Legal Counsel - Defence & Technology

About the role

Destinus, a developer of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) for defence, is looking for a Legal Counsel in Hengelo. You will join the legal team and handle high-impact commercial and corporate matters in a fast-moving, international environment at the intersection of defence and advanced technology. The role supports the company's expansion, strategic transactions and corporate governance across multiple jurisdictions.

Key responsibilities

• Draft, negotiate and manage commercial contracts in procurement (supply of goods and services, contract manufacturing) and sales (tenders, consultancy, agency and distributor agreements).
• Negotiate and structure Joint Development Agreements (JDAs) with technical partners, protecting intellectual property and commercial interests.
• Draft, review and negotiate a wide range of legal documentation.
• Work closely with senior leadership, finance, strategy and external counsel on strategic projects.
• Contribute to improving legal processes, templates and policy frameworks, including legal tech and automation tools for self-service.
• Provide pragmatic, business-oriented legal advice in a fast-paced, high-growth environment.

Required profile

• 5-10 years of post-qualification experience at an international law firm and/or in-house legal department.
• Strong experience in commercial law; a solid foundation in Dutch law and interest in comparative legal systems; international experience is a plus.
• In-house experience in an industrial startup, scale-up or international environment is advantageous.
• Fluent English; comfortable with cross-border legal matters.

Required skills

• Strong drafting and negotiation skills with attention to detail.
• Commercial, pragmatic mindset balancing business objectives and legal risks.
• Proactive, hands-on approach, able to manage buy-side and sell-side matters at once.
• Affinity for legal technology and process automation; experience with contract lifecycle management tools is a plus.