Head of Legal

About the Company

Etched is building AI chips that are hard-coded for individual model architectures. Our first product (Sohu) only supports transformers, but has an order of magnitude more throughput and lower latency than a B200. With Etched ASICs, you can build products that would be impossible with GPUs, like real-time video generation models and extremely deep chain-of-thought reasoning.

Responsibilities

• Advise on commercial agreements, corporate governance, intellectual property, and employment law
• Design and negotiate complex commercial contracts including supplier agreements, customer deals, and IP licensing
• Work with finance, sales, and operations teams to structure deals and vendor relationships
• Build efficient legal processes and systems to support rapid company growth
• Support employment matters including visa sponsorship and compensation compliance
• Lead equity compensation programs and support corporate governance
• Collaborate with external counsel on specialized technical matters
• Structure compliance frameworks across the organization
• Provide strategic counsel to the executive team on risk management and legal strategy

Requirements

• 5-10 years of legal experience combining big law and in-house technology experience
• Deep expertise in commercial negotiations and contract drafting
• Track record of managing complex legal operations independently
• Strong business judgment and ability to make independent decisions
• Exceptional written and verbal communication skills
• Juris Doctor (JD) degree from an accredited law school
• Admission to practice law in a relevant jurisdiction (California bar preferred)

Preferred Qualifications

• Understanding of AI hardware contractual concepts (indemnification, semiconductor IP, manufacturing agreements)
• Experience working directly with engineering teams on technical contracts
• Deep understanding of AI, hardware, and/or semiconductors
• Deep understanding of the AI research field and broader market

Benefits

• Full medical, dental, and vision packages (100% premium covered, 90% for dependents)
• Housing subsidy of $2,000/month for those living within walking distance of the office
• Daily lunch and dinner in the office
• Relocation support