Data Governance Specialist/ Engineer

Location:

Remote role (based full time in either UK or Ireland)

We regret we cannot offer UK or Irish sponsorship/Visas for this role. 

Occasional travel to HQ & other offices may be required 

Our Environment

Deciphex sits at the intersection of AI and clinical pathology.

Our products support real diagnostic and research decisions, which means the data underpinning them must be trustworthy, traceable, and governed to the highest standard.

The work here directly supports medical trials, clinical diagnostics, and AI-powered research. It is not abstract. It matters.

 Reports to:

Head of Data & AI Compliance or AI Governance Lead 

The Role

This is our first dedicated data governance hire.

This is NOT a policy writing role. It is a hands-on, technically grounded position.

You will fully own the governance layer across Deciphex's data environment: setting standards, implementing controls, and building the evidence-based practices that keep us compliant and audit-ready without slowing delivery.

You’ll have real ownership of a critical strategic initiative: driving data lineage and customer data traceability across our AI model-building pipeline.

The Role's Mission

This role exists to make sure the data powering our products and research teams is governed, trustworthy, and compliant (product, clinical, engineering, internal staff).

Data solutions at Deciphex are built and operated by our engineering and research teams. Your job is the governance layer — the standards, quality controls, and compliance assurance that sit across all of them.

Again, this is a technically-grounded governance role with real ownership. You will work hands-on with data quality tooling, automation, and GenAI. However, your direct mission is oversight, assurance, and standards, NOT building data systems.

You won't be designing from a distance. You will be in the data, validating it, measuring it, and making sure the right controls are in place.

A major part of this role is helping shape how data governance integrates into our software delivery lifecycle. This will be done alongside AI governance, infosec, and QA layers, so that compliance is evidence-based, observable, and built into how we ship, not a separate process.

Important Context About the Role and Environment

This is a new standalone role in our Digital Trust Office 

Ours is an extremely fast-paced, delivery-focused environment. Governance must enable speed, not block it.

Your success depends on being pragmatic,  introducing standards that help teams deliver better, faster, and compliantly.

Standardisation efforts can sometimes be seen as blockers. A key part of the role is negotiating the right balance between doing things properly and maintaining delivery speed. Success depends on your ability to influence, align, and deliver value — not your job title.

Deciphex is ISO 27001 certified. We are actively pursuing ISO 13485 (medical device quality management) and AIMS (ISO 42001 - AI Management System) certification, with PIMS (ISO 27701) also in scope.

You will help ensure data governance controls are aligned across all of these frameworks.

We are an AI-native company. You will be expected to leverage GenAI tools in your day-to-day work to automate governance workflows and improve data quality processes.

What This Role Is NOT

A data platform engineering role, you won't own or build data pipelines.

A data scientist or analytics role.

A pure policy or documentation role. You need to be technical enough to validate, automate, and monitor.

If your focus is only on writing governance documents without getting into the data, or only on building systems without caring about compliance and quality, this role will not be the right fit.

What You Will Own

Again, this is a new standalone role in our team.

Our three products span clinical and research pathology — Patholytix, Diagnexia & Diagnexia Analytix. Data governance needs to work consistently across all of them as well as internally across all teams using data.

You will own and drive all core data governance domains: data access, data catalog, data auditability, data quality metrics, and data lineage.

Lead our strategic and highly critical Anonymisation 2.0 project, establishing end-to-end data lineage and traceability from product and customer data through to our research and AI teams.

Build and embed a data governance layer into our SDLC, working alongside AI governance, information security, QA & other compliance layers so that compliance & technical controls, observability, and evidence collection are built in, not bolted on.

Work closely with our engineering, research, product, and security teams to embed governance in their workflows without slowing them down.

Automate governance workflows using Python scripting and GenAI tooling: evidence collection, compliance checks, data classifications, anomaly detection, and reporting.

Provide governance oversight for data initiatives including anonymisation pipelines, data lifecycle management, and clinical-to-research data flows.

Work cross-functionally with engineering, research, product, and security teams to embed practical controls without blocking delivery.

Help define and transition the organisation toward a structured data governance platform, moving away from bespoke custom tooling.

Skills and Experience Required

Technical

5+ years in data governance, data quality, or data management.

Experience in a regulated environment (life sciences, healthcare, medical devices, or other highly regulated industries such as fintech).

Hands-on experience across data cataloguing, quality monitoring, lineage, access controls, and auditability.

Strong Python proficiency for automation, scripting, and governance tooling.

Experience using GenAI tools to automate data processes and workflows.

Experience with AWS and Google Workspace, including governance of both structured and unstructured data environments (we use both).

Working knowledge of ISO 27001 (essential).

Solid GDPR knowledge expected; experience with data anonymisation and privacy-enhancing technologies is a strong plus.

Exposure to ISO 13485, EU AI Act, or ISO 27701 (PIMS) is highly desirable.

Experience with or genuine interest in applying GenAI tools to governance operations (we’re AI native so the expectation is you use them regularly / daily).

Desirable

Familiarity with CI/CD pipelines and embedding governance controls or quality gates into software delivery.

Exposure to AI governance and responsible AI practices.

Experience in life sciences, medical devices, or clinical trials environments is highly valued.

Certifications in data governance (DAMA/DMBOK, DCAM) or information security are a plus.

Ways of Working (Non-Negotiable)

Technically credible: able to review data systems, validate controls, and automate processes.

Pragmatic about standards: introduces them in ways that support delivery, not block it.

Comfortable influencing without authority across engineering, research, and compliance teams.

Self-directed and proactive: you see a gap and move to close it.

Resilient in ambiguity: you build structure where none exists, without waiting to be told.

Clear communicator: able to translate regulatory requirements into engineering-friendly guidance.

What's in This for You?

If you care about data quality but don't want to just build pipelines, and you want to be the person who makes sure the whole thing actually works properly, this is that role.

You're joining at a pivotal moment.

We're reshaping how data governance works across the company. As our first hire, you'll help define the playbook, not just follow it.

The work you do here directly supports medical trials, clinical diagnostics, and AI-powered research. It's not abstract, it matters.

You'll have real autonomy within a clear mandate. Governance here isn't about gatekeeping. It's about enabling better, safer, faster delivery.

We're an AI-native company. You'll use cutting-edge GenAI tools daily and have the support and training to stay at the forefront.

What are the benefits of working with  Deciphex?

Competitive salary with performance based annual increments.

Healthcare benefits

Competitive annual leave 

A true sense of meaning in your work by contributing to better patient outcomes. 

The opportunity to work alongside a world-class high performing team in a hyper-growth startup environment. 

A chance to work on exciting,challenging and  unique projects. 

Regular performance feedback and significant career growth opportunities.

A highly collaborative and supportive multi cultural team. 

Deciphex is an equal opportunities employer and we are committed to the principle of equality. All qualified applicants will be considered for employment without regard to age, race,  religious beliefs, political views, gender identity, affectional or sexual orientation, national origin, family or marital status (including pregnancy), disability, membership of the travelling community or any other classification protected by applicable law.

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