Description
PlanetScale is growing rapidly and reinventing the database space. Our database platform offers developers the fastest and most reliable Postgres and Vitess/MySQL databases, enabling businesses to efficiently handle data and workloads of all sizes.
We're looking for a Senior Product and Commercial Counsel to help us build, sell, and scale responsibly. You'll own important commercial negotiations, advise on product and privacy matters, and work directly with leadership on decisions that shape our business.
Attributes
You combine strong legal judgment with business understanding. You distinguish material risks from theoretical ones and find workable paths forward. You lead with empathy. You listen carefully, understand other people's goals and pressures, and build trust with colleagues and counterparties. You communicate clearly. You explain complex issues in plain language and tailor your advice to the audience. Your colleagues know what you recommend and why. You enjoy ownership. You're comfortable making decisions, moving work forward independently, and recognizing when to seek input. You're curious about technology. You want to understand how our products work and are comfortable asking engineers questions, tracing data flows, and learning unfamiliar concepts. You thrive in a small team. You're equally willing to negotiate a complex agreement, help a colleague work through a question, or improve a process.
Requirements
- A J.D. and active membership in at least one U.S. state bar, with eligibility to practice in your work location.
- At least 6 years of relevant legal experience, including substantial experience negotiating technology transactions.
- Experience advising technology businesses on customer and vendor agreements, privacy, and data protection.
- Strong drafting and negotiation skills, with the ability to translate technical and commercial details into clear contractual terms.
- Excellent interpersonal skills and a demonstrated ability to build productive relationships across functions.
- The judgment and organizational skills to manage multiple matters independently in a fast-moving environment.
Nice to Have
- In-house experience at a SaaS, cloud infrastructure, or other technology company.
- Experience advising Sales, Marketing, Engineering, and Security teams.
- Familiarity with AI, open source software, intellectual property licensing, or international data protection requirements.
- Experience supporting enterprise customers, strategic partnerships, or new business models.
Why PlanetScale
At PlanetScale, legal work is closely connected to the technology we build and the businesses we serve. You'll work with people who care deeply about their craft, tackle substantive questions, and see the impact of your advice. We value small teams, strong judgment, and individual ownership. You'll have direct access to leadership and the opportunity to shape both business decisions and the way our legal team operates. As the company grows, there is room to deepen your expertise, expand your scope, and build programs you can call your own.