualifications

• Proven background in data engineering or platforms with leadership experience.
• Experience designing scalable, secure data foundations for researchers and engineers.
• Familiarity with AWS, Databricks, and governance practices is preferred.

Responsibilities

• Lead design and development of a scalable, secure enterprise data platform.
• Build data pipelines and reusable data products for scientists, ML teams, engineers, and business users.
• Define platform roadmap and drive architectural decisions.
• Establish governance, security, access control, and documentation standards.
• Build, mentor, and develop the data engineering team.
• Collaborate with research, lab operations, software engineering, and business stakeholders.

Skills

Data platform leadership

Data engineering

AWS

Databricks

Governance

Stakeholder mgmt

Tools

Airflow

Delta Lake

Unity Catalog

Lakehouse

Job description

Head of Data Platform – build Gubra’s data foundation from the ground up

Do you want to build the data foundation behind scientific innovation in a growing biotech company? Gubra is looking for a Head of Data Platform to take end‑to‑end ownership of a new enterprise data platform connecting scientific, operational, and business data across the organisation.

This is a director‑level role combining technical ownership, people leadership, and greenfield development. You will shape the architecture and roadmap, build the team around the platform, and remain close enough to the technology to take part in key technical decisions.

The ambition is to create a scalable data foundation that supports research, laboratory operations, machine learning, and selected business functions across Gubra.

Build the platform – and the team around it

Gubra is investing in its digital and data foundation, and you will join at an early stage.

As Head of Data Platform, you will lead the design, implementation, and operation of the platform, built around AWS and Databricks. You will work across architecture, data pipelines, reusable data products, governance, and security while translating scientific and business needs into technical priorities.

At the same time, you will build and lead the data engineering team. Two Data Engineers are planned to join, an external Data Architect is already supporting the initial design, and the team is expected to grow further. You will report directly to the CTO and become part of the CTO's leadership team.

Your key responsibilities will include:

• Leading the design and development of a scalable and secure enterprise data platform
• Building reliable data pipelines and reusable data products for scientists, ML teams, engineers, and business users
• Defining the platform roadmap and driving key architectural and technical decisions
• Establishing data governance, security, access control, and documentation standards
• Building, mentoring, and developing the data engineering team
• Working closely with stakeholders across research, laboratory operations, software engineering, and the wider business.

Who are you?

You have a strong background in data engineering, analytics, or data platforms and experience leading both people and technical delivery. You combine leadership with enough technical depth to challenge architectural decisions and engage credibly with engineers.

You bring extensive experience with AWS and Databricks and have designed scalable, secure, and governed data solutions before. Experience with lakehouse architecture, data mesh, medallion architecture, Airflow, Delta Lake, or Unity Catalog is an advantage.

Experience from biotech, pharma, life sciences, or another research‑intensive environment is beneficial but not required. The same applies to experience with regulated environments and GxP.

Personally, you are a pragmatic and collaborative leader who can create a clear direction, bring stakeholders and employees with you, and balance strategic thinking with hands‑on execution.

About Gubra

Gubra is a purpose‑driven biotech company where technology, data, and science come together to create life‑changing therapies. The organisation combines Biotech, CRO, and Venture activities and brings scientists, engineers, and business teams together across the organisation.

Digital, Data & IT is strengthening the foundation beneath this work by connecting scientific, operational, and business data and enabling advanced analytics and machine learning.

The position is based at Gubra in Hørsholm, Denmark.