Legal Counsel (Commercial)

Wayve•Sunnyvale, CA

3d•$120,000 - $160,000•Hybrid

About The Position

Wayve is seeking a Commercial Counsel in Sunnyvale, California, to manage a wide array of commercial matters. This mid-level position is crucial for developing Wayve's commercial legal function in the US as the company expands globally and deploys its embodied AI technology. The ideal candidate will thrive in a fast-paced, technology-focused environment, with a strong foundation in commercial contracting, product innovation, and operational scaling. While experience in autonomous vehicles, robotics, automotive, or AI is beneficial, it's not mandatory. The company prioritizes candidates with robust commercial skills, sound judgment, and a proven ability to handle complex contracts in technology, mobility, or regulated industries. This role requires a proactive, commercially astute self-starter capable of independent work, process development, and close collaboration with senior stakeholders. The position involves significant cross-border matters and interaction with commercial, procurement, engineering, product, finance, privacy, and operational teams during international expansion.

Requirements

Licensed attorney admitted to practice in California
3+ years of relevant legal experience, with a minimum of 2 years of law firm experience and some in-house experience (preferably at a high-growth B2B tech or AI company)
Strong experience drafting and negotiating complex commercial agreements, including procurement, supply chain, technology, and vendor contracts
Experience supporting strategic commercial transactions and working closely with business stakeholders in fast-moving, technology-driven environments
Excellent legal analysis, pragmatic communication, and stakeholder management skills
Strong commercial judgment and ability to assess legal risk in the context of broader business objectives
Ability to work autonomously, take initiative, and operate effectively in a fast-paced and evolving environment
Experience partnering cross-functionally with senior business stakeholders
Strong organizational and prioritization skills, with the ability to manage multiple workstreams simultaneously
Interest in helping to build and scale Wayve’s US commercial legal capability

Nice To Haves

Commercial or product counseling experience within the automotive, mobility, or broader technology sector, particularly at an OEM, Tier 1 supplier, or similarly complex engineering-led organization
Experience supporting OEM, strategic partnership, or other large-scale B2B transactions involving hardware, software, data, or integrated technology solutions
Familiarity with procurement, supply chain, manufacturing, logistics, or other operational contracting matters in a global business
Exposure to autonomous vehicle, AI, product, data privacy, intellectual property, or marketing legal issues
Cross-border commercial advisory experience across the US, the UK, Europe, Asia, or other international markets
Experience helping to establish or scale legal processes, templates, or commercial legal functions within growing businesses

Responsibilities

Advising the business on a broad range of commercial matters, with a primary focus on global procurement, supply chain, technology, and vendor management, as well as general US commercial work
Drafting, reviewing, and negotiating a wide range of commercial agreements, including procurement, supplier, services, software/SaaS, data, licensing, consulting, and other operational contracts
Supporting large, complex strategic transactions involving OEM partnerships and Tier 1 suppliers, including development, proofs of concept, integration, deployment, production, and related commercial arrangements
Advising on product, marketing, intellectual property, data privacy, and general corporate matters on an ad hoc basis, in partnership with other members of the Legal Team and external counsel where required
Partnering closely with engineering, procurement, finance, privacy, communications, commercial, and operational teams to provide practical and commercially focused legal advice
Helping to develop scalable processes, templates, playbooks, and governance structures to support Wayve’s growth and contracting volume
Managing external counsel and coordinating cross-border legal advice where required
Supporting strategic initiatives, market expansion, and new product deployments from a commercial legal perspective
Helping to build and shape Wayve’s broader US commercial legal capability as the team grows
Educating and enabling the business on commercial risk, contracting best practices, and legal process matters