Chief Data Officer
- Hybrid
- Eindhoven, Noord-Brabant, Netherlands
- Management
About Datenna
Datenna tracks China’s dual-use technology development from academic research to military procurement. We build and continuously expand an extensive open-source intelligence (OSINT) data resource covering China’s economic, technological, and defense landscape.
Our team of software developers, data scientists, and China specialists works together to deliver intelligence products that help users analyze China’s defense industrial base (DIB), assess risks of technology and knowledge transfer to military end users, and identify emerging research trends and technological hotspots.
At Datenna, data is the core. Our customers rely on the intelligence our data enables to support critical analysis and decision-making.
The Role: Chief Data Officer (Data-as-Intelligence) This is not a traditional CDO role.
At Datenna, the Chief Data Officer owns the product vision for data as intelligence. This role sits at the intersection of data, product, and intelligence, combining the strategic ownership of a CDO with the product instinct of a Chief Product Officer. The CDO defines what intelligence products we build, how customers experience them, and how raw, messy OSINT data is transformed into trusted, explainable, decision-grade intelligence. As a core member of the leadership team, you will shape the evolution of Datenna’s intelligence platform — from early prototypes through to scalable, production-grade systems — while remaining hands-on where it matters.
Your Mission at Datenna:
Intelligence Product Ownership
Own the product vision and roadmap for Datenna’s data-as-intelligence capabilities.
Translate customer and analyst needs into concrete intelligence products, not abstract data initiatives.
Define how analysts interact with entities, evidence, timelines, confidence, and provenance.
Ensure every data investment directly improves intelligence quality and customer trust.
Hands-on Prototyping & Validation
Identify product opportunities and make them tangible quickly through prototypes and proofs of concept.
Put early versions in front of customers, run feedback loops, and iterate before committing to full-scale development.
Personally engage in problem-solving — this is a player-coach role, not a purely delegating one.
Technical Architecture & Systems Thinking
Design and evolve an integrated intelligence data architecture that brings together:
Graph databases and entity resolution
Vector embeddings and similarity search
LLM-based classification, translation, and standardisation (including offline models)
Data provenance, traceability, and explainability
Treat these capabilities as one coherent system, not separate workstreams.
Contribute meaningfully to technical discussions with engineering and research teams.
Governance, Quality & Trust
Define how confidence, uncertainty, and evidence chains are surfaced to analysts.
Architect for transparency: when data was collected, when it was updated, where it came from, and whether the source is still active.
Ensure that data quality directly maps to intelligence quality.
Leadership & Collaboration
Lead and develop multidisciplinary teams across data engineering, research, and data operations.
Work closely with the CTO, Research, and Engineering to align architecture, product delivery, and innovation.
Act as a bridge between deep technical work and executive decision-making.
Board-Level Communication
Write and own a clear, structured product roadmap.
Present complex technical and product decisions to the board with clarity and confidence.
Clearly articulate where Datenna’s intelligence products are going — and why.
What we are looking for?
Proven experience leading data-driven intelligence or OSINT products where data itself is the product.
Strong technical understanding of data engineering, architecture, and AI-driven enrichment — with the ability to actively contribute, not just oversee.
Demonstrated ability to move from idea to prototype to customer validation quickly.
Strong product instinct, with a clear focus on analyst experience and customer trust.
Excellent communication skills across technical teams, leadership, and external stakeholders.
Comfort operating in a mission-driven, international environment with evolving priorities.
Please know that applicants may be subject to a screening process.
Why Datenna?
Lead the core of Datenna’s intelligence capabilities; the data that powers our platform, insights, and impact.
Work alongside experts in OSINT, AI, and China-focused intelligence to shape the future of data-driven analysis.
Opportunity to define and build the next generation of intelligence products.
Real ownership and autonomy in a mission-driven, high-impact environment.
When you apply to this position, we will process your personal data according to our Recruitment Privacy Notice.
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Thank you for applying!
We have received your application and will be in touch shortly. This is the process we follow: 1. Screening Call with a Recruiter Our journey together starts with a brief call. We’ll discuss your experience, career goals, and provide an overview of the role. It’s an opportunity for us to get to know each other better. 2. Behavioral Interview Next, you’ll have a behavioral interview where we’ll explore your past experiences, problem-solving abilities, and how you handle various situations. This helps us understand how you align with our values and work culture. 3. System Design Interview (for Tech Roles) For technical roles, you’ll participate in a system design interview. We’ll dive into your ability to architect scalable and efficient systems, assessing your design thinking and technical expertise. 4. Skill Assessment In the final stage, you’ll undergo a skill assessment tailored to your role. For technical positions, this will be a technical interview focused on your specific expertise. For other roles, you’ll take part in a case interview that evaluates your problem-solving and analytical skills.
