Senior Counsel, Commercial (Hardware)

OpenAI • San Francisco, CA

1d • Hybrid

About The Position

OpenAI’s Legal team plays a crucial role in advancing our mission by tackling innovative and fundamental legal issues in AI. The team includes professionals from diverse legal fields – technology, AI, infrastructure, privacy, IP, corporate, employment, tax, regulatory, and litigation – who collaborate closely with colleagues across the company. We are seeking an experienced commercial attorney to join our Commercial Legal team to support our consumer hardware products and technologies, focused primarily on hardware development and supply chain. Based in the US, you will help lead legal support for OpenAI’s consumer electronic business, working with teams such as hardware engineering, product design, manufacturing operations, procurement, finance, tax, and trade. This is a unique opportunity to join OpenAI’s commercial legal team and negotiate high-impact agreements to engage directly with the forefront of legal and AI consumer devices. This role is based in San Francisco, CA. We use a hybrid work model of 3 days in the office per week.

Requirements

• 8+ years of experience across in-house and technology-focused law firm role.
• Strong background in drafting and negotiating complex commercial contracts, including hardware supply, manufacturing, procurement, and intellectual property ownership and licensing.
• Comfortable operating in an entrepreneurial environment and are proactive and independent.
• Communicate with clarity and business judgment, tailoring advice to enable responsible growth.
• Build cross-functional relationships and adapt communication styles to diverse audiences.
• Strong sense of ownership, intellectual curiosity, and enthusiasm for technology.
• Demonstrate sound judgment in ambiguous or fast-changing situations.
• JD and license or qualification to practice in CA.

Responsibilities

• Be the go-to counsel and partner for several teams focused on consumer hardware design and procurement.
• Provide practical, business-oriented legal advice to teams including hardware engineering, manufacturing operations, product design, and procurement to support the design, development, and manufacture of consumer hardware devices.
• Draft and negotiate complex supply, development, licensing, manufacturing and other commercial agreements.
• Identify and address commercial, product, regulatory, privacy, and other legal issues arising from commercial transactions.
• Develop strategies and processes for handling legal issues in creative and scalable ways that support growth.
• Monitor and advise on regulatory and compliance matters affecting hardware and technology.
• Collaborate with colleagues across OpenAI’s global legal team to ensure alignment across jurisdictions.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Senior
• Education Level: Ph.D. or professional degree
• Number of Employees: 1-10 employees