Head of Legal

We’re a global team of over 400 people, working together to push the boundaries of open-source technology and multi-cloud solutions. Our vision is to help developers, builders, and creators bring their ideas to life with speed and simplicity, by providing a cloud data platform that makes open-source databases, search, streaming, and application infrastructure easily accessible to everyone.

The Role

As Head of Legal, you will be Aiven’s most senior legal leader, reporting to the CFO and working as a trusted partner across the executive team. You’ll lead and develop a small, world-class legal team that enables the business to move fast, win commercially, and scale globally.

Aiven has ambitious goals to build the AI infrastructure that developers want. We make open source databases, search, streaming, and application infrastructure accessible to every developer. In a world where AI has made building easier than ever, we handle the underlying complexity so builders can focus on what they're actually building.

At Aiven, we believe legal is a business accelerator — not a gatekeeper. You’ll be here to find the best path forward together with your stakeholders. You’ll bring commercial savviness, a genuine partnership mindset, and the judgment to lead your team in managing risk and drive impactful results with stakeholders. You’ll be embedded in the business, shaping deals, guiding strategy, and helping the company grow with confidence.

What You’ll Do

• Own and shape Aiven’s global legal strategy, partnering closely with the CFO, CEO, and executive leadership to align the legal function with business objectives and growth priorities — and lead and develop a small, high-performing legal team with a culture of speed, pragmatism, and commercial acumen.

• Lead the team in driving all commercial legal work: overseeing the negotiation and closing of complex SaaS agreements, strategic partnerships, reseller and OEM arrangements, and enterprise customer contracts, while building the scalable frameworks and playbooks that let the business move fast with the right guardrails.

• Provide expert counsel across corporate governance, compliance, data protection, IP, and open-source licensing, and personally lead the legal support for M&A, fundraising, and other corporate transactions alongside the finance and executive teams.

• Manage Aiven’s approach to regulatory and compliance obligations across all operating markets, oversee global external counsel relationships, and guide the team in advising on employment matters across our international footprint — all with a business-forward approach to risk.

What We’re Looking For

• A qualified lawyer with significant in-house experience at a fast-paced technology or SaaS business — you know how software companies work, how deals get done, and how to operate at pace without losing rigor.

• A genuine partnership mindset and strong commercial instincts: your colleagues see you as a business partner first and a lawyer second, and you’re known for translating complex legal matters into clear, actionable guidance and finding paths forward rather than raising barriers.

• Proven experience across multiple international jurisdictions, with a track record of supporting or leading M&A transactions, strategic partnerships, and financing rounds. Experience with open-source software licensing is a strong advantage.

• Proven experience leading and developing small, high-impact legal teams in a high-growth environment, with the executive presence to influence and challenge constructively at the highest levels of the organization.

Amazing! What’s next:

If you think Aiven is the place for you and that our Values align with yours, send us your resume and we’ll get in touch!

Global Benefits:

Our global benefits are designed to help you thrive and grow, personally and professionally:

• Participate in Aiven’s equity plan.

• Balance work and life with our hybrid work policy.

• Choose the equipment you need to set yourself up for success.

• Use your Professional Development Plan budget for learning opportunities.

• Receive holistic wellbeing support through our global Employee Assistance Program.

• Inquire about our Global Time Off Commitment (Parental and Sick Leave, as well as Personal Time)

• Enjoy country-specific benefits for our global cast.

How to Recognize and Avoid Employment Scams:

There has been a rise in fake job postings used by scammers to get personal information. At Aiven, all of our emails relating to recruitment come from an @aiven.io, @greenhouse.io or @eu.greenhouse.io domain and all of our interviews are conducted by video call or in person. Our interviews will never occur via text or chat. If you’re unsure of the legitimacy of a job opportunity/offer pertaining to Aiven, please don’t hesitate to reach out to us at [email protected].

Equal Opportunities:

Aiven provides equal employment opportunities to all qualified employees and applicants for employment without regard to age, gender identity, national or ethnic origin, religion, sexual orientation, physical and mental ability, marital and family status or without regard to any other similar personal attributes. Aiven complies with applicable local laws governing non-discrimination in employment in every location in which the company operates. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation, training and any other terms and conditions related to employment.

At Aiven we are committed to providing reasonable accommodations for qualified individuals with disabilities or special needs in our working environment and job application procedures. We make all reasonable accommodations for persons with disabilities or who otherwise need support to thrive in the workplace. We are committed to continuously improving workplace accessibility. There is an option to request a discussion in the application process but if you have any questions before applying please write to us at [email protected].

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