General Counsel (AI)

Location: Palo Alto, United States; Onsite

Company

hirify.global is a frontier AI lab building self-improving systems for chip design, connecting AI development with semiconductor hardware.

What you will do

• Advise the CEO, CTO, and board on material legal risk and business strategy.
• Negotiate strategic partnerships and joint development agreements with AI and semiconductor companies, including NDAs, compute and infrastructure contracts, technology licenses, and terms for shared design data, tools, and hardware.
• Build and operate IP, confidentiality, invention assignment, trade secret, and information access programs.
• Own export control and trade compliance for AI and chip technology, including EAR classification, deemed exports, technology control plans, and controlled data access.
• Advise on model and research releases, open-weight licensing, open-source compliance, publication review, and data rights.
• Lead corporate governance, board processes, equity compensation, financings, strategic transactions, employment matters, outside counsel, legal budgeting, and legal operating processes.

Requirements

• JD and active bar membership in at least one U.S. jurisdiction; California is preferred.
• 10+ years of legal experience at a high-growth technology company and/or leading law firm.
• Deep experience drafting and negotiating complex commercial and technology agreements.
• Hands-on experience with national security regulation for advanced semiconductor or AI chip technology, including export controls, deemed exports, CFIUS, or protection of controlled technical data and trade secrets from foreign threats.
• Clear, concise judgment and the ability to turn complex legal issues into practical, decisive advice.
• The General Counsel title is intended for candidates who have led a legal function or held a senior law firm partner role.

Nice to have

• Experience as a general counsel, head of legal, or first lawyer at a fast-scaling startup.
• Experience in AI, semiconductors, hardware, or other export-controlled industries.
• Experience with trade secret programs and IP licensing for technology companies.
• Experience with AI-specific legal issues, including model licensing, training data, open-source release, and emerging AI regulation.
• Experience advising boards on corporate governance, venture financings, equity compensation, and strategic transactions.
• Experience leading and closing complex strategic partnerships, compute or supply commitments, or financings from term sheet through signing.
• Comfort building legal processes from scratch on a lean team.

Culture & Benefits

• Small, early-stage team where legal playbooks, templates, and processes are still being defined.
• Direct work with founders, the board, partnerships, talent, and specialist outside counsel.
• Fast-paced environment focused on AI, semiconductor technology, and high-value trade secrets.