Legal Counsel

About Us

STARK is a new kind of defence technology company revolutionizing the way autonomous systems are deployed across multiple domains. We design, develop, and manufacture high-performance unmanned systems that are software-defined, mass-scalable, and cost effective. This provides our operators with a decisive edge in highly contested environments.

We are focused on delivering deployable, high-performance systems, not future promises. In a time of rising threats, STARK is bolstering the technological edge of NATO Allies and their Partners to deter aggression and defend Europe today.

Your mission

As our Legal Counsel in Ukraine, your mission is to lay the legal foundation for one of Europe’s fastest-growing defense startups as we expand our operations in the Ukraine. This position is designed for a high achiever eager to shape and accelerate the company’s legal trajectory. You will be our first legal hire on the ground — with a rare opportunity to own legal end-to-end, improve legal structures and turn vision into legal reality by implementing the processes, controls, and standards that will scale with us.

You will operate at the intersection of legal, operations, compliance, and strategy, acting as a key business partner to the local MD as well as the Director Legal, and driving sustainable growth in a fast-moving, complex environment. This is not a maintenance role — it’s a build, challenge, and improve role. 

Responsibilities

• Be the legal backbone in Ukraine: oversee regulatory and corporate matters, commercial activities and operations.
• Draft, review, and negotiate commercial contracts, such as purchase, supplier, and distribution agreements.
• Provide support on all legal matters regarding export control and foreign trade law, including close collaboration with the purchasing, sales, and logistics departments of STARK.
• Act as first legal PoC to local and HQ leadership – delivering solutions, not just problems.
• Organize and oversee the relationship to our local advisors.
• Actively shaping and implementing corporate strategies in the commercial area.

Qualifications

• Fully qualified lawyer or business lawyer with specialization in commercial and/or regulatory law.
• Above-average exam results.
• Willingness to relocate to Kyiv in case Kyiv is not the homebase.
• 2–6 years of relevant experience in a law firm or as inhouse counsel— ideally in ahigh-performance, fast-paced environment.
• Pragmatic, independent analytical approach.
• Excellent English communication skills; professional fluency in German is a plus.
• A structured, detail-oriented mindset with the ability to work independently and manage complexity with confidence.
• A collaborative, service-oriented approach to teamwork — high standards.