Jobs Companies Proton Legal Counsel

About this Legal Counsel role at Proton

Proton · Geneva

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

Proton was founded in 2014 by scientists from CERN on a simple truth: privacy is a fundamental human right. Since then, we’ve built the world’s largest encrypted email service (Proton Mail) and expanded into Proton VPN, Proton Drive, Proton Pass, and Proton Calendar — tools used by millions globally to protect their freedom, fight censorship, and keep their data safe. In some situations, Proton has literally helped save lives.

We are profitable, independent (no VC control), and selectively hire from the top ~1% of applicants. Our 700+ team members across 50+ countries come from leading organizations and elite academic backgrounds. We move fast, keep hierarchy light, and prioritize impact over optics. If you want to do meaningful work with exceptionally high-caliber people, this is it. Check our open-source projects here.

The Legal Team

Proton’s legal function covers everything from GDPR enforcement and government data requests to commercial contracting and AI regulation — across products used by millions globally, including journalists, activists, and organizations operating in high-risk environments. The team is small, embedded directly in the business, and expected to give fast, clear, commercially grounded advice without layers of escalation. We’re growing the function as Proton’s B2B business scales and the AI regulatory landscape becomes more complex. 

What You’ll Do

  • Own legal review for product launches across Proton Mail, VPN, Drive, Pass, and Calendar — identifying regulatory risks before they reach users
  • Draft, negotiate, and close SaaS, vendor, and partnership agreements with minimal external counsel involvement
  • Advise on GDPR compliance and handle user data requests, regulatory inquiries, and government data requests in line with Proton’s privacy commitments
  • Build the legal and governance framework for Proton’s AI-driven features, including EU AI Act compliance and responsible data use policies
  • Identify gaps in contracts, templates, and internal compliance processes and fix them — reducing legal bottlenecks across the business
  • Support expansion into new markets by assessing regulatory requirements and enabling product rollout

 

Who You Are

  • 3–5 years of legal experience in a law firm or in-house role, with meaningful exposure to technology, SaaS, or digital platforms
  • Solid working knowledge of GDPR and EU data protection law, applied in practice
  • Demonstrated ability to draft and negotiate commercial technology contracts independently
  • Strong business judgment — you give clear, actionable advice and know when to flag a real problem versus when to let the team ship
  • Fluent in English; French, German, or Spanish is a genuine plus given our EU footprint

Nice to Have - Exposure to AI regulation (EU AI Act) or advising on AI product development - Experience with government legal requests or regulatory enforcement proceedings

What We Offer

  • Work that Matters: Millions of people trust Proton with their privacy. We answer only to our users — not advertisers, not investors with conflicting agendas, not governments.
  • A Great Team: Diverse, collaborative, and tight knit, with people from MIT, Harvard, Stanford, Caltech, Cambridge, ETH, and more.
  • Technology: The right hardware and software to do your best work.
  • Learning & Development: We invest in your growth. Proton is one of the fastest ways to accelerate your career — real challenges, real ownership, from day one.
  • Employee Benefits: Strong health coverage, solid retirement options, generous leave, and wellness support.
  • Stock Options: From day one, you have a real stake in what we’re building. When Proton wins, you win.
  • In-Person Collaboration: Offices across Geneva, Zürich, Barcelona, London, and more. You’ll spend most of your time collaborating face-to-face.
  • Food: Lunch and snacks on us every day in the office.
  • Transport: We cover public transport, bike allowances, or parking — whichever works for you.
  • Flexible Working: You own your schedule. Outcomes matter more than clock-in times.

 

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.

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 at Proton Technologies AG, your information is stored in Greenhouse in accordance with its Service Privacy Policy. This information is used to evaluate your suitability for the posted position and may be retained for future roles.

If we no longer have a legitimate business need to process your information, we will either delete or anonymise it. For questions about your data, contact: careers@proton.ch

Proton does not accept unsolicited CVs from any sources other than directly from candidates.

#LI-ONSITE

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About Proton

By applying at a position at Proton AG (“Proton”, “we”, “us”), you understand that your personal data is processed according to the following privacy policy and agree with it. This policy states (i) what data we collect, (ii) the use we make of such data, (iii) the safeguards we put in place to protect your data and (iv) your rights as data subject.

This Privacy Policy is complementary to our general privacy policy to the extend applicable when visiting our website.

  1. Legal Framework

Proton AG is a Company formed under Swiss law and whose Headquarters are located at Route de la Galaise 32, 1228 Plan-les-Ouates, Switzerland. For all questions, you can reach us at careers@proton.ch.

We are subject to the Swiss Federal Act on Data Protection (“FADP”). We are also GDPR compliant. The designated representative of the Company in the European Union (notably for the purpose of art. 27 GDPR) is Proton Europe Sàrl, Rue de Grünewald 94, L-1912 Luxembourg.

  1. Data collection and usage

Your personal data are processed for the purposes of managing our recruitment-related activities, which include setting up and conducting interviews and tests for applicants, evaluating, and assessing the results thereto, and as is otherwise needed in the recruitment and hiring processes. Such processing is legally permissible under Art. 6(1)(f) of Regulation (EU) 2016/679 (General Data Protection Regulation, “GDPR”) as necessary for the purposes of the legitimate interests pursued by us, which are the solicitation, evaluation, and selection of applicants for entering a contractual relationship.

Your personal data are retained by us for an initial period of 720 days (“Initial Period”).

2.1 Upon application via our Career page

When applying to a position at Proton, you provide us with personal data such as name, surname, date of birth, address, e-mail address, CV, etc., which we save in our Recruiting Database (“Database”, see below) and process according to this privacy policy.

2.2 Upon sourcing or recommendation

If you are sourced by us and added manually to our Database, the personal data is obtained from public sources, such as LinkedIn. If you are referred to us by a third party for potential employment, the personal data added to our Database is that provided by said third party, and/or data available publicly.

In all cases, upon inclusion in our Database, you will receive an email informing you of your inclusion and of the processing of your personal data.

2.3 At the end of the Initial Period

At the end of the initial period, you will receive an email asking for your permission to extend the period of retention of your personal data, for the purpose of optimising our processes and propose subsequent positions that might be fit for you.

If you give us your consent, we will be able to store and process the data for another 270-day period.

If you don’t consent, your profile and related data will be deleted from our Database at the end of the initial period.

  1. Data Processor

Our Database is operated by Greenhouse, according to their privacy policy and terms of service. Your personal data is thus shared with Greenhouse Software, Inc., a cloud services provider located in the United States of America. The transfer is subject to appropriate additional safeguards, including the Standard Contractual Clauses, as issued by the European Commission.

 

  1. Right to access, rectification, erasure, portability, and right to lodge a complaint

As a company that is complying with the Swiss FADP and the EU GDPR, your privacy is important to us, and we are committed to protecting and safeguarding your data privacy rights.

You have the right to access, restrict, rectify, or delete your personal data. You also have the right to withdraw your consent at any time.

In addition, you may lodge a complaint to the Swiss Federal Data Protection and Information Commissioner.

We remain available via email to careers@proton.ch for any inquiry.

  1. 5. Modifications to privacy policy

We reserve the right to periodically review and change this policy. Continued consent and application will be deemed acceptance of such changes.

 

See all jobs at Proton →

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