Jetbrains

Senior Legal Counsel (Product and Business Development)

Berlin; Munich, Germany full-time Mid Salary not listed
full-time Mid level Technology & IT Curated
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About the role

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.
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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.

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Interview prep

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Use this as a quick practice sheet before you speak with the employer.

Mid
Technology & IT Business Development Human Resources Operations Remote Collaboration Sales Mid level

Likely questions

  1. Tell us about work you have done that is close to the Senior Legal Counsel (Product and Business Development) role.
  2. How would you approach your first 30 days at Jetbrains?
  3. Which of Business Development, Human Resources and Operations have you used recently, and what did it help you achieve?
  4. Describe a time you solved a problem without waiting to be told exactly what to do.
  5. How do you handle busy days, changing priorities, or pressure at work?

Prepare before the call

  • A recent example that proves your experience with Business Development, Human Resources and Operations.
  • One short story with a problem, your action, and the result.
  • Two examples that show the strengths listed on your CV.
  • A clear reason why this role and company interest you.
  • Your availability, preferred work style, and salary expectations.

Ask them

  • What would success look like in the first 90 days?
  • What are the main problems this hire should help solve?
  • How does the team give feedback and measure good work?
  • What does a normal working week look like for this role?
Practice line

I am interested in the Senior Legal Counsel (Product and Business Development) role because I can bring practical experience in Business Development, Human Resources and Operations, learn the team quickly, and contribute to the outcomes Jetbrains needs from this hire.

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