Legal Counsel

Job Title:
Legal Counsel

Location:
Melbourne, Victoria, Australia

Role Type:
Permanent Full Time

In-house opportunity
Melbourne (preferred) or Canberra or Brisbane
Flexible work and/ or part time (4 days) will be considered

QinetiQ is a global technology and engineering company that exists to protect lives and secure the future. We deliver mission-critical services and systems to Defence, national security, and essential industry.

Our determination to deliver and improve today, and anticipate and improve tomorrow, makes QinetiQ a very exciting and rewarding place to work and learn.

If you're driven by purpose, passionate about solving complex problems, and ready to make a real impact, there’s never been a better time to join us.

With a presence in the United Kingdom, United States, Australia, Canada and Germany, we bring global expertise to local challenges, helping build Australia’s sovereign industrial capability for the future.

Reporting to the Australian Sector Chief Legal Counsel, this is a unique opportunity for a commercially astute and seasoned Legal professional to join our team. The preference for this role is Melbourne based, but for the right candidate it could be based from Canberra or Brisbane.

As our successful applicant, you will be responsible for delivering both strategic and operational legal advice across a diverse portfolio of legal, commercial, compliance, governance, and risk matters within the Australian QinetiQ operations.

Partnering with internal stakeholders, you will act as a trusted advisor, enabling sound, compliant, and commercially effective business outcomes. Your expertise will directly influence business success across complex Defence and Government programs, high-value commercial transactions, and strategic opportunities. You’ll contribute to business development activities, contract negotiation and delivery, corporate governance, regulatory compliance, intellectual property, and dispute management, helping to mitigate risk while supporting operational excellence and sustainable growth.

About you

As an ideal applicant, you will be admitted to practice as an Australian lawyer and will hold an unrestricted current practising certificate in an Australian jurisdiction, complemented by substantial post-qualification experience gained within private practice and/or in-house legal environments. You will have willingness to learn and proactively engage. You will have:

Demonstrated experience across commercial legal matters, compliance, governance, property, intellectual property (IP) ideally with mergers and acquisitions (M&A)
Experience with Commonwealth Government contracting, ideally within the Defence industry or similarly regulated/ adjacent sectors such as Manufacturing
Strong commercial acumen with demonstrated capability in commercial and legal risk assessment and mitigation
Proven experience analysing, developing, negotiating, and managing complex commercial and contractual arrangements including working with Business and Commercial stakeholders
Excellent technical, analytical, written, and verbal communication skills
Superior stakeholder engagement and relationship management abilities

Due to the nature of our business, applicants must be Australian citizens and eligible to obtain and maintain a Defence security clearance.

Whilst applications must be made online, confidential enquiries are welcome and may be directed to Cathy Riach, Talent Acquisition Leader via email: clriach@qinetiq.com.au . A position description is available upon request.

Applications close Wednesday 1st July, 2026

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Looking for an Employer with Benefits?

At QinetiQ, our competitive remuneration and benefits package supports your evolving needs throughout your career. You’ll share in the company’s success, and be rewarded for your own. We’ll invest in your professional development and provide an inclusive environment for you to succeed.

Some of our benefits include:
Access to LinkedIn Learning
Flexible work
Purchased leave program & loyalty leave
Up to 18 weeks paid parental leave
Annual incentive scheme
Complimentary salary continuance insurance
Annual volunteering leave with Operation Give Back
Relaxed dress code

As the defence industry in Australia grows, it is an exciting time to join QinetiQ. What the company looks like today will be different to that of tomorrow as we navigate an ever changing world. To innovate for our customers' advantage we value the need for diversity of thought in everything we do. We provide a flexible and inclusive environment where our people can bring their whole selves to work, meaningfully contribute and have equal opportunity to succeed. We actively seek applications from people who come from diverse backgrounds and experiences. Aligned with our Diversity and Inclusion Strategy and Reconciliation Action Plan, we also encourage applications from women, veterans and First Nations people.

QinetiQ conducts pre-employment screening, including but not limited to identity verification and police checks, for all preferred candidates.