Legal Counsel - US

What we do at Blykalla

Blykalla is a Swedish deep-tech company at the forefront of the nuclear industry, pioneering the development of small modular reactors that provide clean, safe, and reliable energy. Thanks to lead-cooling, we achieve high safety in a very compact format, allowing for a simple and cost-effective design that can be mass-produced. Our unique reactor design will provide safe and green baseload energy that perfectly complements solar and wind power.

What you’ll get to do

This is a rare chance to be the founding in-house legal counsel for a deep-tech nuclear startup at one of the most consequential moments in the global energy transition. You will build the US legal function from the ground up in collaboration with Blykalla's Head of Legal to enable efficient scaling of the group through transatlantic collaboration, own abroad scope from day one, and work alongside a leadership team that moves fast and takes the long view.

As we scale toward ~30 US hires by 2028, execute complex agreements with national labs and federal agencies, and navigate NRC licensing processes, you will be at the center of everything — the legal brain behind Blykalla’s American chapter.

The Role

You will serve as Blykalla's primary US legal resource, providing broad counsel across commercial, corporate, and regulatory matters. You will draft, review, and negotiate a wide range of contracts — including technology licensing, supply chain, partnerships, and government agreements — while identifying and managing legal risk across the business. You will work closely with leadership, finance, and technical teams and coordinate with external counsel as needed.

Commercial contracts & negotiations

• Draft, review, and negotiate the full spectrum of US commercial agreements: supply contracts, teaming agreements, joint development agreements, licensing deals, NDAs, and vendor contracts

• Lead negotiations with national laboratory partners, including Idaho National Laboratory, and support DOE contractor and cooperative agreement structures

• Develop and maintain contract playbooks and standard templates for Blykalla’s US operations, building scalable legal infrastructure as the company grows

• Partner closely with the CEO, CFO, and business leads to structure deals that protect Blykalla’s interests while enabling the commercial relationships we need

Entity governance & corporate law

• Manage all legal aspects of Blykalla’s US subsidiaries: corporate governance, board resolutions, filings etc.

• Support cross-border legal coordination between Blykalla’s US subsidiaries and the Swedish parent company (Blykalla AB), including intercompany agreements and transfer pricing documentation

• Advise on equity, warrant structures, and cap table matters as the US entity matures

Scaling the US legal team as necessary

• We see that handling of commercial contracts and corporate matters will be at the core of the role. In addition to this, you will handle, as relevant with support of external counsel, the following legal areas.

  • Employment law

    • Provide legal guidance on US employment matters: at-will employment, benefits compliance, non-competes (state-by-state)

    • Advise on US-specific HR policies, ensuring compliance with federal and New York State employment law

  • Intellectual property law

    • Protect Blykalla’s intellectual property in the US: coordinate USPTO patent filings, manage IP licensing agreements, and maintain trade secret protocols

    • Advise on IP considerations in R&D partnerships, particularly where technology is shared with national labs or government entities

• As the US operations mature, you will grow the team as necessary to properly address legal issues

Who you are

You are a senior lawyer who thrives in ambiguity, moves quickly without cutting corners, and genuinely enjoys being close to the business. You’re as comfortable negotiating a complex federal teaming agreement as you are advising on an employment situation or explaining an ITAR control to a non-legal audience. You don’t need a large team around you to be effective — you’re used to owning things end