Senior Lead Counsel, Product & IP

With Confluent, organizations can harness the full power of continuously flowing data to innovate and win in the modern digital world. We have a purpose that drives us to do better every day – we're creating an entirely new category within data infrastructure - data streaming. This technology will allow every organization to create experiences and use the power of data in ways that profoundly impact the way we all live. This impact is our purpose and drives us to do better every day.

One Confluent. One team. One Data Streaming Platform.

Data Connects Us.

About the Role:

We are seeking a business-oriented product attorney with experience advising on open source, licensing, intellectual property, and other product related matters to join our growing legal team. In this role, you will partner closely with product, engineering, and business teams to support the development and launch of innovative software solutions. To be successful in this role, you must be able to work independently, navigate complex legal and regulatory landscapes related to software and open source, and collaborate effectively with cross-functional teams around the world.

In the legal department, we are passionate about enabling customer success, while building a strong foundation for the future. We strive to provide thoughtful and pragmatic counsel and to minimize risks as we pursue business opportunities. We thrive by working together to solve complex challenges, supporting and learning from each other, and having fun!

What You Will Do:

• Provide legal support throughout the product lifecycle, including development, launch, and ongoing management of SaaS offerings.
• Advise engineering, product management, and business teams on open source software use, licensing obligations, and intellectual property risks.
• Collaborate with engineering, product, and product marketing to facilitate Confluent’s engagement with the open source community, develop processes to enable compliant open source use at scale, and maintain open source policies.
• Conduct license compliance reviews and oversee related audits to ensure adherence to open source policies.
• Draft, review, and negotiate complex technology agreements, including SaaS agreements, licensing agreements, and partnership contracts.
• Develop and maintain internal policies, training programs, and best practices related to open source software use and SaaS compliance.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams to address data privacy, cybersecurity, and other regulatory requirements related to SaaS products.
• Monitor evolving legal and regulatory frameworks impacting SaaS and open source, advising on potential business implications.

What You Will Bring:

• Juris Doctor (JD) degree from an accredited law school and active bar membership in at least one U.S. jurisdiction.
• 7+ years of experience as a practicing attorney, with a focus on product counseling, open source software licensing, and SaaS.
• Deep understanding of open source licensing models (e.g., Apache, GPL, MIT) and their implications for SaaS products.
• Demonstrated experience advising on product compliance and related legal risks in a SaaS environment.
• Strong contract drafting and negotiation skills, with the ability to address technical, business, and legal issues effectively.
• Familiarity with data privacy regulations (e.g., GDPR, CCPA) and their application to SaaS products.
• Excellent communication skills and a collaborative mindset, with the ability to work effectively across multidisciplinary teams.

Come As You Are

At Confluent, equality is a core tenet of our culture. We are committed to building an inclusive global team that represents a variety of backgrounds, perspectives, beliefs, and experiences. The more diverse we are, the richer our community and the broader our impact. Employment decisions are made on the basis of job-related criteria without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, veteran status, or any other classification protected by applicable law.

At Confluent, we are committed to providing competitive pay and benefits that are in line with industry standards. We analyze and carefully consider several factors when determining compensation, including work history, education, professional experience, and location. This position has an annual estimated salary of $236,100 - $277,380 and a competitive equity package. The actual pay may vary depending on your skills, qualifications, experience, and work location. In addition, Confluent offers a wide range of employee benefits. To learn more about our benefits click HERE.

Click HERE to review our Candidate Privacy Notice which describes how and when Confluent, Inc., and its group companies, collects, uses, and shares certain personal information of California job applicants and prospective employees.
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