Principal Counsel, Regulatory & Privacy

Eight Sleep; Illinois; On-site; USD 250,000 - 325,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Equity participation for all full-time

Health, vision, dental insurance

Supplemental life insurance

Flexible PTO

Commuter benefits

Paid parental leave

Job summary

Eight Sleep seeks an experienced in-house counsel to join our growing legal team focused on privacy, regulatory, and commercial matters. You’ll help shape our global privacy program and collaborate closely with product and engineering.

You’ll advise on data protection, health data compliance, and regulatory requirements as we expand, driving pragmatic risk management and policy development across markets. This role offers rapid impact and equity participation as Eight Sleep continues to grow its

Qualifications

• JD and active bar membership in at least one US state.
• Versatile generalist capable of handling multiple legal domains.
• Self-starter who makes decisions independently and advises the business directly.

Responsibilities

• Build and run privacy program across the frameworks that apply to us (CCPA/CPRA, GDPR, and others): disclosures, consent, records of processing, and data subject requests.
• Own data processing agreements across our vendors, cross-border transfer and localization compliance, and our breach response playbook.
• Handle compliance for biometric/health data, and run privacy reviews for new features, integrations, and AI models.
• Take on commercial contracts, litigation support, product counseling, and the rest of the in-house docket.
• Act as embedded counsel to product and engineering and help scale the function.

Skills

Generalist

Self-starter

Independent decision-making

Cross-functional collaboration

Education

Juris Doctor (JD)

Bar Admission (US)

Job description

Join the Sleep Fitness Movement

At Eight Sleep, we’re on a mission to fuel human potential through optimal sleep. As the world’s first sleep fitness company, we’re redefining what it means to be well-rested and building the most advanced hardware, software, and AI technology to make it possible. Our products power peak mental, physical, and emotional performance by transforming every night of sleep into a personalized, data-driven recovery experience.

Join the Sleep Fitness Movement

At Eight Sleep, we’re on a mission to fuel human potential through optimal sleep. As the world’s first sleep fitness company, we’re redefining what it means to be well-rested and building the most advanced hardware, software, and AI technology to make it possible. Our products power peak mental, physical, and emotional performance by transforming every night of sleep into a personalized, data-driven recovery experience.

Every role at Eight Sleep is a chance to create cutting-edge technology, collaborate with world-class talent, and help shape a future where sleep isn’t passive — it’s a powerful tool for living better. If you’re tired of the ordinary and driven to build at the edge of what’s possible, this is your moment. Join us and lead the movement that’s transforming how the world sleeps and what we’re all capable of when we wake up.

High Standards. No Apologies.

We operate with intensity because our mission demands it. At Eight Sleep, we bring the same mindset as the world’s top performers: focused, relentless, and always pushing to be in the top 1% of our craft. This isn’t a 9-to-5. Our team is deeply committed, often putting in the extra effort — not because we’re told to, but because we’re invested in building something category-defining.

The Role

Eight Sleep’s legal team is one person today: our first in-house legal counsel, who handles everything from IP and litigation to privacy, regulatory, and commercial matters. You’d be the second lawyer, reporting to her, and for a while the team is the two of you.

Your home-base is privacy and regulatory, and there’s a lot of it: the privacy program, FTC and consumer protection, advertising and subscription compliance, product and market-entry questions, and the healthcare-regulatory work that comes with our newer product lines. But this isn’t a role for someone who only wants to live in that lane. What matters most is that you’re willing to take on whatever lands on the department, and that you’re a genuine generalist, just as comfortable picking up a commercial contract, a litigation question, or a product counseling call when that’s what the week calls for.

This is a build role. The company has grown quickly and the legal function is still taking shape, so you’ll be creating programs and processes rather than inheriting them, with a lot of room to own your work. It’s a good fit for someone who’s a self-starter, works hard, and is comfortable making decisions on their own without a lot of process.

Responsibilities

Privacy and data protection

• Build and run our global privacy program across the frameworks that apply to us (CCPA/CPRA, GDPR, and others): disclosures, consent, records of processing, and data subject requests.
• Own data processing agreements across our vendors, cross-border transfer and localization compliance, and our breach response playbook.
• Handle compliance for the biometric and health data at the center of our product, and run privacy reviews for new features, integrations, and AI models.

Regulatory and consumer protection

• Own FTC and consumer protection: health and wellness claims, advertising review, and subscription and auto-renewal compliance across our markets.
• Keep a practical read on what each market requires (product registration, import, labeling, disclosures) so we clear the way before we launch somewhere new.
• Track medical device and healthcare-regulatory questions as our health features grow, and help scope the legal path for new product categories (FDA classification, corporate practice of medicine, anti-kickback, HIPAA).

Beyond privacy and regulatory (this part matters here)

• Take on whatever the department needs outside your core area: commercial contracts, litigation support, product counseling, and the rest of the in-house docket.
• Act as embedded counsel to product and engineering, and help build out the function and legal operations alongside our in-house counsel.

Required Qualifications

• JD and active bar membership in at least one US state.
• 8 to 12 years of relevant experience, including meaningful time in-house. This role moves quickly, and we’re not looking for someone coming straight from private practice.
• Solid working knowledge of the privacy and regulatory areas that matter to us: US privacy (CCPA/CPRA), GDPR, and FTC and consumer protection.
• Above all, a versatile generalist. You’ve worked across more than one area in-house, and you’re comfortable picking up an unfamiliar matter and figuring it out.
• A self-starter who works hard, makes decisions independently, and advises the business directly rather than routing everything to outside counsel.
• Comfortable in a fast-moving environment where you build rather than maintain.

Preferred Qualifications

• In-house experience at a consumer technology, healthtech, wearable, or DTC subscription company.
• Experience as a first or early regulatory or privacy hire.
• Biometric or health data experience, and cross-border transfer or data localization experience.
• Advertising, health-claims, or healthcare-regulatory experience (HIPAA, corporate practice of medicine, the FDA/FTC intersection).
• Familiarity with AI governance and emerging AI regulation.
• CIPP/US or CIPP/E is a plus, not a requirement; we weight experience over credentials.

Why join Eight Sleep?

Innovation in a culture of excellence

Join us in a workplace where innovation isn’t just encouraged - it’s a standard. Our flagship product, the Pod, is a testament to our culture of excellence, beloved by hundreds of thousands of customers worldwide. At Eight Sleep, you will be part of a team that continuously pushes the boundaries of technology in sleep fitness.

Immediate responsibility and accelerated career growth

From your first day, you’ll take on substantial responsibilities that have a direct impact on our core business and product success. We are a small team that empowers you to own your projects and see the tangible effects of your efforts, enhancing both your professional growth and our company’s trajectory. Your path will be challenging but rewarding, perfect for those who thrive in fast-paced environments aiming for high standards.

Collaboration with exceptional talent

Work alongside other bright minds like you: at Eight Sleep exceptional intelligence and a passion for breakthroughs are the norms. Our team members are not only experts in their fields but also avid innovators who thrive in our dynamic, fast-paced environment.

Equitable Compensation And Continuous Equity Investment

We extend equity participation to every full-time team member, recognizing and rewarding your direct contributions to our success. This includes periodic equity refreshments based on performance, ensuring that as Eight Sleep grows and succeeds, so do you – perfectly aligning your achievements with the broader triumphs of the company.

Your Own Pod - And Other Great Benefits

• Every Eight Sleep employee receives the very product that defines our mission: a Pod of their own. If you join us you’ll get your own Pod, along with*:
• Full access to health, vision, and dental insurance for you and your dependents
• Supplemental life insurance
• Flexible PTO
• Commuter benefits to ease your daily commute
• Paid parental leave
• List of benefits may vary depending on your location

At Eight Sleep we continually celebrate the diverse community different individuals cultivate. As an equal opportunity employer, we stay true to our values by ensuring everyone feels they can flourish and grow. We are committed to equal employment opportunity regardless of race, color, ancestry, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, age, citizenship, marital status, disability, gender identity or Veteran status.

Compensation Range: $250K - $325K