Principal of Legal Affairs (General Counsel) (f/m/d)

Orbem is an impact-driven deep-tech startup from Munich, Germany. We develop fast, accurate, and accessible imaging solutions that provide access to otherwise unattainable sources of knowledge.

We seek to make a difference – and develop solutions to sustainably feed the world, accelerate the transition to a green economy, and transform disease detection.

Join us on our mission to unleash AI-powered imaging for everything and everyone.

Principal of Legal Affairs (General Counsel) (f/m/d)

• Starting Date: as soon as possible

• Yearly Salary: €120,000 - €135,000 (fixed range, annual gross)

• Equity: €120,000 - €180,000 in company shares

• Benefits: Up to €5,000 annually

• Work model: Full-time, Hybrid in Munich

Your role

As our Principal of Legal Affairs (General Counsel) (f/m/d), you will be a strategic business partner and the central hub for all legal matters at Orbem. You will not be just a legal gatekeeper, but a proactive advisor who provides pragmatic, risk-balanced counsel to the leadership team and all departments. 

You will work directly with the executive team to build and scale Orbem's legal function, establishing the processes and frameworks necessary to support our rapid international growth and navigate the complex legal landscape of a deep-tech pioneer.

Your responsibilities

As the leader who will build and shape our legal function, you will:

• Act as the primary point of contact for all legal matters, providing strategic advice to leadership and departments, including R&D, Business Development, Operations, and People & Culture.

• Draft, negotiate, and review a wide range of complex B2B commercial contracts, including hardware sales/leasing, software licensing, service, and supplier agreements.

• Establish, refine, and own internal legal processes, templates, and compliance frameworks suitable for a fast-growing, international deep-tech company.

• Proactively identify, assess, and mitigate legal and regulatory risks across all business operations.

• Efficiently manage and coordinate external legal partners (e.g., for US law, corporate law, employment law) to ensure cost-effectiveness and a consistent global legal strategy.

• Ensure the company adheres to all applicable laws and regulations by developing and implementing internal compliance policies (e.g., anti-corruption, export control).

• Provide guidance on German corporate law (GmbH), including governance, shareholder relations, and board matters.

• Seamlessly coordinate with our in-house patent attorney and our information security team on all matters related to intellectual property protection.

Your experiences and skills

Fit to our values

• We own every challenge: we enjoy complexity and thrive under uncertainty.

• We strive for better: we seize any opportunity for growth and challenge the status quo. We are constantly learning and improving.

• We imagine new frontiers: we think beyond ‘doable’ and ‘reasonable’. We design a sustainable and healthy future together.

Experience and skills

• Fully qualified lawyer in Germany (Volljurist).

• 8-12+ years of relevant legal experience, preferably with a significant portion spent in an in-house counsel role within a fast-paced environment.

• Robust expertise in German Corporate Law (Gesellschaftsrecht) and Commercial Contract Law (Vertragsrecht), with a focus on B2B operations.

• Strong interest in and ideally experience with Biotechnology & Medical Device Law (Regulatory).

• Proven track record managing cross-border transactions and coordinating legal matters across multiple jurisdictions, especially the EU and US.

• Demonstrated ability to effectively manage and negotiate with external law firms, optimizing for both cost and outcome.

• Exceptional communication and interpersonal skills (fluent in German and English), with the ability to translate complex legal issues into practical, commercially sound advice for non-legal stakeholders.

What makes you stand out from other candidates

• You have previous in-house experience at a hardware-focused technology company or a deep-tech startup/scale-up.

• You have worked in a fast-paced environment delivering against ambitious growth ambitions.

• Experience with product liability, product safety, and developing broad compliance frameworks.

• You possess a keen interest and foundational understanding of emerging legal fields such as AI Law & Ethics.

• You are a proactive and solution-oriented advisor who anticipates potential issues and offers solutions rather than just identifying problems.

• You make decisions based on a pragmatic, risk-balanced assessment, understanding the need for speed in a startup environment.

• You bring a growth mindset and are eager to learn new technologies and stay abreast of a rapidly evolving legal landscape.

What we offer

International Environment: Join a team with 40+ nationalities across 5 continents, all driven by a shared purpose: shedding light on the world’s toughest challenges.

Attractive Compensation Package:

• Stock Options: Share in Orbem’s success.

• Visa & Relocation Support: Seamless support for your move to Germany.

• Learning & Development: €1,750 annual budget for personal growth.

• Fitness Membership: Access to Urban Sports Club or Wellpass.

• Childcare Reimbursement: Support for Kita/Kindergarten fees.

• Deutschland Ticket: Full coverage of public transportation.

Work-Life Integration:

• Flexible Hours & Home Office: Work when and where it suits you.

• 30 Days Paid Leave: Plenty of time to recharge.

• Personal Leave: Flexibility for life’s important moments.

• Work from Anywhere: Experience new cultures and environments for up to 60 days per year.

Make a Difference: Join an ambitious, fast-growing team working on breakthrough technology. In our scale-up environment, you’ll have the freedom to lead your projects and make an impact. We provide a platform for you to explore, innovate, and define your vision for the future. At Orbem, we’re committed to helping you discover your strengths, and while we aim to teach you, we also want to learn from you. 

Your team

As our Principal of Legal Affairs (General Counsel), you become part of our diverse and international team. Learn more about the team members, their work, and challenges here: www.orbem.ai

At Orbem, we're committed to building a smart, diverse team, and we recognize that self-doubt can prevent talented individuals from applying. If you feel you don't meet every requirement, we'd love to hear from you anyway!