Senior Legal Counsel

About the role

You will guide our global operations through the complexities of data privacy and AI regulation by interpreting legislative changes and regulatory guidance. This position requires you to translate intricate legal requirements into functional, actionable advice for our technical and product teams across multiple jurisdictions. You will own the strategic oversight of data governance initiatives that impact our software development lifecycle. The role focuses on ensuring that our products and internal operations comply with evolving global standards. You will serve as a primary liaison between our engineering, security, and HR departments and the regulatory landscape. This position demands a proactive approach to identifying potential legal hurdles before they impact product releases. You will be responsible for shaping the company's compliance culture through documentation and direct consultation. Ultimately, you will ensure that JetBrains can innovate responsibly while maintaining the highest standards of legal integrity.

Key facts

What you'll do

• Conduct comprehensive legal assessments of AI systems and data processing activities to ensure adherence to regulatory standards.
• Interpret and analyze complex product features in relation to global data governance, evaluating cross-border transfer mechanisms such as Standard Contractual Clauses and Data Processing Agreements.
• Draft, review, and manage critical commercial and legal documents, including terms of service, privacy policies, and data protection agreements.
• Map, document, and evaluate intricate data flows to verify alignment with international regulatory frameworks and internal policies.
• Perform in-depth research on emerging global regulatory developments and synthesize findings into structured legal memoranda for executive consumption.
• Create, maintain, and update internal legal templates, DSAR (Data Subject Access Request) workflows, and centralized knowledge bases to improve team efficiency.
• Proactively identify and mitigate legal risks associated with new technology laws, evolving regulatory landscapes, and proposed product designs.
• Evaluate and implement automation and artificial intelligence tools to streamline and increase the efficiency of legal processes and document review.
• Collaborate with security teams to conduct data protection impact assessments and ensure that security controls are legally sound.
• Advise HR departments on compliance related to employment law, data privacy in recruitment, and workforce monitoring regulations.
• Liaise with external regulators, auditors, and law firms to coordinate responses to inquiries and inspections.
• Develop and maintain strong working relationships with stakeholders to ensure legal considerations are integrated into business decisions.

Requirements

• Possess a minimum of 8 years of post-qualification legal experience specifically in data privacy, technology law, or digital regulatory compliance.
• Have significant in-house experience advising on privacy matters at an international technology firm operating in a multi-jurisdictional environment.
• Demonstrate a proven ability to apply GDPR and ePrivacy regulations to complex corporate processes and product development.
• Hold a university-level law degree recognized in a relevant jurisdiction.
• Exhibit professional proficiency in English, including the ability to communicate effectively with technical and non-technical stakeholders.
• Show a strong track record of drafting precise privacy policies, data processing agreements, and regulatory risk assessments.
• Possess a deep understanding of the legal and regulatory requirements governing the processing of personal data.
• Demonstrate the ability to interpret regulations and apply them to practical business scenarios.

Skills & tools

• Expert-level knowledge of EU data protection regulations, including the GDPR and the Digital Services Act.
• High proficiency in cross-border data transfer mechanisms, including adequacy decisions, Binding Corporate Rules, and Standard Contractual Clauses.
• Hands-on experience with legal automation technologies and process optimization strategies.
• Familiarity with data protection impact assessments and incident response planning.
• Understanding of software development lifecycle methodologies and how privacy integrates within agile frameworks.

Nice to have

• Experience with AI-specific regulations and guidance, such as the EU AI Act.
• Familiarity with privacy-enhancing technologies and data anonymization techniques.
• Knowledge of cybersecurity frameworks and standards relevant to data protection.

Practical notes

• Compensation includes a competitive base salary.
• Benefits include flexible work arrangements, 30 days of annual remote work from abroad, extra vacation time, and medical insurance allowances.
• Professional development support includes language classes and access to conferences.
• Additional perks include lunch allowances or on-site meals, mental health services, and sports stipends.
• This role may require travel to JetBrains offices or customer sites as necessary.
• JetBrains is an equal opportunity employer. Applications are processed according to the Recruitment Privacy Policy.
• The application deadline is not specified; early application is recommended due to the volume of applications received.