Legal Counsel in Reading

At OQC, we aren't just theorising about the future; we're building it. Born from a philosophy of bold innovation, we've successfully transitioned quantum computing from an academic dream into a commercial reality. The most exciting thing is that we're just getting started and we've recently closed our £260 million Series C funding round - the largest fundraise ever completed by a quantum computing company in Europe.

As Legal Counsel, you'll play a pivotal role in enabling OQC's growth by providing pragmatic, commercially focused legal guidance across the business. Working at the intersection of cutting‑edge technology, intellectual property, and commercial innovation, you'll help shape the legal frameworks that support our global ambitions while protecting the value of our technology and business.

The Role

• Leading the drafting, negotiation and management of complex commercial, technology, customer, supplier and partnership agreements.
• Advising on intellectual property ownership, licensing, collaboration and commercialisation strategies to maximise the value of OQC's innovations.
• Supporting contracts and partnerships relating to quantum computing platforms, cloud services, software licensing and emerging technologies.
• Providing practical legal guidance on privacy, data protection, export controls, sanctions and regulatory compliance.
• Supporting strategic initiatives including fundraising activities, corporate governance matters and key business transactions.
• Developing scalable legal processes, templates, playbooks and policies that improve efficiency and reduce organisational risk.
• Building strong relationships across the business, delivering commercially focused advice and legal training to technical and non‑technical stakeholders alike.

What We're Looking For

• Qualified Solicitor in England & Wales, or equivalent qualification from a recognised common‑law jurisdiction with the ability to practise in the UK.
• Experience operating within technology, software, deep‑tech, engineering, research or IP‑intensive environments.
• Proven track record drafting, negotiating and advising on complex commercial agreements with customers, suppliers and strategic partners.
• Strong experience advising on intellectual property ownership, licensing, collaboration and technology commercialisation.
• Ability to provide commercially focused legal advice that enables business objectives while effectively managing risk.
• Experience working directly with technical stakeholders, including engineers, scientists, researchers or product teams.
• Strong legal risk assessment, contract negotiation and stakeholder management skills.
• Excellent judgement, communication and relationship‑building capabilities.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities independently within a fast‑paced, high‑growth environment.

The 'Nice‑to‑Haves'

• Experience supporting government, defence, public‑sector or other regulated‑sector contracts.
• Knowledge of export controls, sanctions regulations and international technology‑transfer matters.
• Experience supporting fundraising activities, investment transactions or corporate governance processes.
• Previous experience within a high‑growth scale‑up environment.
• Exposure to cloud services, SaaS, quantum technologies, advanced computing or other emerging technology sectors.
• Experience supporting organisations with US operations or familiarity with US commercial, technology or procurement matters.
• Additional qualifications in data protection, intellectual property, technology law or corporate governance.
• Relevant postgraduate legal qualification.

Why Join OQC

You will join a world‑class team at the forefront of the next computational era. We offer a culture of bold innovation, the chance to work with unique lab infrastructure, and the opportunity to see your work redefine the limits of computation.