Commercial Counsel, Hardware

About the role

Hardware is becoming critical to how AI gets built, and the legal questions are as new as the technology. We're hiring a Commercial Counsel, Hardware to help Anthropic's product teams move fast, build safely, and get the legal calls right.

In this role, you'll negotiate a high volume of fast-moving deals for hardware, components, software, and emerging technology procurement needs. This role will also lead multifaceted technology, data, and partnership deals, many of them the first of their kind at Anthropic.

You'll be the legal and risk partner that technical and business leaders turn to when they need a fast, practical read on a deal or purchase. You'll clear low risk transactions quickly, spot the ones that deserve a closer look, and build scalable solutions as new complexities come up, all while working alongside Procurement and Finance and Legal colleagues in areas like privacy, IP, and trade. Along the way, you'll also support partnerships with major tech companies, universities, and media organizations, which gives you a view across much of the business.

Key responsibilities

• Negotiate and close a high volume of agreements for hardware and components, including review of embedded firmware and companion software licenses

• Structure and negotiate complex technology, data, and partnership agreements

• Track legal and regulatory changes that affect hardware products and components, such as product safety rules and restrictions on foreign-made components, and explain what they mean for our plans

• Identify trade, export control, sanctions, and supply chain concerns in cross-border sourcing, and work with our national security and compliance teams to resolve them

• Build and maintain self-serve guidance, templates, and AI-assisted review tools so routine purchases don't wait on Legal

• Manage outside counsel for specialist questions and overflow volume

• Cover other technology or hardware transactions on the Legal team as needed

Minimum qualifications

• Hold a law degree (JD, LLB, or equivalent) and meet the local licensing requirements to work as in-house counsel where you'll be based

• Hands-on experience buying hardware and firmware, components, and software in high volume, fast-paced environments

• Deep experience leading complex deals, such as technology or data licensing, joint development, or supply partnerships

• Working knowledge of international supply chains and how sourcing choices (and their associated risks) show up in contracts (lead times, single-source risk, warranties, country of origin, higher risk jurisdictions)

• Working knowledge of trade and regulatory compliance for hardware, including export controls, sanctions, tariffs and customs

• Clear, plain communication with scientists, engineers, and operators, so legal risk turns into a decision they can act on

• A low-ego, "doer" attitude and real interest in taking on work outside your core practice area

• Intense curiosity about AI and emerging hardware, and a commitment to responsible AI development

Preferred qualifications

• At least 8 years of legal experience in hardware or a closely related technical space, with the judgment to run risk assessments and deals on your own from day one

• In-house time at a hardware-intensive technology company (such as electronics, industrial automation, or complex devices) while it was scaling quickly

• Experience supporting product or engineering teams as a dedicated counsel

• Experience with facilities or on-site vendor services, including the insurance and safety questions

• An engineering, product, or other technical background

• Experience using AI tools to speed up your own legal work

Role-specific policy: For this role, we expect all staff to be able to work from our San Francisco office at least 3 days a week, though we encourage you to apply even if you might need some flexibility for an interim period of time.