General Counsel

OutsetSan FranciscoLegal

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Opens the official Outset careers page

Salary

$240K - $340K USD

Job type

Full-time

Posted

24 Jul 2026

Status

Open · checked 7d ago

About this role

The AI is seeking a General Counsel to establish and lead the legal department from the ground up in San Francisco. This hands-on, builder position suits an experienced legal professional ready to own corporate governance, commercial contracts, and strategic compliance for a rapidly expanding technology firm.

Role Overview

As the primary legal advisor, the General Counsel will oversee all corporate legal operations and collaborate extensively with the Sales, Product, and People teams. This role requires an independent practitioner who can manage complex commercial negotiations and build scalable processes as the business scales.

Key Responsibilities

Manage corporate structure, board governance, cap table matters, and equity administration alongside the Finance team.

Assist with fundraising activities, including financing rounds, investor due diligence, and board consents.

Evaluate mergers, acquisitions, and strategic partnerships.

Draft, negotiate, and administer enterprise SaaS customer agreements such as master services agreements, data processing addendums, and order forms.

Handle vendor and procurement agreements, including subprocessor terms for AI and data processing.

Create scalable contract templates and playbooks to enable Sales and Customer Success teams to manage standard terms independently.

Collaborate with the People and Talent teams on employment law, workplace policies, and investigations.

Oversee ACA and multi-state compliance as the organization's headcount increases.

Safeguard and administer the intellectual property portfolio, covering patents, trademarks, and trade secrets.

Supervise outside counsel and control legal expenditure across specialized areas like litigation, intellectual property, and immigration.

Act as the main contact for regulatory inquiries, disputes, and risk management.

Requirements

Possess a Juris Doctor degree and an active bar membership in California.

Bring seven or more years of relevant legal practice, featuring in-house tenure at a high-growth technology or SaaS enterprise.

Demonstrate direct practical knowledge of data privacy and AI regulatory standards like GDPR and CCPA.

Show a proven history of negotiating enterprise-level SaaS commercial contracts.

Demonstrate the ability to function effectively without a large support team.

Apply sound judgment to determine when to resolve matters internally versus engaging outside counsel.

Nice to Have

Previous background operating as the first in-house lawyer or establishing a legal department from scratch.

Familiarity with international employment frameworks, including employer of record arrangements and multi-country contractor classification.

Direct exposure to an organization that builds or utilizes artificial intelligence products, alongside familiarity with AI-specific legal compliance.

Skills and Tools

Enterprise SaaS contract negotiation

Corporate governance and cap table management

Data privacy regulations (GDPR, CCPA)

Intellectual property portfolio management

Employment law and compliance

Salary and Benefits

Annual compensation ranges from $240,000 to $340,000 USD per year.

About the Company

Outset has transformed research through artificial intelligence-driven user interviews, serving major global enterprises such as Microsoft, HubSpot, Uber, and Nestlé. The business is backed by prominent Silicon Valley investors including Radical Ventures, M12, 8VC, Y Combinator, and Adverb Ventures, following a $30M Series B financing round.

How to Apply

To apply for this opportunity, please visit the official company careers page.

Questions candidates ask

What is the salary range for the General Counsel position?

The annual salary for this role is between $240,000 and $340,000 USD.

Where is this job located?

The position is based in San Francisco, California.

What qualifications are required for the role?

Candidates must hold a Juris Doctor degree, maintain an active California bar membership, and have 7+ years of legal experience including in-house work at a high-growth tech or SaaS company.

Is prior experience with AI regulations necessary?

Yes, direct experience with data privacy and AI regulatory frameworks like GDPR and CCPA is required.

How can I apply for this position?

Interested candidates should apply directly on the official company careers page.

Ready to apply?

The application is on the official Outset careers page.

Apply on company site