Principal Product and Privacy Counsel

Overview

A technology organization is seeking a Principal Product and Privacy Counsel to act as a core legal partner to Product, Engineering, and Security teams. This senior individual contributor role involves embedding into the product development lifecycle to identify and address legal, privacy, and intellectual property risks early, enabling teams to move quickly and effectively.

The ideal candidate will have strong technical fluency, comfort engaging directly with engineers, and practical knowledge of open source and modern cloud products. This role offers the opportunity to operate hands-on initially, with potential to build and scale the product and privacy legal function over time.

Responsibilities

• Serve as the primary legal advisor to Product, Engineering, and Security teams, identifying legal, privacy, and IP issues early and proposing pragmatic solutions
• Own and evolve the global privacy program, including compliance with GDPR, CCPA/CPRA, and emerging U.S. state and international privacy laws, emphasizing privacy-by-design and product architecture
• Draft, review, and negotiate privacy-related contractual terms such as data processing agreements, privacy addenda, and Standard Contractual Clauses (SCCs)
• Advise on open source software licensing, including dependency management, license compatibility, and contribution policies
• Structure and negotiate complex technology transactions and commercial agreements related to SaaS, API/SDK licenses, OEM arrangements, and platform integrations
• Provide guidance on cybersecurity legal requirements, incident response planning, and breach notification obligations across jurisdictions
• Advise on AI/ML product features, including data provenance, model governance, and evolving AI regulations
• Partner with Security teams on compliance efforts such as SOC 2 and ISO 27001 as they relate to legal obligations and customer commitments
• Develop and maintain internal policies, playbooks, and training materials to enable Product and Engineering teams to self-serve on recurring legal and privacy questions

Requirements

• Admission and good standing in at least one U.S. jurisdiction
• 8+ years of in-house legal experience supporting product and engineering teams in a technology company
• Strong knowledge of intellectual property concepts relevant to software products, including open source licensing, trade secrets, and IP risk management
• Technical fluency with the ability to translate legal requirements into product and engineering realities
• Experience advising on AI/ML product features and emerging AI regulatory requirements
• Practical judgment and risk management skills that balance speed and protection of the business and users
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, capable of producing clear guidance and documentation
• A collaborative, low-ego approach with willingness to take ownership of problems beyond traditional roles
• Passion for process improvement, automation, and applying AI tools to legal workflows

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience managing or mentoring junior legal team members
• Privacy certifications such as CIPP/US, CIPP/E, or CIPT
• Familiarity with privacy and compliance tools (e.g., OneTrust)
• Knowledge of FedRAMP, GovCloud, or public sector compliance requirements
• International privacy experience beyond GDPR, including APAC or Latin American data protection frameworks
• Practical experience with security incident response or breach notification

Compensation & Benefits

• Estimated salary range: $225,000 - $340,000, depending on experience, level, and geographic location
• Eligibility to participate in the organization's equity plan

U.S. Benefits

• Unlimited paid time off, 12 holidays plus 2 floating holidays
• 100% coverage of premiums for medical, dental, and vision insurance
• AD&D, long-term and short-term disability, and life insurance (standard and supplemental options available)
• 401(k) retirement plan
• Additional perks including learning and development funds, lifestyle spending accounts, in-home office setup, professional memberships, work-from-home meals, internet stipend, and mental wellness app subscription

International Benefits

• Paid time off and benefits vary by country and are provided in partnership with a global employment platform
• Perks include learning and career development funds, lifestyle spending accounts, in-home office setup (in addition to company-issued hardware), professional memberships, work-from-home meals, and access to a mental wellness app

Location

This is a globally distributed role with occasional travel required for company events, team offsites, and other in-person meetings.

This employer is an equal opportunity organization committed to diversity and inclusion. Reasonable accommodations are available for individuals with disabilities during the employment process.