Legal Counsel
$180k - $220k USD
Who We Are
Lightning AI is the company behind PyTorch Lightning. Founded in 2019, we build an end-to-end platform for developing, training, and deploying AI systems—designed to take ideas from research to production with less friction.
Through our merger with Voltage Park, a neocloud and AI Factory, Lightning AI combines developer-first software with cost-efficient, large-scale compute. Teams get the tools they need for experimentation, training, and production inference, with security, observability, and control built in.
We serve solo researchers, startups, and large enterprises. Lightning AI operates globally with offices in New York City, San Francisco, Seattle, and London, and is backed by Coatue, Index Ventures, Bain Capital Ventures, and Firstminute.
Our Values
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Move Fast: We act with speed and precision, breaking down big challenges into achievable steps.
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Focus: We complete one goal at a time with care, collaborating as a team to deliver features with precision.
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Balance: Sustained performance comes from rest and recovery. We ensure a healthy work-life balance to keep you at your best.
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Craftsmanship: Innovation through excellence. Every detail matters, and we take pride in mastering our craft.
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Minimal: Simplicity drives our innovation. We eliminate complexity through discipline and focus on what truly matters.
What We're Looking For
As we continue to expand our footprint, we are looking for a sharp, agile, and business-minded lawyer to join our lean legal team. You will be the primary engine behind our commercial contracting process. This is not a "siloed" role; you will be the cross-functional glue between Finance, Engineering, Sales, and Security, ensuring our legal strategy moves at the speed of our innovation.
This is an ideal opportunity for a high-performing lawyer with a strong grasp of transactional fundamentals who is ready to "level up." While your primary focus will be owning the commercial contract lifecycle, you will have a front-row seat to the broader legal challenges of a hyper-growth AI company.
You will be joining the Legal Team and report to our VP of Legal. This is a hybrid role based in our San Francisco office with in-office requirements of 2 days per week. The salary range for this role is $180,000-$220,000.
What You’ll Do
- Lead the drafting and negotiation of a wide variety of contracts, including Master Service Agreements (MSAs), NDAs, Data Processing Addenda (DPAs), and vendor agreements.
- Serve as the legal point of contact for CX, Sales, Engineering, and Finance teams to streamline deal cycles and mitigate risk.
- Navigate complex technology transactions, specifically focusing on intellectual property rights and data privacy frameworks in the context of AI and cloud computing.
- Beyond commercial matters, you will assist the VP of Legal on special projects, potentially spanning corporate governance, employment, and regulatory compliance as the company scales.
What You’ll Need
- 3–5 years of legal practice, with a focus on commercial or corporate transactions.
- A proven track record at a top-tier law firm, in-house at a high-growth tech company, or a strategic mix of both.
- A deep understanding of technology transactions, including the nuances of IP licensing and data privacy provisions.
- You are a confident negotiator who knows when to hold the line and when to find a creative solution to get the deal done.
Benefits and Perks
We offer competitive base salaries and equity with a 25% one year cliff and monthly vesting thereafter. For our international employees, we work with our EOR to pay you in your local currency and provide equitable benefits across the globe.
In the US, we offer:
- Medical, dental and vision
- Life and AD&D insurance
- Flexible paid time off including winter closure
- Paid family leave benefits
- $500 one time home office stipend
- $1,000 annual learning & development stipend
- 100% Citibike membership (NYC only)
- $45/month gym membership
- Additional various medical and mental health services
At Lightning AI, we are committed to fostering an inclusive and diverse workplace. We believe that diverse teams drive innovation and create better products. We provide equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants without regard to race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, or any other protected characteristic. We are dedicated to building a culture where everyone can thrive and contribute to their fullest potential.