Counsel

Counsel Position at Albert

Albert helps chemists change the world by building technology that understands how they work. As chemists ourselves, we know what it's like when software doesn't work the way you do — stuck with systems built by people who never spent a day at the bench. That's why we created Albert OS, the first AI-native operating system for materials science, designed to remove every obstacle between curiosity and discovery.

We're looking for an ambitious and results-driven Counsel to join our growing team. This role, with a focus on building and supporting Albert's legal function across commercial, compliance, IP, and employment matters in a high-growth, global environment, will play a key part in driving successful outcomes for Albert's most strategically important customers and internal initiatives.

If you're passionate about cutting-edge technology and thrive in a fast-paced, mission-driven environment, we want to hear from you.

What You'll Do

• Commercial & contracts
• Draft, negotiate, and close enterprise SaaS agreements, including MSAs, Order Forms, DPAs, and professional services agreements with Tier 1 chemical and CPG companies.
• Own our standard contract forms and keep them current as the product, regulatory environment, and deal structures evolve.
• Advise on governing law strategy and cross-border contracting nuances across our key markets (US, EU, Japan).
• Support procurement contracting on the vendor side — SaaS, professional services, and infrastructure agreements.
• Data privacy & AI compliance
• Serve as day-to-day privacy counsel: maintain our GDPR, CCPA, and cross-border data transfer compliance posture, including SCCs and transfer impact assessments.
• Support compliance efforts under the EU AI Act and sector-specific requirements relevant to our partners' regulated workflows.
• Advise on AI-related contracting issues including data usage rights, model training restrictions, and output ownership.
• Partner with engineering and product on privacy-by-design reviews for new features.
• IP & technology licensing
• Manage Albert's IP strategy: prosecution coordination with outside counsel, freedom-to-operate analysis, and competitor monitoring.
• Negotiate and structure technology licensing agreements, API terms, and open-source use policies.
• Advise on trade secret protection for our proprietary AI models and R&D datasets.
• Employment & people
• Advise HR and management on employment matters across US jurisdictions — offer letters, PIIAs, equity arrangements, performance and separation issues.
• Support our global mobility function on work authorization and immigration matters for key hires.
• Partner on equity plan administration and employee benefits questions as we scale.
• Corporate & Operations
• Support corporate governance across our four-entity structure (US, Germany, Japan, India): board consents, subsidiary maintenance, and corporate records.
• Assist on financing and M&A transactions, including due diligence, rep and warranty review, and closing mechanics.
• Own relationships with outside counsel: scope work thoughtfully, manage costs, and consolidate where it makes sense.
• Build and improve legal ops infrastructure — contract management, intake workflows, template libraries, and playbooks.

You Will Have

• JD from an accredited law school; active bar membership in at least one US state (California preferred or ability to register as Registered In-House Counsel).
• 5–8+ years of legal experience, with meaningful time in-house at an enterprise SaaS or B2B technology company.
• Strong commercial contracting skills—you've drafted and negotiated complex enterprise agreements without constant outside counsel support.
• Practical experience across data privacy (GDPR and CCPA at minimum), employment law, IP licensing, and general corporate matters.
• Genuine curiosity about AI regulation and willingness to develop fluency in the EU AI Act, sector-specific compliance frameworks, and export controls.
• Comfort with ambiguity: you can issue-spot, make a call, and move—without waiting for perfect information.
• Ability to work from our Oakland office on at least a hybrid basis (we're not fully remote).

Nice To Have

• Experience with regulated industries (life sciences, chemicals, manufacturing, or similar).
• Familiarity with CFIUS, export controls (EAR/ITAR), or government contracting considerations in the context of technology companies.
• International contracting experience—particularly Germany, Japan, or India.
• Prior involvement in Series B or later financing rounds, or M&A transactions.
• Immigration law background or hands-on experience supporting work visa processes.

Key Competencies

• Autonomy: Does not wait to be asked. Creates their own path, follows up without prompting, takes full ownership of their work, and holds themselves accountable when things do not go as planned.
• Builder mindset: Has worked in environments without a playbook and made something from nothing. Energized by ambiguity, not paralyzed by it.
• AI fluency: Thinks critically about what belongs to a system and what belongs to a human. Uses AI tools practically, not performatively.
• Candidate empathy: Designs recruiting experiences the way a great product designer thinks about users — with care, intentionality, and a genuine interest in how people feel.
• Strategic partnership: Earns trust with executives and hiring managers by bringing informed points of view, not just executing requests.
• Creativity: Thinks beyond job boards and standard outreach. Brings original ideas to how Albert attracts talent — how we tell our story, where we show up, and what makes a candidate choose us over a better-known name.
• Grit: Persistent, resilient, and genuinely invested in outcomes. Does not mistake movement for progress.

Why Albert?

We have a huge impact. Albert is a growing team with a global reach. We're building toward a future where discovery feels like exploration, not administration. Where chemists can pursue their most ambitious ideas without friction.

We love our global team. Albert's home-base is in the California Bay Area, but we have multiple offices and employees sprinkled around the globe: India, Germany and Japan. In fact, over 50% of our employees work outside of California! An international hybrid culture is in our DNA. We care about you. Albert works hard to create a positive environment for our employees, and we think your life outside of work is important too. We work hard and we play hard. We value diversity. Growing and maintaining our inclusive and diverse team matters to us. We are committed to being a company where our employees feel comfortable bringing their authentic selves to work and have the ability to be successful — every day. We're always looking for humble, sharp, and creative folks to join the Albert team. If you think you might be a fit, please apply!