General Counsel – Legal & Public Affairs

Join Proton and build a better internet where privacy is the default

At Proton, we believe that privacy is a fundamental human right and the cornerstone of democracy. Since our inception in 2014, founded by a team of scientists from CERN, we have dedicated ourselves to providing free and open-source technology to millions worldwide, ensuring access to privacy, security, and freedom online.

Our journey began with Proton Mail, the largest secure email service globally, and has since expanded to include Proton VPN, Proton Calendar, Proton Drive, and Proton Pass. These tools empower individuals and organizations to take control of their personal data, break away from Big Tech’s invasive practices, and defeat censorship. Our work impacts hundreds of millions of lives, from activists on the front lines defending freedom to leaders in governments protecting sensitive information. In some cases, Proton’s services have even been instrumental in saving lives by enabling secure and private communications in high-risk situations.

Proton is a profitable company that does not rely upon VC funding, supporting over 100 million user accounts with a growing team of over 500 people from over 50 different countries, from the world's top companies and universities. We value intelligence, learning potential, and ambition in our hiring process. Adaptability is key as we navigate uncharted territories and redefine how business is conducted online.

Hiring at Proton is highly selective, with less than 1% of candidates hired. We believe smaller teams of exceptional talent will always prevail over larger teams with lower talent density. You will have the opportunity work with many of the world's top minds in their fields, ranging from former international math and science olympiad winners to chess champions.

We have a global mindset and big ambitions but remain a start-up at heart. We value empowerment and flexibility and keep our structure flat to keep moving fast and avoid unnecessary politics.

As we prepare for the next chapter, we are looking for a General Counsel to serve as a trusted advisor to the executive team and Board, leading all legal, regulatory, compliance, and public affairs activities across our European and international footprint.

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Your Role

As General Counsel, you will be a strategic partner to the leadership team and a key voice in shaping the company’s legal strategy, governance, regulatory posture, and public affairs agenda. You will build and lead a lean, business-oriented legal and compliance team and ensure we operate with confidence across multiple jurisdictions and in line with our growth roadmap.

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Key Responsibilities

Legal Strategy & Operations

• Lead and scale the legal function to support global growth, commercial operations, and corporate governance.
• Serve as chief legal advisor to the CEO, COO, and Board of Directors.
• Own all legal matters including corporate law, M&A, data privacy (GDPR), IP, employment law, SaaS contracts, and international expansion.
• Manage external counsel relationships in multiple jurisdictions.
• Design and implement scalable legal processes and internal risk management frameworks.

Public & Government Affairs

• Represent the company before regulators, policymakers, and trade associations.
• Monitor and shape the regulatory environment in key markets (EU Commission, national authorities, etc.).
• Build alliances with public sector stakeholders to support strategic market access and policy advocacy.

Corporate Governance

• Support the company’s growth-related obligations (regulatory filings, governance, disclosure, etc.).
• Act as corporate secretary for the Board and Committees.
• Oversee shareholder and investor legal relations, stock option plans, and cap table management.

Regulatory & Compliance

• Ensure compliance with EU and international regulations including GDPR, consumer protection, export control, financial services (if applicable), and sector-specific rules.
• Lead internal training, compliance audits, and the deployment of compliance policies.

Team Leadership

• Build and manage high-performing teams in legal, compliance and public affairs.
• Work cross-functionally with Product, Security, People, Finance, and Commercial teams to embed legal and ethical thinking throughout the business.

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What We’re Looking For

• 10+ years of legal experience, with significant exposure to high-growth tech companies, SaaS models, and international operations.
• Experience leading legal operations in a public company or scale-up is highly desirable.
• Qualification to practice law, in a major European jurisdiction or in the US jurisdiction, is a plus.
• Deep understanding of regulatory frameworks worldwide (GDPR, competition law, consumer law, etc.) and public affairs.
• Strong business acumen and ability to translate legal risk into strategic insight.
• Fluent in English; other European languages a plus.
• Experience working across borders, cultures, and regulatory systems.
• A pragmatic, solution-oriented leader who thrives in fast-paced, ambiguous environments.

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Why Proton:

• Work with the best – Hiring at Proton is extremely selective. We believe that small teams with exceptional talent will always outperform larger teams with more bureaucracy. Build quickly with smart people from some of the world’s top universities and organisations who are here because they want to get things done.
• Grow with us – As one of Europe’s fastest growing tech companies, we provide opportunities for rapid career advancement. We prefer to promote from within whenever possible.
• Do work that matters – Proton’s services are at the forefront of defending freedom and democracy around the world, and our work helps save the lives of journalists and activists working on the front lines.
• Be part of a movement – Proton is not just world-class products and services; we are also leaders of a broader community-driven movement advancing a more socially responsible way of doing business online. Whether it’s through maintaining the core open-source libraries used by thousands of other businesses or providing financial/technological support to aligned organisations, your work will have an outsized impact on the world.
• Benefits – in addition to flexible working hours and career growth support, Proton offers other benefits such as free lunch at the office (or dinner, if needed) along with a supportive, tight-knit in-person office culture. All team members can also be shareholders, with the opportunity to gain outsized financial rewards for our success together.

 

Check our social media to learn more about Proton: LinkedIn ,Reddit ,X, YouTube

 

Our Commitment to Diversity and Inclusion

At Proton, we believe diversity drives innovation and strengthens our mission to provide privacy as a default for all. We are committed to fostering an inclusive environment where all individuals, regardless of race, ethnicity, gender, age, sexual orientation, physical ability, or socio-economic background, feel valued and empowered. We strive to create equal opportunities, promote open dialogue, and support continuous learning to ensure every voice is heard and respected.

If you need any extra support or reasonable adjustments during the hiring process, please let your talent partner know.

 

Candidate Privacy Notice

When you apply for a position, refer a candidate, or are considered for a role at Proton Technologies AG (Proton, we, us, or our), your information is stored in Greenhouse, in accordance with their Service Privacy Policy. This information is used to evaluate your suitability for the posted position. We also retain this information for consideration for future roles that you may apply for or that we believe may align with your background and skills.

If we no longer have a legitimate business need to process your information, we will either delete or anonymize it. Should you have any inquiries about how we use or manage your information, or if you wish to access, correct, or delete your data, please contact our privacy team.

 

Proton does not accept unsolicited resumes from any sources other than directly from a candidate. Proton will not pay a fee for any placement resulting from the receipt of an unsolicited offer, even in a situation when the relevant candidate is employed by Proton.

To learn more about our privacy policy, please visit https://boards.eu.greenhouse.io/protongdpr