Legal Counsel (Open Source)

TL;DR

Legal Counsel (Open Source): Managing the legal function of a non-profit foundation focusing on open-source licensing, trademark protection, and Swiss governance with an accent on intellectual property and cross-border compliance. Focus on drafting commercial agreements, defending against patent claims, and ensuring legal soundness for a globally distributed organization.

Location: Must be based in and eligible to work within Switzerland

Salary: 120,000–140,000 CHF per year

Company

A non-profit organization based in Switzerland dedicated to fighting for privacy, choice, and sustainability in smart homes by supporting open-source projects like Home Assistant and ESPHome.

What you will do

• Lead the Foundation's legal function, advising leadership on IP, contracts, governance, employment, and compliance.
• Manage open-source licensing, contributor agreements, and trademark protection for Home Assistant and other projects.
• Coordinate the defense against patent and other legal claims, collaborating with external litigation counsel.
• Draft, review, and negotiate commercial agreements, including sponsorships, partnerships, and vendor contracts.
• Advise on Swiss foundation (Stiftung) law and ensure all statutory and regulatory obligations are met.
• Develop reusable legal templates, policies, and processes to improve operational efficiency.

Requirements

• 3-5 years of post-qualification legal experience, preferably combining in-house and private practice.
• Swiss legal qualification and a strong command of Swiss law.
• Experience with Swiss foundation (Stiftung) law and non-profit governance.
• Proven expertise in intellectual property and commercial contract law.
• Professional Fluency in English (C1) and Professional proficiency in German.
• Current Swiss residency and eligibility to work in Switzerland.

Nice to have

• Passion for smart home automation and experience as a Home Assistant user.
• Experience in the technology sector or working with open-source projects.
• The Swiss bar qualification (Anwaltspatent).
• Familiarity with GDPR and data protection within a software context.
• Experience managing cross-border IP litigation.

Culture & Benefits

• Fully remote work environment with a flexible schedule and focus on overlap.
• Five weeks (25 days) of paid time off and 14 days of paid sick leave.
• Enhanced parental leave (minimum 6 weeks paid and 6 weeks unpaid).
• Budget for work hardware and an annual smart home equipment budget.
• 50% contribution toward home internet connection fees.
• Dedicated time for personal projects (one day every two weeks) and maintenance of Home Assistant side projects.

Hiring process

• Application review by HR and the hiring manager.
• Interviews with HR and the Chair of Back Office.
• Final interview with the Board of the Foundation.