VP, Engineering (CTO)

IDBS; Woking; On-site; GBP 150,000 - 210,000; Full time

Job summary

IDBS, a Danaher operating company, seeks a strategic and hands-on engineering leader to drive a next-generation agentic workflow and data platform that transforms how life sciences organisations capture, connect, govern and act on scientific and product data.

This role will lead the evolution of IDBS' technology platform, combining deep expertise in enterprise SaaS, data architecture, governed AI, cloud engineering and product delivery.

Qualifications

• Proven experience leading global SaaS engineering organisations through significant transformation.
• Deep expertise in modern data architecture, cloud platforms, AI-enabled products and governed AI frameworks.
• Experience restructuring engineering organisations to balance legacy product sustainment with innovation and growth.
• Strong track record implementing Agile, Lean and Program Increment Planning methodologies to accelerate value delivery.
• Practical experience applying AI across software design, development, testing and operations.
• Exceptional leadership, communication and stakeholder management skills.

Responsibilities

• Define and execute the technology vision for IDBS' next-generation agentic workflow and data platform.
• Establish the long-term architecture for data, workflows, AI and cloud services that supports future growth.
• Partner with Product and Strategy to translate customer and market needs into a clear technology roadmap.
• Balance short-term customer commitments with long-term platform transformation.
• Lead the design and implementation of modern data architecture, governance and interoperability frameworks.
• Drive adoption of governed AI, ensuring solutions are secure, compliant, auditable and trusted.
• Establish foundations for scalable AI-enabled products, intelligent automation and agentic workflows.
• Act as a thought leader in leveraging AI to accelerate product innovation and engineering productivity.
• Restructure Engineering to effectively manage heritage product sustainment while accelerating investment in strategic innovation.
• Create clear ownership models across platform engineering, innovation, customer commitments and operational excellence.
• Leverage Agile methodologies, Lean principles and Program Increment Planning to improve execution, alignment and speed to market.
• Drive measurable improvements in engineering productivity, delivery predictability and customer value realisation.
• Champion the use of AI across design, architecture, development, testing, validation, documentation and support.
• Establish engineering best practices that leverage AI to improve quality, velocity and efficiency.
• Demonstrate hands-on leadership and expertise in modern software engineering, data platforms and AI-enabled delivery.
• Build, develop and retain a high-performing engineering organisation aligned to Danaher Core Values and Behaviours.
• Foster a culture of accountability, urgency, innovation, continuous improvement and customer focus.
• Lead through influence, collaboration and visible engagement across Engineering, Product, Customer Success and Operations.
• Develop future leaders and create a scalable engineering organisation capable of supporting long-term growth.
• Ensure solutions meet the highest standards of quality, security, privacy and regulatory compliance.
• Maintain compliance with ISO 9001, ISO 27001 and applicable regulated industry requirements.
• Embed quality, reliability and security into all aspects of engineering delivery.

Skills

Strategic leadership

SaaS engineering

Data architecture

Governed AI

Cloud platforms

Agile & PI Planning

Job description

IDBS is seeking a strategic and hands-on engineering leader to drive the delivery of a next-generation agentic workflow and data platform that transforms how life sciences organisations capture, connect, govern and act on scientific and product data.

This role will lead the evolution of IDBS' technology platform, combining deep expertise in enterprise SaaS, data architecture, governed AI, cloud engineering and product delivery. The successful candidate will be responsible for delivering a scalable platform that enables intelligent workflows, high-quality governed data, AI-powered insights and enterprise-grade compliance.

A critical aspect of this role will be restructuring the Engineering organisation to balance the efficient sustainment of heritage products while accelerating investment and innovation in future platform capabilities. Working closely with Product, Strategy and Operations, the individual will establish an operating model that increases delivery velocity, improves predictability and accelerates customer value.

This is a senior leadership role requiring both strategic vision and operational excellence. The successful candidate must be willing to roll up their sleeves, demonstrate what good looks like, champion the adoption of AI across the software development lifecycle, and build a culture of high performance, urgency, accountability and value creation.

Core Responsibilities

Strategy & Platform Leadership

• Define and execute the technology vision for IDBS' next-generation agentic workflow and data platform.
• Establish the long-term architecture for data, workflows, AI and cloud services that supports future growth.
• Partner with Product and Strategy to translate customer and market needs into a clear technology roadmap.
• Balance short-term customer commitments with long-term platform transformation.

Data Architecture & Governed AI

• Lead the design and implementation of modern data architecture, governance and interoperability frameworks.
• Drive adoption of governed AI, ensuring solutions are secure, compliant, auditable and trusted.
• Establish foundations for scalable AI-enabled products, intelligent automation and agentic workflows.
• Act as a thought leader in leveraging AI to accelerate product innovation and engineering productivity.

Engineering Transformation & Delivery

• Restructure Engineering to effectively manage heritage product sustainment while accelerating investment in strategic innovation.
• Create clear ownership models across platform engineering, innovation, customer commitments and operational excellence.
• Leverage Agile methodologies, Lean principles and Program Increment Planning to improve execution, alignment and speed to market.
• Drive measurable improvements in engineering productivity, delivery predictability and customer value realisation.

AI-Enabled Engineering Excellence

• Champion the use of AI across design, architecture, development, testing, validation, documentation and support.
• Establish engineering best practices that leverage AI to improve quality, velocity and efficiency.
• Demonstrate hands-on leadership and expertise in modern software engineering, data platforms and AI-enabled delivery.

Leadership & Culture

• Build, develop and retain a high-performing engineering organisation aligned to Danaher Core Values and Behaviours.
• Foster a culture of accountability, urgency, innovation, continuous improvement and customer focus.
• Lead through influence, collaboration and visible engagement across Engineering, Product, Customer Success and Operations.
• Develop future leaders and create a scalable engineering organisation capable of supporting long-term growth.

Quality, Security & Compliance

• Ensure solutions meet the highest standards of quality, security, privacy and regulatory compliance.
• Maintain compliance with ISO 9001, ISO 27001 and applicable regulated industry requirements.
• Embed quality, reliability and security into all aspects of engineering delivery.

Key Requirements

• Proven experience leading global SaaS engineering organisations through significant transformation.
• Deep expertise in modern data architecture, cloud platforms, AI-enabled products and governed AI frameworks.
• Experience restructuring engineering organisations to balance legacy product sustainment with innovation and growth.
• Strong track record implementing Agile, Lean and Program Increment Planning methodologies to accelerate value delivery.
• Practical experience applying AI across software design, development, testing and operations.
• Exceptional leadership, communication and stakeholder management skills.
• Ability to operate at executive level while remaining technically credible and hands-on when needed.

IDBS, a Danaher operating company, offers a broad array of comprehensive, competitive benefit programs that add value to our lives. Whether it's a health care program or paid time off, our programs contribute to life beyond the job. Check out our benefits at Danaher Benefits Info.

Together, we'll accelerate the real-life impact of tomorrow's science and technology. We partner with customers across the globe to help them solve their most complex challenges, architecting solutions that bring the power of science to life.

For more information, visit www.danaher.com.