IQM is a global leader in designing, building, and selling superconducting quantum computers. IQM provides both on-premises full-stack quantum computers and a cloud platform to access its computers anywhere in the world. IQM customers include the leading high-performance computing centres, research labs, universities and enterprises which have full access to IQM's software and hardware. IQM has over 300 employees with offices in Finland, Germany, France, Spain, Poland, Singapore and the US.
(www.meetiqm.com)
Our Legal team is looking for a Legal Counsel, IP to play a key role in enabling the development of breakthrough technology that has the potential to change the world. This position focuses on shaping, protecting, and commercializing the company’s intellectual property through high-quality legal advice and practical contract solutions. The role provides direct value to Product, Technology, and IP teams by ensuring clarity, consistency, and robustness in how IP assets are developed, used, and shared with partners. This requires close collaboration with internal stakeholders and external advisors, as well as a deep interest in understanding complex technology and its long-term impact.
The role is based either in Espoo, Finland, or Munich, Germany, and is well suited for a legal professional who enjoys taking ownership, working hands-on with technology-driven teams, and contributing to a mission with global significance.
What will I be doing?
- Draft, review, and negotiate IP-related agreements, including license, assignment, collaboration, and R&D contracts
- Advise on IP commercial structures and IP compliance to support business and technology strategy
- Act as a key liaison between IP, Product, and Technology teams, as well as external legal advisors, to maintain a clear and integrated view of the company’s IP assets
- Oversee, develop, and maintain contract templates to ensure consistency, compliance, and commercial practicality across the business
- Develop internal guidelines, best practices, and processes for contract review and approval
- Proactively support or lead multiple projects, managing stakeholders and aligning legal outcomes with company objectives
What skills do I need?
- Minimum of 5 years of experience in IP, technology, or commercial law
- Proven experience drafting and negotiating IP-related agreements, including license, assignment, collaboration, and R&D contracts
- Strong ability to advise on IP commercial structures and IP compliance
- Master’s degree in Law (LL.M. or equivalent) and qualification to practice law in Finland or Germany
- Ability to express legal advice clearly and concisely in English; Finnish or German language skills are a plus
- Detail-oriented, context-driven drafting skills with a strong sense of commercial practicality
- Strong stakeholder management skills and the ability to work effectively across functions
- A collaborative mindset with a proactive and accountable approach, taking pride in delivering outcomes that serve the company’s best interests
- Rational and structured thinking with the ability to adapt advice as new information emerges
- Deep curiosity and willingness to understand our technology, products, industry, and their long-term development and use cases
What can I expect from IQM?
- An opportunity to work with a passionate and diverse team on an important mission
- A unique opportunity to make a real impact on the future of quantum
- Growth and progress in a creative and open start-up environment
Meet our people and hear more about IQM by visiting our Youtube channel here >>
We'll proceed with the interviews immediately, so please submit your application soon.
Please note that only applications submitted through the website will be processed.
TECHNICAL & MARKET ANALYSIS | Appended by Quantum.Jobs
The Intellectual Property Counsel function is critical for establishing defensible market positions during the transition from basic quantum research (TRL 2-4) to scalable commercial systems (TRL 7+). This role structuralizes the intangible value generated by deep-tech innovation, converting experimental breakthroughs into proprietary assets required for long-term capitalization and international competitiveness. Successful IP governance directly mitigates risks associated with technology transfer, global standardization conflicts, and complex public-private R&D collaboration models common in the quantum value chain. The establishment of consistent IP commercialization frameworks and robust legal policy is a prerequisite for attracting follow-on private investment and securing large-scale government contracts.
The quantum computing sector currently operates under a highly fragmented intellectual property regime, particularly across the full-stack superconducting hardware architecture championed by companies like IQM Quantum Computers. Patents and trade secrets relating to qubit design, control systems, cryogenics, and algorithmic optimization represent core commercial differentiators. This environment necessitates proactive and specialized legal integration to manage a dense network of international co-development agreements, university licensing, and cross-jurisdictional patent enforcement. A key macro constraint involves the inherent tension between open-source quantum software efforts (designed to accelerate adoption) and the need to protect proprietary hardware breakthroughs, demanding nuanced legal counsel that balances collaboration with asset protection. Furthermore, national quantum strategies across the US, EU, and Asia increasingly mandate domestic IP control and secure supply chains, elevating the strategic importance of IP counsel in navigating export controls and technology sovereignty clauses. The rapid pace of fundamental discovery, coupled with significant capital inflows, accelerates the need for formal IP strategies that can withstand regulatory scrutiny and potential litigation as the market matures beyond its early adoption phase. This demand for specialized legal talent capable of understanding deep-tech complexity contributes to observed workforce scarcity in non-technical quantum enablement roles.
The foundational technical skill architecture for this IP enablement role centers on translating complex physical layer and control layer innovations into legally robust claims and actionable contractual language. This requires a deep understanding of patentability thresholds related to superconducting circuit design, fabrication methodologies, and quantum-classical interface protocols, ensuring alignment between technical documentation and legal filings. Capability domains extend into the legal structuring of joint development agreements (JDAs) where IP ownership often becomes segmented across multiple jurisdictions and technical contributions. The legal professional must interface with R&D teams to implement internal IP harvesting processes, ensuring that experimental results are systematically captured and protected before public disclosure. This structural enablement layer is vital for managing external engagement, especially regarding customer-facing cloud access agreements, which must delineate usage rights for proprietary quantum processors while safeguarding underlying hardware and software patents.
Enforces clear ownership structures across international R\&D collaborations.
Accelerates the commercialization timeline of protected quantum computing architectures.
De-risks future investment rounds by validating the defensibility of core technology assets.
Establishes standardized intellectual property management templates for supply chain partners.
Mitigates liability exposure stemming from complex technology licensing and transfer disputes.
Shapes internal best practices for maintaining critical quantum trade secrets and know-how.
Ensures regulatory compliance regarding cross-border data transfer and technological sovereignty mandates.
Maximizes asset value through strategic patent portfolio development and maintenance.
Reduces friction in negotiation cycles for complex R\&D and co-development contracts.
Provides critical strategic input into long-term technology roadmapping and product lifecycle planning.
Fortifies the company’s competitive stance against emerging quantum technology rivals.
Streamlines the legal framework governing customer access to proprietary quantum cloud infrastructure.
Industry Tags: Quantum Computing IP, Superconducting Qubits, Technology Licensing, Patent Strategy, Quantum Hardware, Commercial Law, Deep Tech, Contract Negotiation
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