Chief Data and AI Officer

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Full Time McLean, VA, US

7 days ago Requisition

About Merlin Group

Merlin Group operates at the intersection of cyber innovation, national security, and technology-driven transformation. With a mission to accelerate the adoption of high-impact technologies across the U.S. public sector and regulated commercial markets, Merlin is uniquely structured around three core tenets – Invest, Enable, and Scale – each designed to address a specific stage of the technology lifecycle. Together, our affiliates – Merlin Ventures, CGC, and Merlin Cyber – form a flywheel that builds enduring capability for customers, partners, and the broader cyber ecosystem, operationalizing technological advancement into mission-ready, enterprise-grade solutions.

At Merlin, we believe our strength lies in our people. Team members are encouraged to be creative, collaborative, and nimble, pursuing paths to deliver the cutting-edge cybersecurity solutions that our customers rely on. From next-generation cyber defense to secure cloud and AI, we are united by one purpose – transforming innovation into mission impact.

The Opportunity

The Chief Data and AI Officer (CDAO) is a mission-critical executive role responsible for establishing and leading Merlin Group’s enterprise-wide data, analytics, and artificial intelligence strategy. Reporting to the Chief Strategy Officer (CSO), the CDAO will serve as the single accountable leader for data and AI governance, innovation, and value creation across Merlin’s operating companies and portfolio.

This role blends strategic vision, business leadership, and deep understanding of data and AI capabilities. The CDAO will ensure that Merlin treats data as a strategic asset, builds trusted and secure AI-ready data foundations, and responsibly deploys analytics and AI to drive growth, operational excellence, and differentiated outcomes for government and regulated-market customers.

This is a foundational role for Merlin Group and will materially shape the firm’s long-term competitive advantage, operating model, and market differentiation.

Primary Duties & Responsibilities

Enterprise Data, Analytics & AI Strategy

• Define and own Merlin Group’s enterprise data, analytics, and AI vision, strategy, and roadmap aligned with business objectives, mission priorities, and regulatory requirements.
• Establish and maintain a cohesive operating model for data and AI across Merlin’s affiliates, balancing enterprise consistency with business-specific needs.
• Serve as a trusted advisor to the CEO and executive leadership team on data- and AI-driven opportunities, investments, and risks.
• Identify and prioritize high-impact use cases where data, analytics, and AI can accelerate growth, improve decision-making, and enhance mission outcomes.

Data Governance, Trust & Responsible AI

• Establish enterprise wide data governance frameworks covering data quality, ownership, stewardship, privacy, ethics, and lifecycle management.
• Ensure data and AI practices comply with applicable laws, regulations, and standards relevant to federal, defense, and highly regulated environments.
• Partner closely with cybersecurity, legal, risk, and compliance leaders to ensure secure, resilient, and trustworthy data and AI systems.
• Champion ethical, transparent, and responsible AI practices, including explainability,biasmitigation, and risk management.
• Lead the responsible adoption and scaling of AI, machine learning, and advanced analytics capabilities across Merlin Group.
• Oversee data architecture, platforms, and tooling to ensure AI-ready data and scalable analytics capabilities.
• Collaborate with product, engineering, and delivery teams to embed data and AI capabilities into customer-facing offerings and internal operations.
• Monitor emerging data and AI technologies and assess their applicability to Merlin’s mission, customers, and markets.

Business Impact & Value Realization

• Translate data and AI investments into measurable business outcomes and mission impact.
• Define success metrics and…