In-House Counsel

ChipAgents • San Jose, CA

3d • $180,000 - $390,000 • Onsite

About The Position

As our first In-House Counsel, you will serve as the primary legal partner to the business, owning commercial contracts end-to-end, supporting our Sales and Business Development teams, and building the legal infrastructure to scale with the company. You will work directly with founders and functional leaders to structure and close deals, manage risk, and ensure the organization can operate efficiently. Success in this role is defined by sound legal judgment, operational rigor, and the ability to move with the pace of the business.

Requirements

• J.D. from an accredited law school; licensed and in good standing (California bar preferred or willingness to waive in).
• 5–8+ years of experience with a strong focus on commercial transactions; you can spot a problematic indemnification clause in your sleep and know which battles are worth fighting.
• Meaningful time in-house at a startup or in a practice serving high-growth technology companies.
• Comfortable as a solo practitioner who makes calls, builds systems, and doesn't wait for committees.

Nice To Haves

• Experience with hardware, semiconductors, AI infrastructure, or enterprise SaaS.

Responsibilities

• Own the full contract lifecycle—customer agreements, vendor/supplier contracts, NDAs, partnership deals, licensing agreements, and SaaS terms. Turn redlines fast and negotiate with business outcomes in mind.
• Unblock deal negotiations, and serve as a real-time legal resource for the sales team.
• Build scalable templates, processes, and approval workflows that let the business self-serve on routine matters, reducing legal as a bottleneck.
• Advise on intellectual property and compliance matters relevant to our semiconductor and AI platform business.
• Support equity, employment, and corporate governance matters as the company grows. Manage outside counsel relationships strategically and cost-effectively.
• Support financing rounds and investment agreements, including term sheets, SAFEs, and related transaction documents.
• Collaborate with product, engineering, and finance to identify legal exposure early and structure deals that work for all sides.

Benefits

• $180K/yr – $390K/yr base salary + equity. Open to above-scale compensation for exceptional candidates.
• Unlimited PTO and full benefits (medical, vision, dental, 401k).

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Senior
• Education Level: Ph.D. or professional degree