(Senior) Data Protection Counsel (m/w/d)

You understand that good legal counsel doesn’t just mitigate risk. It also fosters innovation. Comfortable navigating the gray areas of new technology, you enjoy finding pragmatic paths forward and building frameworks that help teams move faster. ABOUT JETBRAINS We create intelligent software development tools for developers and teams. More than 15 million users, over 300,000 companies, and 88 of the Fortune Global Top 100 rely on our products to solve real, complex problems. Our mission is simple: make development teams more productive and AI adoptable at scale. WHAT YOU’LL DO As we expand our AI initiatives and explore new commercial models, the legal landscape in which we operate is becoming more complex. We are looking for a Senior Legal Counsel to join the Product and Business Development legal team. This role isn't about saying "no"; it's about figuring out "how." You’ll shape scalable legal frameworks that support product innovation, strategic partnerships, and sustainable growth. You’ll work closely with the Product, Go-to-Market, Business Development, Marketplace, and University Relations teams, helping them understand and navigate regulatory realities while keeping the focus on user value. You’ll own the legal life cycle of new offerings and partnerships, collaborating with a team of experienced lawyers to solve problems no one has solved before. DAY TO DAY, YOU WILL: * Advise on the entire life cycle of software products, services, plugins, and AI features - from refining early concepts to retiring older features. * Implement legal and regulatory requirements, including AI regulation and consumer protection. * Draft, negotiate, and advise on strategic tech, AI partnership, and collaboration agreements. * Support JetBrains Marketplace initiatives and relationships with third-party platforms. * Guide the legal aspects of our educational, academic, and research initiatives. * Improve legal operations by designing templates, playbooks, and self-service resources that reduce the need for manual legal review. * Equip the sales and procurement legal teams with product expertise to help them negotiate customer and vendor agreements. * Share knowledge and insights across the legal team and broader business to build awareness around best practices. WHAT YOU’LL BRING * A pragmatic approach to problem-solving, balancing legal risk with business realities. * The ability to explain complex legal concepts clearly and simply to non-lawyers. * A strong ownership mentality, seeing matters through from start to finish. * Comfort making decisions in ambiguous environments, especially regarding novel technologies like AI. * A collaborative mindset, working well with stakeholders across different teams and disciplines. * A continuous drive to improve workflows, automating or standardizing routine tasks where possible. * Transparency, integrity, and the willingness to speak up when something doesn’t make sense. WHAT YOU’LL NEED * A formal degree in law (LLB, LLM, Mgr, or equivalent). * An extensive background advising multinational corporations on technology and commercial law. * A proven track record of successfully drafting and negotiating sophisticated commercial and technology agreements. * A deep understanding of software products, digital services, and technology business models. * Fluency in English and the ability to negotiate and draft complex legal documents clearly and effectively. * The demonstrated ability to manage multiple complex tasks and stakeholder relationships simultaneously. WHAT SUCCESS LOOKS LIKE Success means you’ll have become a trusted advisor to our product and business teams. You don’t just review contracts. You are actively involved in the strategy, ensuring legal frameworks are an enabler of growth rather than a bottleneck. Over time, you will have established clear, scalable self-service resources that allow teams to handle routine legal questions independently, freeing you up to focus on high-impact, complex challenges. You’ll leave things cleaner and more efficient than you found them. WHY JOIN JETBRAINS?  * Strong base salary. We offer competitive pay that reflects your skills and experience. * Flexible work location. Enjoy the freedom to work from home or from the office. * Remote work. Spend up to 30 days per year working remotely from abroad. * Extra time off. More days to relax, recharge, and do the things you love. * Medical insurance allowance. Enjoy peace of mind for you and your family * Learning and development opportunities. Access to conferences, courses, and language classes. * Language classes. Pick up the local language or sharpen your English skills. * Fuel your day. Enjoy a hot meal or receive a lunch allowance on workdays. * Mental health support. To help you feel your best, we provide easy access to professional mental health services. * Sports benefit. Enjoy an on-site gym or sports club stipend. * Internal events. Join company-wide celebrations and team gatherings. *Some benefits may vary depending on location. #LI-HYBRID #LI-TA2 We are an equal opportunity employer We know great ideas can come from anyone, anywhere. That’s why we do our best to create an open and inclusive workplace – one that welcomes everyone regardless of their background, identity, religion, age, accessibility needs, or orientation. We process the data provided in your job application in accordance with the Recruitment Privacy Policy.

At JetBrains, code is our passion. Ever since we started, back in 2000, we have been striving to make the strongest, most effective developer tools on earth. By automating routine checks and corrections, our tools speed up production, freeing developers to grow, discover, and create. We are now looking for a Senior Legal Counsel – Employment Law, based in Germany, to provide expert legal support on German employment law and contribute to employment-related matters across JetBrains’ global operations. The role involves supporting HR in managing sensitive workplace situations, contributing to the development and implementation of employment practices that align with legal standards and business needs, and advising on employee representation structures. Responsibilities: * Serve as a trusted advisor to HR on sensitive and complex employee matters, providing strategic guidance that takes into account legal requirements, organizational context, and reputational considerations. * Provide strategic legal support and pragmatic counsel to the Group Counsel – Labor Law, General Counsel, and the HR team, with a primary focus on German labor law and broader support across JetBrains’ operations. * Handle a wide range of employee matters, including complex and sensitive cases in Germany, and assist with such matters in other jurisdictions by developing sound legal strategies, reviewing documentation, and helping the business confidently stand behind its decisions. * Assess and respond to complex or nuanced internal communications and reports, supporting the development of thoughtful and well-balanced strategies aligned with legal and organizational considerations. * Draft, review, and continuously improve employment agreements, contractor agreements, and HR-related templates and policies tailored to Germany and other applicable jurisdictions. * Conduct in-depth, group-wide analyses on employment and labor law topics, and lead or contribute to cross-functional projects, including the harmonization of employment policies and documentation across countries. * Act as a senior advisor to HR teams on employment practices and workplace policies, including remote work, employee benefits, disciplinary procedures, and work safety matters, particularly for the German entities of the JetBrains group. * Take a lead role in providing legal support in relation to employee representation structures with a focus on Germany. Advise on their operations and management interactions in compliance with local legislation and best practices. * Stay abreast of legislative changes in German labor law and provide legal training and knowledge-sharing sessions to internal stakeholders, particularly HR and management. * Represent JetBrains in communications with German regulatory and government bodies on employment-related matters. * Collaborate with legal colleagues across the global team on projects and issues that intersect with employment and labor law. Requirements: * Fluency in German and English, both written and spoken. * A law degree with excellent academic credentials. German bar admission is an advantage. * Senior-level post-qualification experience in employment and labor law, typically gained through 6+ years of relevant legal practice with demonstrated hands-on experience in employment dispute resolution. Experience in both in-house and reputable international law firm environments is an advantage. * In-depth knowledge of German employment law, with practical experience advising on complex workplace matters, procedures, and collaboration with employee representation structures. * The ability to provide clear, solutions-oriented guidance in complex or evolving legal contexts. * Demonstrated ability to assess sensitive employee-related matters, distill key issues, and develop clear, effective legal and communication approaches. * Excellent skills in legal drafting, negotiation, dispute resolution, and managing emotionally sensitive situations involving employees. * A proactive, collaborative, pragmatic, and adaptable solutions-oriented approach, with strong interpersonal skills and business awareness. * The ability to work independently in a fast-paced, international environment with multiple stakeholders and shifting priorities. * Willingness to provide support for employment law matters in other countries with the help of external counsel and internal legal colleagues. Why join JetBrains?  * Strong base salary. We offer competitive pay that reflects your skills and experience. * Flexible work location. Enjoy the freedom to work from home or from the office. * Remote work. Spend up to 30 days per year working remotely from abroad. * Extra time off. More days to relax, recharge, and do the things you love. * Medical insurance allowance. Enjoy peace of mind for you and your family * Learning and development opportunities. Access to conferences, courses, and language classes. * Relocation support. We help make your move as smooth and stress-free as possible. (keep if relevant for the role) * Language classes. Pick up the local language or sharpen your English skills. * Fuel your day. Enjoy a hot meal or receive a lunch allowance on workdays. * Mental health support. To help you feel your best, we provide easy access to professional mental health services. * Sports benefit. Enjoy an on-site gym or sports club stipend. * Internal events. Join company-wide celebrations and team gatherings. *Some benefits may vary depending on location. #LI-HYBRID #LI-MH1 We are an equal opportunity employer We know great ideas can come from anyone, anywhere. That’s why we do our best to create an open and inclusive workplace – one that welcomes everyone regardless of their background, identity, religion, age, accessibility needs, or orientation. We process the data provided in your job application in accordance with the Recruitment Privacy Policy.