General Counsel

ABOUT US QuantWare is building the world’s most powerful quantum processors to solve humanity's greatest challenges. We do this with our unique VIO™ technology, the only QPU architecture that breaks the hardware barriers that have held quantum computing back, unlocking the path to MegaQubit quantum processors. With VIO, we are paving the way for the hyper-scale quantum computers that will change the world. And delivering on that vision demands people who don’t shy away from tackling the hardest challenges of our time. That’s where you come in! We are scaling rapidly and Legal is becoming one of the most consequential functions in the business as a result. This role is the company's first in-house lawyer - sole owner of everything legal, reporting to the CFO, partnering them and the wider management team through IPO readiness and beyond. This is not a caretaker role. You'll be drafting and negotiating multi-million-pound commercial agreements one day, tracking shareholder resolutions the next, and defining governance frameworks needed to scale internationally the day after that. You will be the function as much as run it: choosing outside counsel, building playbooks, and deciding what QuantWare handles in-house versus externally. WHAT YOU'LL OWN IPO and public-company readiness - Partner with the CFO, external counsel, auditors and bankers on the listing process, corporate structure and financial regulator compliance requirements. - Help build the governance, disclosure and reporting infrastructure a newly public company needs — and keep it running once listed. Commercial contracts - Lead negotiation and drafting of complex, high-value commercial agreements (customer, supplier, licensing, IP) - Act as the commercial risk gatekeeper without becoming the bottleneck: pragmatic, deal-literate, and fast. Corporate governance and investor relations - Prepare and manage shareholder resolutions, board approvals and corporate filings. - Own investor-facing legal documentation - financing rounds, shareholder agreements, cap table matters - in partnership with the CFO. Employment law support - Advise the People team on employment law questions as they scale headcount; escalate to specialist external counsel where needed. Building the function - Select and manage outside counsel across jurisdictions, and decide what stays in-house. - Put in place the contract playbooks, templates and approval processes that let the business move quickly without taking on avoidable risk. WHAT WE'RE LOOKING FOR - Qualified lawyer with substantial in-house experience; this is not a first in-house role or a role for someone newly qualified. - A track record across at least two of the following: IPO or public-listing readiness, high-value commercial contract negotiation, corporate governance/shareholder matters. - Direct exposure to Dutch and US legal or commercial matters is required. Multi-jurisdictional experience (broader EU, UK, Asia) is a strong plus. - Confident being the only lawyer in the building: hands-on, unfussy about scope, and energised rather than daunted by ambiguity. - Sharp commercial judgement - someone who knows when to push back on a deal term and when a fast “good enough” beats a slow “perfect.” - Confident operating into C-suite and Board level, with the credibility to be a genuine thinking partner to the CFO. - Comfortable navigating the chaos and ambiguity of a hypergrowth scale-up. - Strong collaborator and communicator; we’re a genuine team who work together, back each other, and we expect every new colleague to contribute to that positive atmosphere. - Prior exposure to venture- or growth-stage or deep-tech businesses is a plus, though not a requirement. Don't tick every box? Apply anyway! Research https://hbr.org/2014/08/why-women-dont-apply-for-jobs-unless-theyre-100-qualified shows women often self-select out if they don't meet every requirement. Here's our take: nobody ticks every box. This is a description of our ideal candidate, not a filter. If most resonates and you're keen to learn the gaps, apply. We hire for trajectory, not perfection. What We Offer: At QuantWare, you’ll be part of a high-performing team of world-class experts in an ambitious, fast-moving environment. From day one, you’ll have the trust, tools, and support to do your best work. Here’s what you can expect: Competitive salary - A salary that reflects the impact and importance of the role (and of course 8% holiday allowance) Pension that’s built to last - A generous and future-proof pension plan that includes partner and dependent coverage. Flexibility built on trust - We focus on outcomes. Work flexibly, in a hybrid setup, with an open vacation policy that lets you manage your time Personal growth - We invest in your L&D, with a budget available to each team member, dependent on their individual ambitions, development needs, and performance A connected team - We make space to celebrate wins together, with team events, offsites, and spontaneous moments that bring us closer Diversity & Inclusion at QuantWare We’re an ambitious company, not only for our goals but also to become an even more diverse and inclusive team. We know great candidates don't always follow a straight path, and we value diverse experience, perspectives, and ways of thinking. We know this helps us make better decisions, drives more innovation, and strengthens our culture. As part of our recruitment process, candidates may be required to undergo pre-employment screening.